Almost two years without defeat, magic football against Spain: Germany’s U21 is part of the circle of title before the European Championship. Now the trainer Antonio di Salvo is challenged.
Stefan Kuntz begins compliments with words that initially do not sound like a compliment. So it was in the summer of 2021. With the German U21 national team, Kuntz had just won a European championship for the second time when he was asked about his assistant coach, who was supposed to be his successor shortly after.
“Toni”Kuntz said and said Antonio di Salvo, was one who was not easy to convince. Cooperation with him could be exhausting. He questioned a lot, and he persistently expresses objections when the majority disagree. This experience from five years of collaboration made Kuntz work for a moment. Then he said: “But with each of his comments he makes our decisions better.”
Kuntz was considered a successor candidate by Joachim Löw, who no longer liked to be a national coach. But Kuntz did not become a national coach, that was Hans-Dieter Flick. Kuntz also became a national coach, but in Turkey. The U21 took over Di Salvo, previously assistant with a preference for the details. He still likes to devote himself to the details, but another challenge is waiting for him, perhaps the greatest of his coaching career.
Czech Republic and England as an opponent – there was something
On Thursday (from 9 p.m. in the live ticker on Sportschau.de) for Germany’s U21, the European Championship in Slovakia begins with a game against Slovenia. In addition, Germany meets the Czech Republic and England – two countries that were opponents of the U21 at the last European Championship two years ago. At the DFB they are reluctant to remember: before the tournament, the team from Di Salvo was considered a title candidate. And then that: draw against Israel, defeats against the Czech Republic and England, already in the preliminary round.
Of course, Di Salvo, 46, was sometimes asked about the first in the days before the beginning of his second tournament. He called the cutting “disappointing”but pointed out that tournaments were rarely compared, especially with a U21, in which the age limit causes change. Di Salvo said: “I am totally positive that we will be more successful than last time.”
15 games without defeat followed the European Championship out
In the current squad, goalkeeper Noah Atubolu, captain Eric Martel and attacker Nelson Weiper are only three players who were there two years ago. Above all, the first two should be used in addition to Nick Woltemade, just for the A-national team at the final four of the Nations League, Brajan Gruda or Paul Nebel are key players.
Around her, Di Salvo shaped a team who played a convincing qualification after the European Championship-AUS and in the meantime 15 games in a row had remained without defeat. This series ended a few days ago in the last test game in front of the European Championship, which lost 1: 2 against Finland after a season of three by 30 minutes.
The Finland game took place in the exclusion of the public. This is one of the reasons why the defeat was not a big issue. There were other games in memory. In November, the U21 convinced in a friendly against France, but played out an interim 2-0 lead. In the end there was a draw. At the end of March, not only Nick Woltemade conjured up against Spain, Germany won 3: 1.
U21 European Championship: Germany belongs to the circle of title contenders
It is also due to such appearances that Germany is part of the circle of titles in addition to Spain, France or England before the tournament in Slovakia. Only the result should be different this time than two years ago. Goals from Woltemade and dribbling from fog or Gruda, if necessary also parades of Atubolu, should take care of this. You will be under observation at this tournament. This also applies to the trainer DI Salvo.
At the DFB you think a lot of your U21 national coach, whom not only his predecessor Kuntz once called a better maker. DFB sports director Rudi Völler sounded similarly when he expressed early contract extension of DI Salvo until 2027 in March, a few days before the victory against Spain. Völler said: “Toni succeeds in shaping a wonderful team from the team that changes every two years.”
So Völler said what sports directors say in such moments. Or let it be communicated. But even those who talk to people from the U21 environment hear the opposite. They appreciate Di Salvo there for his detailed work, but also for dealing with each other.
Völler about Di Salvo: “Special Challenge”
Nevertheless, the sporting performance at this tournament should not become unimportant for his future. Who would still remember 15 games without defeat and all the praise, the second European Championship ended with a disappointment?
At the DFB they chose a different kind of consideration. The sports director Völler not only talked about the U21 once before the European Championship start. These days, she almost has an ambassador role in an association that has to defend itself against the allegation of tax evasion in court, while the country’s highest national man welfare does not give a particularly good role in terms of sport.
He, said Völler and said di Salvo, standing one “Special challenge” before. He did not mention the possibility of failure. Völler said: “We are all sure that he will successfully master them.”