Setback on the way to the European Championships
©IMAGO
The German U21s suffered a major setback on their way to the European Championships with their first defeat in a European Championship qualifier in almost four years. After a fatal false start with two goals conceded within a minute, the selection of the German Football Association lost 2:3 (0:2) against Greece, despite a catch-up effort in the meantime.
After the miserable start with two goals conceded by Konstantinos Kostoulas (13th minute) and ex-Nuremberg player Stefanos Tzimas (14th), aided by goalkeeper Dennis Seimen’s blackout, the German team fought back thanks to an increase in performance after the break. After goals from Hoffenheim’s Muhammed Damar (54th minute) and Tom Rothe from Union Berlin (59th), coach Antonio Di Salvo’s team pushed for victory. But the guests celebrated after Dimitris Rallis (81′) punished the hesitant DFB defense.
“We played a really bad first half,” said Di Salvo on “ProSieben Maxx” and criticized too many easy mistakes. “Then we gradually got better into the game. I think we were closer to 3-2,” he added. “We had three or four good opportunities and didn’t score the goals.” When the decisive goal comes, “we also underestimate the situation.”
The defeat in front of 7,830 spectators is the first in a qualifying game since the 4-0 defeat against Poland in November 2021. At that time, the German team still confidently qualified for the European Championships. After two match days, the table for the current qualifying round is not yet very meaningful. On Tuesday (6.30 p.m./ProSieben Maxx) in Belfast against Northern Ireland, the German selection urgently needs a win on the way to the 2027 finals.
Against the offensively strong Greeks, the weakened German team led by captain and debutant Tom Bischof from FC Bayern repeatedly had problems and was particularly vulnerable defensively. The performance in the stronger second half was no comparison to the tough and unimaginative game in the first half; much more would have been possible.
The beginning was particularly bitter: after a free kick, Kostoulas took advantage of the confusion in the German defense to take the lead. 13 seconds after kick-off, Tzimas made it 2-0 after Paderborn keeper Seimen misused the ball. Perhaps the game would have gone in a completely different direction if Mainz’s Nelson Weiper’s header hadn’t landed on the post shortly before half-time (45’+1).