U21 European Championship qualification
Germany is holding its nerve – and is back on track
Updated 10/14/2025 – 8:26 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Germany wanted to show a reaction after the Greek bankruptcy. But shortly after kick-off there was the next setback. Then the team showed mentality.
The German U21 national team has made amends in the fight for a ticket to the 2027 European Championship. On Tuesday evening, Antonio Di Salvo’s team turned around a 0-1 deficit in the qualifying game against Northern Ireland and ultimately won 2-1 (0-1). After three match days, Germany is in second place in Group F behind Greece.
Northern Ireland’s Ruairi McConville gave the hosts the lead with a header from a corner kick (4th minute). The game in Belfast was gradually slipping away. In the final phase, the German team turned up the heat: Assan Ouédraogo (78′) and Dženan Pejčinović (83’/penalty) hit the Northern Irishman right in the heart.
The nine group winners and the best runner-up will qualify for the 2027 finals in Albania and Serbia. The eight remaining group runners-up will compete in play-offs to determine the final four participants in the final round. Those third in the group have no chance.
As in the 2:3 against Greece, the DFB team completely missed the start and chased after the early goal in vain for a long time. “Unfortunately that was a blueprint for Friday. We didn’t accept the conditions well and weren’t mentally prepared for them,” said DFB managing director Andreas Rettig at the break at ProSieben Maxx.
Di Salvo had also expected a “hot number” in view of the German senior national team’s hard-fought 1-0 win a few kilometers away the day before. Less than 24 hours later, three players from the Northern Ireland A team were even in the starting eleven for the U21s. “So we know what to expect,” said Di Salvo.
But as against Greece, when the score was 0-2 after 15 minutes, the start in front of 1,000 fans at The Oval stadium was a total failure: after a corner, McConville was allowed to head in almost unchallenged. The German defense, which had been reorganized after numerous failures, seemed disorientated at the beginning, and it was only after 20 minutes that the German selection found their way into the game.
Captain Tom Bischof from FC Bayern Munich in particular showed great commitment and had the first chance with a long-range shot (24th). Goalkeeper Dennis Seimen (SC Paderborn), who made a bad mistake against Greece, also prevented the score from making it 0-2 (39′).
After the break, the German team pushed for the equalizer. In the 56th minute the ball was in the net, but Mainz’s Nelson Weiper was offside. A late double strike turned the tide: first Ouédraogo headed well into the left corner, then substitute Pejčinović converted from the spot.