The lack of talent is often lamented in German football. Is it really so bad? A look at the DFB U21 team ahead of the European Championship season.
The “golden generation” of the German U21 national team, which became European champions in 2009, is mourned again and again. Six players from the team became world champions in Brazil five years later: Manuel Neuer, Mats Hummels, Benedikt Höwedes, Jerome Boateng, Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil.
Last summer, the current DFB junior team qualified for the European Championships in Romania and Georgia from June 9th to July 2nd, 2023. With games against France on September 23 in Magdeburg and four days later in Sheffield against England they start the European Championship season.
Nobody is talking about a new “golden generation” this time – but it has team quite a few talents in his ranks who could have a great future ahead of them.
Moukoko, the “child prodigy”
Above all there is the so-called child prodigy Youssoufa Moukoko from Borussia Dortmund. The 17-year-old lost against Schalke 04 last weekend match winner and derby heroes.
He should also help the DFB junior national team with his goals, but nothing should be rushed so as not to overwhelm him. U21 coach Antonio Di Salvo and BVB always emphasize that they should build it up carefully.
Armel Bella-Kotchap, the shooting star
The biggest headlines are currently being made by someone who isn’t even in the games against France and England: Armel Bella-Kotchap. National coach Hansi Flick has the 20-year-old, who transferred from VfL Bochum to the premier league to FC southampton changed, was surprisingly promoted to the senior national team.
“He has made excellent progress over the past few months”said Di Salvo about the shooting star. For the U21 coachteam the main task is to introduce the young players to the senior national team.
Farmer with a big chest
Maximilian Bauer from FC Augsburg has also made good progress. Most recently, the central defender made a decisive contribution to his club’s 1-0 win over FC Bayern.
Bauer came to the U21s with a lot of self-confidence: “It’s a great feeling to arrive with a win against Bayern. It definitely gives you a lot of confidence.”
Knauff, the Europa League hero
Ansgar Knauff has already caused a sensation internationally – first because of his dream goal in the 1:1 by champion Eintracht Frankfurt against FC Barcelona in the quarter-final first leg of the past Europeanleague-Season. Also in the semi-final second leg West Ham United he scored – in the first minute.
The loan of the right winger from Borussia Dortmund to the Hessen was obviously exactly the right step for his development.
Thiaw now at AC Milan
Central defender Malick Thiaw also has promising future prospects. The homegrown talent from Schalke’s “Knappenschmiede” switched from Gelsenkirchen to Serie A champions AC Milan for the season. Schalke would have liked to keep the top talent, but ultimately sold it for economic reasons and received up to twelve million euros.
Two years ago, the then U21Coach Stefan Kuntz with the juniors after a 4-1 defeat in the European Championship qualifier in Belgium: “We knew that weaker vintages might come one day. It was clear that this vintage would not make us a favorite for the European title.” Nevertheless, the young Germans became European champions in 2021, as they had in 2009 and 2017.
It depends on the game practice
Why shouldn’t this also be possible with the current squad? For coach Di Salvo, the be-all and end-all is match practice, namely “on the highest level“. The portal “t-on-line.de” he said at the beginning of June: “I understand the impatience, but if it’s not enough for an absolute top club in the Bundesliga, a loan is always a good option.”
Like Knauff, midfielder Reda Khadra also took this path, albeit in England. The 21-year-old is actually at the Premier League-Club Brighton & Hove Albion under contract but is currently playing on loan in the second division Championship for Sheffield United. Although he has been in the U21 squad before, he has not yet been used. Maybe that’s already the case on Friday – because of match practice.