Sunday, June 6th, 2021
Fear opponents Portugal defeated
Nmecha makes the U21 European champions
The German U21 national team is European champion. In the final against Portugal, the footballers convince with a strong performance, always setting accents on the offensive. For coach Stefan Kuntz it is the second victory in the third final in a row.
Stefan Kuntz and the German U21 national team fulfilled their dream of the European Championship with a thrilling final performance. The selection of the German Football Association won a high-class and fast-paced final against feared opponents Portugal deserved 1-0 (0-0) in Ljubljana and crowned themselves European champions for the third time after 2009 and 2017. Lukas Nmecha, who was also the top scorer of the tournament with a total of four goals, provided the acclaimed goal (49th minute). For the DFB-Elf it was the next triumph after 2017 in the third final in a row under successful coach Kuntz.
A few days before the European championship of the senior national team headed by national coach Joachim Löw, the young German footballers sent an impressive signal in front of 4883 spectators that, despite much criticism, there is also a lot of quality. The appearances in Hungary and Slovenia should also look forward to Löw’s successor, Hansi Flick.
In contrast to the golden generation with the later world champions around Manuel Neuer (“You will be European champion”) in 2009 and their successor around Serge Gnabry eight years later, the 2021 selection before the start of the finals was not one of the title candidates. Again and again it was said that it was not the strongest year, the market value comparisons with top nations sometimes annoyed the players. As a tournament team par excellence, the DFB-Elf fought their way to the final.
Portugal’s series against Germany breaks
The German team had to overcome resistance in a difficult group stage and a thrilling penalty thriller in the quarter-finals against Denmark – and that was also the case for the first time in the final. The nimble and tech-savvy Portuguese got off to a better start. A shot from Tiago Tomas just missed (8th), Amos Pieper saved in dire need against Diogo Dalot (13th).
But the mentality troop around leader Niklas Dorsch quickly fought their way into the game, fulfilling Kuntz’s wish as requested. “Makes spectators and families proud,” said the successful coach shortly before the game – and his boys did. Florian Wirtz from Leverkusen, who had decided the semi-finals against the Netherlands with a double, was only a tiny bit missing for the lead. His deflected shot did not bounce off the lower edge of the bar into the goal and thus continued the aluminum bad luck of the German selection in the tournament. Nmecha (21st) and Arne Maier (29th) failed because of Portugal’s strong parrying keeper Diogo Costa.
Overall, Germany pushed more for the lead before the break, but Portugal remained dangerous. Significant for the team spirit of the DFB-Elf was a great opportunity for the Iberians, which could barely be thwarted with united forces and a lot of effort (45th + 1).
The DFB selection quickly celebrated the lead after the break. The team’s only senior national player, Ridle Baku, kept calm and a good overview of his pass to Nmecha. And the goal machine in the German game turned ice cold into the twelfth goal in the 20th U21 game. In the closing stages, goalkeeper Finn Dahmen was repeatedly challenged. His front men lacked precision in counterattacks. Karim Adeyemi missed the 2-0 (72nd / 81st). Portugal, which had recently won five times in a row against Germany, pressed for an equalizer in vain.
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