Restructured squad
© Imago
The German U21 national team has to plan the European Championship finals in summer without a series of tournament candidates such as the Dortmund striker Maximilian Beier (22) and the future Bayern professional Tom Bischof (19). “I would like to use these two caps to play with the players who are the most likely that they will be there in summer,” said national coach Antonio di Salvo.
In the last official international matches before the European Championship finals from June 11th to 28th, the U21 will play against the tournament host in Slovakia on Friday (6 p.m./ProSieben Maxx) in Trnava. On Tuesday (8:30 p.m./Sat.1) Next week in Darmstadt, the test will follow against the title favorite Spain.
For Di Salvo, who extended his contract by another two years until July 31, 2027, the plans for the tournament summer are significantly more difficult. There, FC Bayern Munich, to which the Hoffenheim bishop changes, will compete, Beiers Dortmunder Borussia and Red Bull Salzburg. There are several candidates for the U21 in all cadres.
Totally difficult situation for DFB juniors through club World Cup
“How should I be neutral when I always have the U21 European Championship in mind?” Di Salvo said about the new mode of the club World Cup. “I personally think that a competition was pushed in who does not do the players. The development in football is “in a direction that is not good for the players.”
The new club World Cup can of course be “interesting” and are much more positive in other nations than in Germany. “I believe that there will be a certain enthusiasm,” said Di Salvo, who cannot personally understand it due to the schedule of the two tournaments. “Logically, the team naturally weakens it – but these are things that I can’t change now.” It is “a new situation that is totally difficult, you really have to say that.”
Di Salvo emphasized that the players would be in a “dilemma”. “You are looking forward to the U21 European Championship,” the coach took with him from conversations, but the club World Cup was “also interesting for you”. “Maxi stands between the chairs like many other players,” said Di Salvo at Beier. However, there are no final decisions. “We are in constant exchange with the clubs and the players,” said Di Salvo. “Let’s see what will happen until summer.”
He has the “hope of having one or the other player available,” said the U21 coach. “If there is any way to get the Maxi Beier to the European Championship, then of course I will do it. Unlike Beier and Co., Jonas Urbig (21), who recently represented the injured Manuel Neuer (38) in the Munich goal, is in the current U21 contingent. He and the Freiburg Noah Atubolu (22) fight for the status as number one on the U21.
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Heidenheimer Paul Wanner (19), who is also a candidate for two tournaments as a Bayern loan player, is also nominated. “He is not doing so well yet, he is cold and in all likelihood he will not be available for the first game,” said Di Salvo. “We still see from day to day whether it makes sense that he may be an option for us for the second game.” Jens Castrop (21, 1. FC Nürnberg) is also questionable due to illness.
Moukoko threatens to miss the U21 European Championship
The lack of Youssoufa Moukoko (20), which is borrowed from BVB to the OGC Nice, has no to do with the club World Cup or health, but with sporting reasons. “Unfortunately it is the case that he gets very little to play,” explained Di Salvo. Moukoko was last on the pitch for five minutes on February 5 in the cupache final when Nice embarrassed himself at the fourth division club Stade Briochin (1-2).
If, in 22 missions, if he was only 37 minutes on the pitch in 22 missions, nothing would change, it would “of course not easier to jump on the European Championship train,” said Di Salvo. “We have players who are in the rhythm with us.” The performance principle is now more in the foreground than in the past, “when he scored many goals for us.” There are two goals and templates for Nice, for whom U21 met Moukoko only once in the last five international matches.
“It will be decisive in which constitution is: he is logically an option.