Aachen (dpa) – Led by double goal scorer Jonathan Burkardt, the German U21 national team defied personnel worries and confidently solved their first mandatory task in the new year on the way to the EM ticket.
Coach Antonio Di Salvo’s injury-plagued selection clearly won 4-0 (3-0) against Latvia in front of 7718 spectators in Aachen. With their sixth win in seven games, the youngsters consolidated their good starting position in the qualifying three-way battle ahead of the head-to-head duels with Israel and Poland.
“It was a very nice game for us,” said Burkardt at ProSieben Maxx. The numerous failures were not an issue in the team. “We made the best of it,” said the striker, looking confidently at the Israel game: “We got confidence today and hope to win in Israel too.”
Before the eyes of Bernd Neuendorf, who watched his first international match as DFB president in the stadium two weeks after his election, captain Burkardt from FSV Mainz 05 stood out from the German team and scored two goals (25th/43rd minute). Eintracht Frankfurt’s Ansgar Knauff made it 2-0 with his U21 debut goal (26′), while substitute Malik Tillman increased it to 4-0 (75′). The good U21 debutant Noah Atubolu in goal also saved a penalty (66th).
Well top duel
With that, the defending champion regained first place in the group with 18 points ahead of Israel (16) and Poland (15). The important duel in Israel is scheduled for Tuesday, followed by games against Hungary and in Poland in June. Only the group winners and the best of nine runners-up directly buy the ticket for the finals in summer 2023 in Georgia and Romania, the other runners-up have to go to the playoffs. Israel and Poland had separated 2:2.
Di Salvo had to put up with almost a dozen cancellations from injured or ill players before the game. The newly formed team, especially on the defensive, had some uncertainties in the early stages, but then found their way around better and better. The young Germans put a lot of pressure on the Latvians, who were defending with a five-man chain, only missing a goal at first.
dream goal
The hosts then pressed hard to take the lead after two errors in the Latvian defence. After a strong ball conquest by Nuremberg’s Tom Krauß, Burkardt remained cool in front of the opposing keeper. Only about 30 seconds later, the strong Knauff raised after a mistake by Latvian Normunds Uldrikis.
The most beautiful goal of the evening came from Burkardt shortly before the break, who flicked a ball from the edge of the penalty area into the goal. After that, the opponent only became dangerous with standards, but Freiburg’s Atubolu saved well and even saved the penalty after a shove by Maximilian Bauer. Tillman then set the final point.