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Germany’s U21s are in the semi-finals after a crime against Denmark

DGermany’s U21 footballers shouted their joy in a huge crowd of jubilation around the penalty heroes Finn Dahmen and Paul Jaeckel, coach Stefan Kuntz cheered exuberantly and hugged every player. Thanks to great morale, 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 on Monday evening 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.

Fürth’s Paul Jaekel converted the decisive penalty after goalkeeper Finn Dahmen from FSV Mainz 05 parried twice. Lukas Nmecha from RSC Anderlecht (88th) had saved Germany in extra time after falling behind due to the 17-year-old Wahid Faghir (69th). There, the Mainz substitute Jonathan Burkhardt took the lead in the 100th minute, while Victor Nelsson (108th, penalty kick) equalized.

Kuntz can now do the trick of being the first DFB coach to reach the final of a U21 European Championship for the third time in a row. Germany won the title in 2017 and only lost to Spain in the final in 2019.

The DFB team started furiously against the Danes, who had previously been unbeaten for two years, but missed the best chances and had to tremble in the end. Against the Netherlands in Szekesfehervar an improvement must be made. In the group stage, the two teams split 1: 1.

Hardly any time to breathe

In front of 500 spectators, returning Florian Wirtz initially turned out to be the linchpin of the German game. “We have to get Flo with his strengths into play because he’s just a great kicker,” Kuntz said about the 18-year-old before kick-off. The youngest U21 international in history, who was still with the senior team during the group stage, challenged and skillfully distributed the ball.

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