Two penalties awarded, majority not used: The U21s gave away two points in the 1-1 draw against Israel at the start of the European Championship – and had to deal with racist insults.
Youssoufa Moukoko stood motionless on the pitch after the disappointing start of the European Championship, coach Antonio Di Salvo trudged soaking wet in the direction of the dressing room: Despite a long majority, the German U21s did not have a meager 1-1 (1-1) against Israel at the beginning of their title defense mission got out.
Both young star Moukoko and Jessic Ngankam missed a penalty in the heavy rain in Kutaisi – and were therefore massively racially insulted on the Internet.
“Things like that just don’t belong in football, we don’t shoot extra. When you get messages like that, it’s disgusting,” said 18-year-old Moukoko disappointed after the final whistle. Central defender Yann-Aurel Bisseck (Aarhus GF) was massively insulted on Facebook after his appointment as captain on Tuesday.
Bisseck (26th) scored at least to equalize, but after that the DFB team remained far too harmless, especially offensively. Moukoko at the beginning (3rd) and Hertha’s Ngankam shortly before the end (78th) both failed from the point to make matters worse. Dor Turgeman had brought the clear outsider, who had to act outnumbered for a long time after a controversial yellow-red card against Eden Karzev (45th), into the lead (20th).
“Today we are angry, tomorrow we will continue”
“Especially with the two penalties it was a missed chance to win. Today we’re angry, tomorrow we’ll continue. We have to win against the Czech Republic now,” said Di Salvo after his European Championship debut as head coach at Sat.1 and added “We were in control, but I lacked precision when I was outnumbered. It wasn’t supposed to be today.”
The DFB selection, which is not one of the narrow favorites for the title due to some cancellations and absences, is already under pressure against the Czech Republic on Sunday. On the last day of the preliminary round on June 28th, they will face fellow favorites England, who defeated the Czechs 2-0 at the start.
In central defence, Schalke’s high-flyer Henning Matriciani was surprisingly allowed to start alongside Bisseck, while Denis Huseinbasic from Cologne gained the confidence in the centre. Against the Israelis, whom Germany was only able to defeat twice in the European Championship qualifier, the three-time European champions started with great pressure.
Kevin Schade was knocked off his feet with the first action in the opposing sixteen, but storm hope Moukoko – who, with a market value of 30 million euros, is more expensive than the entire Israeli team (20 million) together – failed because of keeper Daniel Peretz. On the other side, Turgeman took the lead with the first dangerous counterattack – and made Bisseck look pretty old.
A few hundred DFB supporters braved the constant rain in the open Ramaz Shengelia Stadium – and saw a prompt response from their team. After a precise free kick from the half field by playmaker Angelo Stiller, defense giant Bisseck nodded off for a well-deserved equaliser.
BVB jewel Moukoko is out of luck
And Germany stayed tuned. Vagnoman’s tight shot landed in the goal, but Moukoko was penalized for offside (37′). Yannik Keitel failed with a flick at the Israeli keeper (41st).
Shortly before the half-time whistle it was bitter for the underdog. Karzev and left-back Luca Netz both tackled the ball, the French referee Willy Delajod dismissed the Israeli (45th) – wrong decision.
This gave the Di Salvo team space, but again BVB jewel Moukoko and Keitel (55th) missed the first big chances in the second round. Germany ran to – without success. Ngankam also found his master from the point in the Israeli goalkeeper.