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The German U21 team has made its way into the European Championship. In the first game against host Hungary, the DFB-Elf tried from the beginning, but it was only rewarded in the second half..
Two goals, one squad: Led by the outstanding Ridle Baku, the German Under-21 team started the European Championship with a job won. DFB coach Stefan Kuntz’s team defeated host Hungary after just two days of preparation for the start of the group stage deservedly 3-0 (0-0), but also revealed weaknesses in the final without the hopeful Youssoufa Moukoko before the break.
Lukas Nmecha from RSC Anderlecht (61st) and Wolfsburg Baku (66th / 73rd), who had already been nominated by national coach Joachim Löw in November, met in Szekesfehervar for the DFB team, which had only flown to Hungary on Monday. With another victory in the main game against the Netherlands, the 2019 finalist can take a big step towards Saturday’s quarter-finals, which will not be played until the end of May.
Dahmen in the starting lineup
From the beginning, the game went almost in one direction: the DFB team controlled what was happening, had significantly more possession of the ball, and also appeared physically present. Although Kuntz, who was already acting as Löw’s successor, had an experienced starting line-up, ideas and shots were lacking against low-level hosts.
A long shot from Niklas Dorsch (KAA Gent / 12th) remained the most dangerous action of the first half. On the other hand, goalkeeper Finn Dahmen was only asked for passes behind his back, sometimes risky. Dahmen, who only played one Bundesliga match with Mainz in his career, took precedence over Lennart Grill (Bayer Leverkusen). “The feeling has decided,” said the DFB coach.
Spacious templates
As Kuntz grew increasingly impatient on the sidelines, one attack after another died away. SpVgg Greuther Fürth’s David Raum, the best assists in the 2nd Bundesliga, hit cross after cross into the penalty area, but both Nmecha, who had seven qualifying wins, and Salzburg forward Mergim Berisha were unlucky.
BVB prodigy Moukoko only saw the match differently than planned from the stands, muscle problems prevented the youngest player in Eurocup history from making his U21 debut. “Our doctors are optimistic that we can do that in the next few days,” Kuntz said.
After the break, the knot finally burst: First, Baku crossed into Nmecha, who provided relief with a head-butt from the textbook. Just five minutes later, Germany stepped forward: the tireless ward flanked once again, Baku only had to push. After Berisha’s second cross blow in one minute, Baku even made it 3-0.
The next rival for the German team is the Netherlands on Saturday (starting at 9pm on the live ticker). Surprisingly, the Dutch only scored 1-1 in their first match against Romania.
