Tuesday, November 16, 2021
U21 easily to lead the table
DFB Juniors make amends
The German U21 national team wins the last international match of the year and makes up for the 0: 4 against Poland. In the European Championship qualification, coach Di Salvo’s team easily beat outsiders San Marino and regained the lead in Group B.
The German U21 footballers have shed their frustration and celebrated a conciliatory end of the year with a clear win against San Marino. Four days after the 4-0 debacle against Poland, coach Antonio Di Salvo’s team easily prevailed 4-0 (3-0) in the European Championship qualification against the underdog from the miniature state.
In Ingolstadt, Schalke defender Malick Thiaw (14th) and Nürnberg’s Erik Schuranow (15th) quickly ensured clear conditions with a double. Captain Jonathan Burkardt (34th) from FSV Mainz 05 increased with the help of the lower edge of the bar, Cologne’s Jan Thielmann (62nd) scored the first goal in his second U21 international match.
This means that after the sixth of ten match days, the DFB team remain leaders in Group B with 15 points, just ahead of Poland (13) and Israel (12), who have played one game less. Against Latvia on March 25th, the duel in Israel is on the program four days later. Only the first in the group and the best second out of the nine groups will qualify directly for the U21 European Championship 2023 in Romania and Georgia.
One way only
Compared to the 4-0 disgrace against Poland, Di Salvo changed his starting line-up to five positions – Bundesliga professionals Marton Dardai from Hertha BSC and Roberto Massimo from Stuttgart were absent due to illness, Werder professional Jean-Manuel Mbom was suspended. BVB striker Youssoufa Moukoko had previously left with an eye infection.
Against the physically and technically inferior guests from San Marino, who were only noticed by fouls, the game in front of 2004 spectators was already decided after a quarter of an hour. First Thiaw headed the ball over the line from close range, then Schuranow hit after a Burkardt cross pass.
Burkardt rewarded his strong performance with a goal of his own, shortly afterwards Thiaw failed at the post (39th). The only downer in the first half: Freiburg’s Kevin Schade had to leave the field injured after just five minutes.
In the second round it was only possible in one direction, but the DFB-Elf found it a little difficult to score goals. The strong Knauff (58th) and Burkardt (59th) failed from a brilliant position before Thielmann hit the far corner free-standing.