Clear victory despite the user of opportunities
German title dream lives: DFB-U21 is in the European Championship final
25.06.2025, 10:53 p.m.
The German U21 national team achieved the final of the European Championship through a clear success of France. The DFB team hits twice early, then it leaves a variety of best chances. This remains unpunished, also because record goalkeeper Atubolu shows an outstanding parade. In the final, Germany meets England.
Now the title is within reach: led by Nick Woltemade, the German U21 continued its triumphal march at the European Championship and reached the final with a effort. The DFB trainer Antonio di Salvo team defeated France 3-0 (2-0) and can be European champion for the fourth time in the final against defending champion England.
“Just horny, finale! That was our goal, now we have achieved it. We sent France away, now we also want to send the English away,” said goal scorer Nelson Weiper at Sat.1.
The Mainzer Weiper (8th), Stuttgart’s new international Nick Woltemade (14th) and Brajan Gruda by Brighton and Hove Albion (90th+3) met in front of 11,913 spectators in Kosice for the fifth win in the fifth European Championship game. For Woltemade it was already the sixth goal in Slovakia, only one goal is still missing for the European Championship record.
He can crack the record in the showdown against England, in the 2-1 win in the preliminary round Woltemade had still paused. Overall, the DFB selection has been undefeated for 20 games and almost two years-there was no such series in the 2009, 2017 and 2021 EM titles.
“Gut feeling” brings leadership goal
Three days after the extension thriller against Italy, the DFB team caught a dream start: the Weiper, which has moved into the starting eleven, pressed the ball over the line after a slatted shot by Paul Nebel. Di Salvo had said his “gut feeling” too Weiper before the kick -off – the reward followed promptly.
The jubilation followed a setback: Defense chief Max Rosenfelder (SC Freiburg) had to get off the field with thigh problems. This did not change anything on the forward gear. The nimble Woltemade promoted the ball from a short distance in the second attempt.
But then the German team woke bad memories. In November, Di Salvo’s team played 2-2 in France after a 2-0 lead, again this time the game tipped over. But Noah Atubolu, who replaced Manuel Neuer as the record goalkeeper of the U21 with his 21st assignment, recorded the lead several times.
Discussion about Nagelsmann
Julian Nagelsmann was not on site again. Ex-international Markus Babbel criticized the lack of Sat.1 microphone and spoke of a “mandatory date for the national coach.” Like DFB sports director Rudi Völler, DFB Managing Director Andreas Rettig rejected this: “Julian is just as thumb as we are. He will come to the final.”
Nagelsmann missed an increasingly rough encounter, in which Germany increasingly went out. After the break, only 14 seconds were played when the shiny atubolu – the Manuel Neuer replaced with his 21st assignment as a record goalkeeper of the U21 – saved again. Rocco Reitz threw himself into every duel against the now separating French, Weiper missed the decision several times in the relief attacks. Gruda made everything clear.
In the final, England will see again. The DFB team has good memories not only because of the success in the group game. Two EM duels led to the title win: In the final 2009 there was a 4-0, in the 2017 semi-finals a 4: 3 in a penalty shootout for the later European champion.
