Merlin Röhl shot Germany into the semi-finals of the U21 European Championship in Slovakia. It was a happy moment at the end of a difficult season at SC Freiburg.
When Merlin Röhl comes to the ball in the 117th minute at the edge of the box, he doesn’t torch for long: contact and the ball is in a shot position. The 22-year-old moves through and shoots Germany into the semi-finals of the U21 European Championship. “The goal means a lot to me. I really enjoyed the moment,” said Röhl afterwards: “I had a lot of up and down this season. That’s why I’m even more grateful for such moments.”
Röhl’s difficult season at SC Freiburg
Because for Röhl it was the highlight of a difficult season at SC Freiburg. Last season under ex-coach Christian Streich, the native of Potsdam developed into a regular player and top performer. As such, he also went into the first season under Julian Schuster. But a tore of syndesmosis threw him back in September.
He missed twelve games and was only able to return to the field at the end of 2024. After that he only came to seven Starfelf missions. After suffering from heel problems in March and April, Röhl no longer played the usual role in the Freiburg season finale.
Röhl’s substitution brings momentum into German game
In the German game, however, he was immediately one of the assets. Coach Antonio Di Salvo had substituted Röhl against Italy at the 62nd minute – and just five minutes later he had the first chance. But Italy keeper Sebastiano Desplanch was able to parry his header. Röhl was also involved in 2-1. Because it was his cross that Stuttgart’s Nick Woltemade forwarded to Mainz Nelson Weiper, who then skillfully pressed the ball over the line (87th).
Weiper had also been substituted before. The fact that he had to wait for a while did not bother the 20-year-old: “We have a lot of great players on the bench, who also decide such a game.” Players like Merlin Röhl.
It was not clear for a long time whether Röhl could play at all. He had injured his ankle during the final training session before the European Championship start and therefore missed the first two games against Slovenia (3: 0) and the Czech Republic (4: 2). Against England at the preliminary round end, the 22-year-old was completely surprisingly in the starting eleven.
Röhl: “I’m grateful”
“A few days ago it was completely impossible that I was playing. I was told that the injury would take ten to 14 days. There was even the assumption that it could be worse,” said Röhl on Wednesday, after letting the DFB selection as a captain.
The DFB had Jochen Gruber, the team doctor of SC Freiburg. “He has known me for a long time and has been looking after me for years. It was a great collaboration between everyone, including the medical team here. I am grateful that I am still here that nobody was nominated that I had an impact,” said Röhl.
DFB-Elf defies the setbacks
The impact was also necessary, after all, the DFB team had to cope with a few violent setbacks on the way to the semi-finals: “This moment when we can get the goal in the 96th minute, it did something with us. We then put it away properly. It is simply important that we learn from it,” said Röhl.
Germany had two more players at that time – and gave Italy the free kick through a careless action in added time that Giuseppe Ambrosino used for a very happy equalizer. Luca Koleosho from FC Burnley Italy had previously taken the lead (58th). Afterwards Germany struggled and it took a standard situation so that Woltemade could compensate for (68th).
Germany against Italy: decision in extra time
So Germany had to be extended. However, the game had costly strength. Italy stood in the back with the remaining eight field players, and the DFB-Elf was obviously difficult to play the double outnumbered.
“In the extension, people have seen that some are going on the tooth area,” said Röhl. “But we are a team and everyone is important, including those in the second row.” And in the 117th she hit: the hour of the hero from the second row.
Broadcast on Monday, June 23, 2025 6:00 a.m., SWR Currently in the morning, SWR Current
