Konstantin Heide from SpVgg Unterhaching will also be in goal for the DFB team in the final (from 1 p.m. in the live ticker at the Sportschau) of the U17 World Cup.
In the semi-final against Argentina, Heide had already represented the sick goalkeeper Max Schmitt from Bayern Munich excellently and became the match winner with two saves in the penalty shootout. Max Schmitt had impressed until the quarter-finals and then fell ill.
In the final, German coach Christian Wück is also relying on the ten outfield players who also started against Argentina (4:2 iE). – The German line-up: Heide – da Silva Moreira, Jeltsch, Odogu, Hennig – Harchaoui, Osawe – Yalcinkaya, Darvich, Brunner – Moerstedt. , Konstantin Heide from SpVgg Unterhaching represented him excellently in the semi-finals.
U17 goalkeeper Max Schmitt in action.
Defenders who can defend
Two goalkeepers who are almost equally strong is a tradition in Germany. Whether currently with Marc-André ter Stegen and soon Manuel Neuer again, previously with Oliver Kahn and Jens Lehmann, Bodo Illgner and Andreas Köpke – it is a well-known luxury problem in the DFB. The A team has lost another traditional German quality, but the U17s are currently revitalizing it: uncompromising defense.
Christian Wück says: “I know what we are internationally renowned for and we wanted to get back there”says the coach of the U17 national team. Wück took over this team three years ago, “And it was very important to us right from the start to train not only good footballers, but also defenders who can defend. They may not play every pass perfectly, but they are unbeatable in a duel.”
Wins against individually stronger teams
The German defense around defense chief Finn Jeltsch from 1. FC Nürnberg did not prevent every goal being conceded in this tournament in Indonesia, there were seven in six games. The victories against individually stronger teams such as Spain in the quarter-finals (1-0) were, above all, the result of hard work. And in the distant homeland it somehow hits a nerve. A country that is very unfamiliar with its men’s national team is watching the next generation rediscover the “German virtues”.
“Willingness to run, commitment and resilience” ex-national player Dietmar Hamann identified, “Everyone who watches this team is captivated by them.” So it’s not just about hard bones in defense, that would probably be a bit too easy.
Darvich and Brunner the creative minds
The offensive is also convincing, “We have good, individual players up front who are always good for a goal”said Noah Darvich, who is one of those himself: The German captain plays for FC Barcelona. Most recently, the focus was on Paris Brunner; the Borussia Dortmund striker was the decisive player in the semi-final against Argentina (4:2 iE).
Rabid defenders, sophisticated attackers, that’s what Wück wants. Young men for special assignments are again wanted among the German youth ranks. Need a team “Not players who are good everywhere, but players who are perfect in one position.” His team still wants to “We want to take this final step, we want to come home with the cup. We know that many Germans are behind us.” A penalty shootout win would somehow fit the whole story.