Moukoko doesn’t help either
German U21 stumbles in European Championship qualification
March 22, 2024, 8:16 p.m
The German U21 national team’s triumphant march through European Championship qualification has been slowed: outsiders Kosovo do not allow a German goal. The group victory is still in your own hands.
Germany’s U21 national team made its first small slip-up in the previously flawless European Championship qualification. Against outsiders Kosovo, coach Antonio Di Salvo’s team couldn’t get past a 0-0 draw in front of 6,899 spectators in Chemnitz. The German Football Association’s selection of BVB striker Youssoufa Moukoko was superior against deep-lying guests, but did not score a goal.
After four wins from the first four games, the DFB team was unable to further extend its perfect record. This means that the 2017 and 2021 European champions are still in second place behind Poland. The league leaders have two points more, but also played one more game. Only the group winner is guaranteed to qualify for next year’s tournament in Slovakia. The U21 continues on Tuesday in Halle/Saale against Israel.
The guests concentrated almost exclusively on defense with a compact five-man chain. Accordingly, the German team initially found it difficult to get dangerously in front of the goal. Far too often it went through the middle and the passes were often too imprecise. However, goalkeeper Jonas Urbig, who represented Freiburg’s Noah Atubolu, only had to intervene a few times when the Kosovars’ inaccurate long balls were thrown.
Moukoko fails several times
Di Salvo also had to restructure his defense in the middle of the first half. Colin Kleine-Bekel from Kiel twisted his knee in a duel and Jamil Siebert came on for him (31st). At least in a few cases the German team got into closing positions – but the guests saved the 0-0 against Merlin Röhl (30th) and Ansgar Knauff (32nd). Attacker Maximilian Beier from TSG Hoffenheim, who was nominated for the senior national team for the first time by national coach Julian Nagelsmann, was also sorely missed.
In the second half, the hosts played much more powerfully, Moukoko missed their best chance to date (48′). Germany was also close to taking the lead with attempts by Siebert (57′), Röhl (59′) and again Moukoko (64′).
Di Salvo brought in two fresh offensive players in the middle of the half and, among other things, took down the hapless Moukoko. That almost paid off, but substitute Nick Woltemade also failed to put the ball into the goal from close range (76′). Because the visitors’ keeper also parried against Röhl (79′), the score remained 0-0.