RAntonio Di Salvo paced up and down in front of his coaching bench. The bald-headed successor to Stefan Kuntz as coach of the German U-21 national soccer team was apparently thinking hard about what to do to bring about the turnaround for success at his premiere. “What can we do, what can we change, how can we turn the game around?” He asked himself a few minutes before the final whistle, given that his eleven were 2-1 down against Israel in the qualifying game for the 2023 European Championship finals in Romania and Georgia. Di Salvo tried to force the late luck with a tactical change.
The son of Sicilian parents switched to Noah Katterbach, the attacking defender of 1. FC Köln, who is known for well-timed crosses into the opposing penalty area. “You have to put the opponent under pressure, that can often only be done via crosses,” said Di Salvo when everything went well. Mobilizing Katterbach (77th) instead of the Gladbach left-back Luca Netz, who was more discreet when he played for the European champions, turned out to be Di Salvo’s golden grip.
The 20-year-old Rhinelander, after two Israeli leadership through the goals of Leidner (28th minute) and Gandelman (51st), initiated the turnaround with a goal of his own by the Munich debutant Malik Tillman (34th). From the left he hit the ball so precisely into the six-yard box that the third debutant, the up to then hyperactive young Freiburg striker Kevin Schade, headed it into the net (88th).
Jonathan Burkardt (left) celebrates the winning goal in stoppage time.
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Bild: Picture-Alliance
Di Salvo’s premiere was already halfway saved. But it got even better. His captain, the Mainz attacker Jonathan Burkardt, who had already proven himself under Kuntz, overtook goalkeeper Niron in stoppage time (90 + 1), followed up and pushed the ball into the goal to a celebrated 3-2 win.
Finally, the not so introverted football practitioner Di Salvo could come out of himself. And so he finally clenched his fists, even if still a bit tense because of the never-assured conditions in this duel between the first and second in qualification group B, ran onto the field and hugged everyone he knew with southern Italian fervor after this trembling game which Di Salvos players, as he later said, “with German virtues” had ultimately deservedly prevailed against a ripped off, counter-strong opponent.
The first success, especially in Di Salvo’s hometown of Paderborn under the eyes of his parents, brother and sister, revealed a lot about the self-assertiveness of the coach, who had matured as an assistant at Kuntz’s side in the five years before, and who was with his players on Thursday evening a U-21 emergency community had formed in the face of the looming first defeat after twelve undefeated games under the direction of Kuntz. Taking up his legacy after two European championship titles in 2017 and in June of this year as well as a second EM place in 2019 would not have been easier after Di Salvo’s initial defeat.
Leader Burkardt with winning goal
But this is how the former Bundesliga striker, who at FC Bayern Munich and FC Hansa Rostock was more noticeable for his diligence and diligence than for his outstanding talent, as a tenacious, persistent and finally, as he said, “overjoyed” coach who helped A successful move had given the game a final turn in favor of his team.
So Di Salvo, who had not overlooked the defensive deficits of his team, raved about the remarkable qualities of his offensive department and distributed a special praise to the 19-year-old Tillman and Schade, who were on their first appearance. He described the powerful playmaker from FC Bayern’s second team as a “great talent” that he “absolutely wanted to have”.
Di Salvo also raved about the Freiburg attacker Schade. “The force of Kevin was sensational. When you’re a player in Freiburg, you march. He showed that today. ”The fact that Di Salvo’s leader Burkardt, whom Kuntz made captain, had opened the door to victory with his own persistence and consistency rounded off the premiere of Antonio Di Salvo.
His former boss Kuntz, who was the new head coach of the Turkish national team in the World Cup qualifying duel with Norway for the first time on Friday evening, had sent his friend Toni and the team a video message on Thursday with the very best of wishes. Since he knows Di Salvo very well, he predicted Di Salvo’s first practical test at the director’s desk before kick-off: “With you, Toni, I am sure that your coaching will be very successful.” True words, as it should show afterwards.
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