During the international break, talents of the Revierklubs are also travelling with the German U-National teams. Players from Schalke and BVB showed themselves capable of scoring.

Schalke talent Keke Topp continued to build on his good goal tally in the German U19 national team. On his 19th birthday, the young striker from the Schalker A Juniors contributed a goal to the 1:1 against the Belgian selection.

For Topp, it was already his seventh goal in his tenth appearance. However, his joy was probably limited. After the attacker’s opening goal, Belgium equalised through Romeo Vermant – son of former Schalke professional Sven Vermant.

The score remained 1-1 – and the DFB Juniors missed out on participation in the European Championship in July. The final round in Malta is out of reach for Germany.

“Today we played a good game against a strong opponent, but in the end we put ourselves in a bad position against Italy. Now we have to shake ourselves and deal with the disappointment,” coach Guido Streichsbier was quoted as saying in a DFB statement.

With central defender Nnamdi Collins, a Borussia Dortmund player was also in Germany’s starting eleven, BVB talent Tom Rothe was substituted shortly before the end.

Things are going better for the German U17s. Christian Wück’s team is well on its way to the European Championship after a 7-0 win over Finland.

Borussia Dortmund’s Paris Brunner scored twice in the resounding victory. The 17-year-old scored in the eleventh and 86th minute. Brunner’s BVB team-mate Charles Herrmann was also successful, he had scored the early lead.

Dortmund’s Kjell-Arik Wätjen and Schalke’s Taylan Bulut were brought on at the break, two more youngsters from the Ruhr area.