The German U21 soccer team gets a chance to defend their title: the team completes the European Championship qualification against weak Hungary.

Antonio Di Salvo briefly hugged his assistant coaches and then his family in the stands, while his U21 footballers received well-deserved applause from the fans. With an unchallenged home win, the German U21 national team has achieved the first major milestone on the way to the desired title defense and bought the ticket for the final round of the European Football Championship in 2023. Coach Di Salvo’s team beat Hungary 4-0 (2-0) on Friday in front of 5,609 spectators in Osnabrück thanks to several mistakes by the opponent and an efficient performance. “We really wanted to qualify at home and we did it convincingly,” said Di Salvo on Sat1.

After his team used the first match ball, there was celebration – even if there is still one game left. “The coach has already said: whoever brings the appropriate performance can celebrate accordingly. So I think we’ll do that too,” said Frankfurt Europa League winner Ansgar Knauff: “It’s the best summer of my life so far .An unbelievable season that ended very, very well with qualifying.”

Four different goalscorers for the German U21

Storm talent Youssoufa Moukoko (17th minute), Jonathan Burkardt with a penalty kick (31st), Tom Krauß (76th) and Lazar Samardzic (90th 3) scored at the sold-out Bremen bridge for the youth of the German Football Association. The selection is thus already certain as group winners before the final qualifier in Poland next Tuesday and can defend the title of the previous generation at the tournament in Georgia and Romania. It is the sixth European Championship in a row for Germany’s U21 national team.

The joy of the EM ticket was clouded by several injuries: Union Berlin’s newcomer Jamie Leweling and midfielder Angelo Stiller had to leave injured. Defender Malick Thiaw was stitched up on the pitch after an eye cut but was able to continue playing. “Jamie probably has a torn ligament,” said Di Salvo. Stiller was not diagnosed.

Moukoko reports back

The 17-year-old Moukoko, on the other hand, made an impressive comeback after a difficult season with little playing time at Borussia Dortmund in the U21s. In his first appearance since last September, he scored his fourth goal in the U21 jersey in the third game.

Even the early setback caused by Leweling’s injury didn’t bother the DFB youth team in the best summer weather. Defensively, however, the team not only made repeated lack of concentration and slight ball losses in the initial phase.

Hungary helps with German goals

Thanks to the weak defensive performance of the guests, these were not of great importance. A failed back pass led to Moukoko’s 1-0, and the Hungarians also helped a lot in Burkardt’s 2-0 with a foul on Mainz in the penalty area. Captain Burkardt also hit the post (41′) after a mistake made by Hungary in the build-up game.

With the offensive power of Moukoko, Burkardt and the Frankfurt Europa League winner Ansgar Knauff, who, however, had a weaker day, Di Salvo’s team pushed for the third goal. In the urge phase, however, the team had to cope with the next injury, Hoffenheim’s Stiller hobbled off the pitch injured.

European Championship qualification with the best possible number of points?

Shortly afterwards, Thiaw had to be treated for a longer period of time, but the team put up with this setback as well. Krauss, who was last loaned to 1. FC Nürnberg, eliminated the last doubts about the European Championship qualification with his goal. He is associated with Bundesliga promoted FC Schalke 04. “We also want to win the game against Poland and get the best possible number of points. After that I want to decide and I’m looking forward to the next task,” said Krauss when asked about the rumors of a change.