The absence of national coach Julian Nagelsmann at the dramatic quarterfinals of the U21 European Championship in Slovakia against Italy (3: 2 NV) apparently caused criticism in the DFB selection.
“Bild” reports that the team has heard that players were “disappointed and surprised” that Nagelsmann had not followed the game in the Mol Aréna in Dunajska Streda.
After the flawless preliminary round with three wins from three games and a goal difference of 9: 3, there had been hope in the team that the national coach watches the encounter against Azzurrini live on the stands, especially since his Italian counterpart Gennaro Gattuso was present.
It is now clear: also for the semi-finals on Wednesday against France (from 9:00 p.m. in the live ticker sport.de) Nagelsmann will not travel to Slovakia. As the DFB announced, the 37-year-old looks at the final on Saturday, the German team should achieve it.
The opponent of the DFB selection would then be England or the Netherlands who face each other in the second semi-finals-another real U21 delicious bites.
Video: U21 breathes to drama: “Make life difficult for us”
U21 European Championship: Several World Cup candidates in the German squad
In the team of coach Antonio di Salvo, several actors who could also be candidates for the 2026 World Cup in Canada, USA and Mexico are bustling. The professional of VfB Stuttgart has recently been used twice in the A national team at the Final Four in the Nations League.
Brajan Gruda (Brighton & Hove Albion) and Rocco Reitz (Borussia Mönchengladbach) in 2024 were part of the preparatory squad in front of the European Championship, even if they remained without use.
Against Italy, the Freiburg Merlin Röhl met in the 117th minute to victory for the German U21, which has been unbeaten for 19 games. Nick Woltemade (68th) and Nelson Weiper (87th) had shot the game in the regular season after the Italian leadership by Luca Koleosho (58th).
Giuseppe Ambrosino (90.+6) saved Italy in front of the eyes of DFB sports director Rudi Völler and DFB managing director Andreas Rettig with a directly converted free kick in the extension.
After the yellow-red cards for Wilfried Gnonto (80th) and Mattia Zanotti (90th), the Italians acted in double outnumbered.