The U21 team suffers its first defeat in European Championship qualifying since 2021. The pressure is on for Tuesday.
The German U21 team has suffered a major setback on its way to the European Championship with its first defeat in a European Championship qualifier in almost four years. After a disastrous start with two goals conceded within a minute, the German Football Association’s team lost 2-3 (0-2) to Greece despite a temporary comeback.
After a miserable start with two goals conceded by Konstantinos Kostoulas (13th minute) and former Nuremberg player Stefanos Tzimas (14th minute), aided by a blackout by goalkeeper Dennis Seimen, the German team fought back thanks to an improved performance after the break. After goals from Hoffenheim’s Muhammed Damar (54th minute) and Tom Rothe from Union Berlin (59th), coach Antonio Di Salvo’s team pushed for the win. However, it was the visitors who celebrated after Dimitris Rallis (81st) punished the hesitant DFB defense.
“A really bad first half”
“We played a really bad first half,” Di Salvo said on ProSieben Maxx, criticizing too many simple mistakes. “Then we gradually got into the game better. I think we were closer to 3-2,” the national team coach added. “We had three or four good chances and didn’t score.” Di Salvo said that “we also underestimated the situation” when it came to the decisive goal. The next test is on Tuesday in Belfast. The defeat in front of 7,830 spectators is the first in a qualifying match since the 0-4 loss to Poland in November 2021. At that time, however, the German team still qualified comfortably for the European Championship. After two match days, the table for the current qualifying round is not yet very meaningful. On Tuesday (6:30 p.m./ProSieben Maxx), the German team urgently needs a win in Belfast against Northern Ireland on the road to the 2027 finals. “We can’t afford any more slip-ups now,” said Di Salvo. Bitter goalkeeper blackout before the break Against the offensively strong Greeks, the German team, weakened by substitutions and led by captain and debutant Tom Bischof from FC Bayern, repeatedly had problems and was particularly vulnerable defensively. The performance in the stronger second half was a far cry from the tough and uninspired play in the first half; much more would have been possible. Thirteen seconds after the kickoff, Tzimas made it 2-0 after Paderborn keeper Seimen fumbled the ball. Perhaps the game would have taken a completely different turn if Mainz’s Nelson Weiper’s header had not hit the post shortly before halftime (45+1).