Monday, May 31, 2021
U21 thriller with penalty shoot-out
Damen’s fists bring the DFB team to the semi-finals
The quarter-finals of the U21 European Championship are extremely long. After 90 and 120 minutes there is no winner, the DFB juniors have to go to penalties against the strong Danish selection. It is goalkeeper Finn Dahmen who made it into the semi-finals with two saves.
Thanks to great morale and penalty hero Finn Dahmen, Germany’s U21 national team has fought its way into the semi-finals of a European football championship for the fourth time in a row. The selection of coach Stefan Kuntz came back in a dramatic quarter-final against efficient Danes after a 0-1 deficit in an impressive manner and prevailed 6: 5 on penalties. After 120 minutes it was 2: 2 (1: 1, 0: 0). Against the Netherlands, who had previously defeated France 2-1, it is now on Thursday for the third finals in a row.
In the other semifinals, defending champions Spain and Portugal will also play against each other on Thursday in Maribor. The Portuguese beat Italy 5: 3 (3: 3, 2: 1) after extra time. Previously, the Spaniards also had to go into overtime to defeat Croatia 2-1 (1-1, 0-0).
In the penalty crime thriller, Finn Dahmen parried twice, and Paul Jaeckel converted the decisive penalty. The selection of the German Football Association earned the success with a long and committed performance, even if the Danes remained dangerous, especially on counterattacks and took the lead through Wahid Faghir (69th minute). Lukas Nmecha equalized after a corner (88th), while substitute Jonathan Burkardt brought his team into the lead for the first time (100th). The Danes scored through Victor Nelsson (108./Foul penalty) to 2-2, the decision fell from the point.
Driven by the few German fans among the spectators in the arena in Szekesfehervar – who are allowed in the knockout phase of the tournament differently than in the group phase – the German team started the game bravely and actively. Kuntz’s plan to largely trust the well-rehearsed team from the group stage initially worked. The DFB-Elf stood safe and created the first goal chances with diagonal balls and shifts to the outside. In the end, however, the accuracy was still missing at the beginning.
Danish counterattacks create danger
Compared to the group stage, 18-year-old Florian Wirtz was completely new to the starting line-up, although he was rather inconspicuous. In the preliminary round, the Danes were particularly characterized by their defensive stability – and they also counted on that in the quarter-finals. The team of the former Peter Bosz assistant at BVB, Albert Capellas Herms, was relatively low in the 4-3-3 system and waited. The German team mostly prevented the few counter-opportunities in the beginning.
It was only after a good 15 minutes that the Danes gave up their defensive stance and attacked earlier. But Germany remained dominant Рand only missed the lead by a few centimeters: After ingenious preparatory work by Nmecha, Mergim Berisha from Salzburg was free, but pushed the ball past the far post (20th). Jesper Lindstr̦m recorded the first dangerous finish of the now somewhat braver Danes after a good 20 minutes (23rd).
The DFB selection continued to dominate the game, had more of the game and combined well forward. The Danes now had success with their counterattacks one time or the other – with a little luck and a lot of effort, the German defensive could defuse them. Keeper Finn Dahmen parried strongly against the former Dortmund’s Jacob Bruun Larsen, who came free to shoot on goal (49th).
The Danes were better at the game now. The DFB-Elf tried to counter it, but made too many simple mistakes. Both teams were now afraid of the knockout hit. But the Danish tactic worked: only a few moments after being substituted on, the 17-year-old Faghir met. The DFB-Elf tried everything, Kuntz switched offensively and was rewarded. Nmecha was there after a corner, and Joker Burkardt struck in extra time. But because Denmark came back, the decision was made on penalties.
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