With an easy friendly victory, the German U21 national team has picked up momentum for the mission to defend the European Championship title. Coach Antonio Di Salvo’s team won the first of two preparatory games for the European Championships in Georgia and Romania (June 21 to July 8) at the training camp in Prad/South Tyrol against a local selection 7-0 (5-0). Star striker Youssoufa Moukoko was in the mood to score with a brace (6’/25′).
The 18-year-old attacker from runner-up Borussia Dortmund only joined the juniors on Sunday evening together with Josha Vagnoman after several days of training with the senior national team under national coach Hansi Flick. Moukoko will play his first European Championship with the U21s, he missed the finals and winning the title in 2021 due to injury.
The other goals for the German team were scored by Jan Thielmann (10′), Noah Weißhaupt (30′), Kenneth Schmidt (69′) and debutant Nelson Weiper (73′). In addition, the hosts scored an own goal in the early stages (9th).
Di Salvo changed almost the entire team at the break, only Schalke’s Henning Matriciani was able to prove himself throughout the game.
On Friday there will be a dress rehearsal for the European Championship against the Swiss U21 in Imst – closed to the public. On Sunday, the 23-man squad and supervisors leave for Batumi in Georgia, on June 22 (6:00 p.m./Sat.1) the first group game against Israel will take place in Kutaisi. The other opponents in Group C are the Czech Republic (25th) and fellow favorites England (28th).