In a hard-fought game, the German U21 national team prevailed against Bulgaria. The team is therefore spared a final.
The German U21s have finally secured their European Championship ticket as early group winners. After the 2-1 (1-1) win against Bulgaria, coach Antonio Di Salvo’s team is already number one in its qualifying group before the last game on Tuesday in Poland. However, the German selection had more trouble than expected in their narrow success.
After the early lead through Dortmund’s Maximilian Beier (9th minute), Bulgaria equalized through Nikola Iliev (37th) in front of 8,586 spectators in Regensburg’s Jahnstadion. Stuttgart’s Nick Woltemade (66th/foul penalty) scored the redeeming goal. The European Championship finals will take place in Slovakia from June 11th to 28th, 2025.
Returnee Beier, one of three new players in the starting line-up compared to the goal feasts in September, took over the main role before the break. The BVB professional, who was nominated for the senior national team in September, celebrated his third goal for the U21s. After a corner from Gladbach’s Rocco Reitz was initially cleared, he crossed the ball again in front of the goal. Beier rose highest there and headed in an exemplary manner to take the deserved lead in the very dominant opening phase.
Frankfurt’s Ansgar Knauff, also new to the starting line-up, came closest to making it 2-0. But his powerful shot flew just over the goal.
Bulgaria was able to free itself from the initial constant pressure from the DFB team, but the hosts also slowed down a bit. After Martin Georgiew’s header chance had no consequences (30th), the ball ended up in the German goal a little later. This was preceded by a pass from Beier, who reached the Bulgarian Marin Petkow in the German penalty area instead of Cologne captain Eric Martel, who was too passive in this scene. The ultimate beneficiary was Iliev. In stoppage time, Freiburg’s Noah Atubolu, who returned to the goal for Jonas Urbig, even saved the 1-1 against Petkow.
Without Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi, who was so accurate in September with five goals in two games and was missing due to injury, the German team had less power against a clearly stronger opponent. Despite all their efforts, the team led by driver Reitz sometimes lacked precision and the final punch.
Martel (63′) and Nicolo Tresoldi from Hannover 96 (64′) didn’t miss much of a header to take the lead again. The nerve-racking Woltemade took care of that with his fourth U21 goal after Tresoldi had previously been fouled. In the last 20 minutes, 18-year-old Paul Wanner from Heidenheim was able to celebrate his debut.