The German under-21 national football team secured a 4-1 victory against Malta in Attard on September 30, 2026, keeping their direct qualification path for the 2027 European Championship firmly in their own hands. Playing on the artificial turf at the Centenary Stadium, Di Salvo’s side overcame an early deficit thanks to a stellar performance and a hat-trick from forward Nicolas Tresoldi.
Early Shock in Attard as Malta Capitalizes on Defensive Lull
The match began with an unexpected setback for the dominant visiting side. Despite holding overwhelming territorial control, Germany fell behind in the 9th minute when Basil Tuma pounced on a stray pass from Noahkai Banks near the halfway line. Tuma drove forward on a 40-meter solo run unopposed before slotting past the defense to give the group’s bottom-placed team a shock lead with their only shot of the game.
Rather than panic, the DFB-Elf settled back into a patient passing rhythm. Malta deployed a deep, compact block with all ten outfield players crowded around their penalty box, starving the visitors of space. Germany controlled roughly 75 percent of possession through the opening period, patiently probing the organized defensive lines without offering many additional clear-cut openings.
Tresoldi and Rothe Turn the Scoreline Before Halftime
The equalizer arrived just three minutes after the opening goal. Leandro Morgalla rattled the goalpost with a fierce effort, and Nicolas Tresoldi reacted quickest to the rebound, sweeping home from three meters out to make it 1-1 in the 12th minute. Germany continued to pound away at the stubborn low block until the 32nd minute, when defender Tom Rothe climbed highest to head home after Mert Kömür’s initial volley was parried.
“I am satisfied, even if the game wasn’t overwhelming,” Tresoldi told ProSieben Maxx after the final whistle. “In the end, we got the three points and scored four goals.”
Second-Half Dominance Seals the Points
Any lingering nerves were dispelled almost immediately after the interval. Just two minutes into the second half, substitute Laurin Ulrich whipped in a corner kick, and Tresoldi met it cleanly with a header to extend the lead to 3-1 in the 47th minute. The striker capped off his memorable evening in the 69th minute by curling a direct free kick from 17 meters into the top left corner, leaving the Maltese goalkeeper helpless.
The victory lifts Tresoldi’s international tally for the German U21s. With 26 appearances, the forward sits just two goals shy of the record held by World Cup winner Pierre Littbarski, who scored 18 times for the youth side.
Standings Context and Upcoming Qualifier Against Georgia
With this three-point haul, Germany nears the finish line in their qualification group for the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, which will be hosted in Albania and Serbia from June 16 to July 3 and will double as the qualification route for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. A single victory from their remaining fixtures secures top spot and direct entry.
Germany concludes its qualifying campaign on Tuesday with a home fixture in Bielefeld against Georgia, scheduled to kick off at 18:00. Should chasing rival Greece slip up against Latvia in their fixture, the DFB selection will clinch the group win prior to the final matchday.
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