The German U21 took a big step towards the European Championship 2025 with a morale victory in the top game against Poland.
DFB coach Antonio Di Salvo’s team celebrated their fourth success in the fourth qualifying game in the hard-fought 3-1 (0-1) in Essen and took revenge for the bitter 4-0 defeat two years ago.
Eric Martel from Cologne (56th), substitute Nick Woltemade from Bremen (79th) and Merlin Röhl from SC Freiburg (82nd) scored for the new league leaders against the Poles, who had also previously not lost a point.
Ariel Mosor (24th) had put the guests, who had been at least equal for a long time, in the lead in front of 8,559 spectators. Since only the group winner is certain to go to the finals in Slovakia, the game had a groundbreaking significance.
Poland annoys Germany’s U21s
After the convincing 4-1 win in Paderborn against Estonia, Di Salvo only changed one position. Mönchengladbach’s Rocco Reitz, who scored twice on his debut against the Estonians on Friday, took his place on the bench again.
Against the Poles, who won their first four qualifying games and only conceded one goal, the German team got into the game better in wet and cold conditions, Frankfurt’s Ansgar Knauff (14th) missed the first good opportunity.
The effort was visible, striker Youssoufa Moukoko chased after every ball – but as the game went on, negligence became clear and took revenge.
After a corner, Mainz’s Brajan Gruda lost sight of his opponent Mosor, who took the cross directly from a good six meters and sank the ball past goalkeeper Noah Atubolu.
As a result, the German team lost its order and the Poles, who defended compactly, repeatedly had good counterattack opportunities.
“There is still a lot of room for improvement. But Poland is a mature and robust team,” said DFB managing director Andreas Rettig during half-time on “ProSieben Maxx”.
BVB star Moukoko involved in the equalizer
In the second half, Di Salvo brought in the powerful Woltemade for Hoffenheim’s shooting star Maximilian Beier. The equalizer was initiated by Moukoko, who took a free kick in the best position. The ball ended up in a detour to captain Martel, who scored for the first time in his 14th appearance for the U21s.
The game was now open, Reitz, who had just come on as a substitute, immediately posed a threat (66′). A little later, Moukoko had to leave the field and the team’s top scorer grabbed his thigh.
But even without the Dortmund player, the victory still came to fruition because the Germans now appeared more determined and effective.