German U21 footballers are in the European Championship finals | Sports | '
The dream of the next title continues: Germany's U21 footballers have fought one after the other in a heat duel against strong Romanians in their second European Championship final and are thus only one step away from the successful title defense. Thanks to a performance improvement in the second half of the DFB team won in Bologna still 4-2 (1: 2). It is the fourth European Championship draw of a German U21 after 1982, 2009 and 2017. Opponents in the final on Sunday is either Spain or France.
Nadiem Amiri (21st minute and 90. + 4) and Luca Waldschmidt (51. by penalty and 90th) get double packs. Also with the Romanians George Puscas scored two goals (26. per penalty and 44.). For Waldschmidt it was the tournament hits number six and seven. He replaced Pierre Littbarski as the most successful German scorer in a U21 European Championship. The former world champion had hit six times in 1982. "I can only take my hat off to my boys," said DFB coach Stefan Kuntz after the game on ZDF. "I'm proud of my team."
Drinking breaks against heat
It was very hot in Bologna, 38 degrees Celsius. Actually, no weather in which you should play football. UEFA had responded and arranged some drinking breaks. Despite the heat developed from the beginning of an intense game. The DFB-Elf was initially difficult against the lightning-fast switching of the Romanians from defense to attack. Above all, Ianis Hagi, 20-year-old son of Romanian football legend Gheorge Hagi, and George Puscas spun the German defense over and over again.
The opening goal for the German team was surprising, thanks to a fine individual performance of Nadiem Amiri, who was against Romania for the first time in the starting eleven. The 22-year-old midfielder TSG 1899 Hoffenheim conquered the ball on the center line, dropped two opponents and hit with a low shot from 17 meters to 1: 0.
Two goalscorer for Romania: George Puscas (4th from left)
The joy lasted only briefly. Five minutes after the opening goal Puscas equalized by penalty kick. DFB goalkeeper Alexander Nübel touched the ball, but could not prevent the hit. The Romanians kept pushing and earned a deserved lead just before the break, again through Puscas. After an unnecessary loss of the ball in midfield and a long pass into the German penalty area, the DFB defense was not determined enough to the ball. Andrei Ivan crossed from the left, Puscas completed completely unassisted head from six meters. In injury time of the first round prevented Nübel with a splendid save a possible third goal of the Romanians, which would have been thoroughly deserved.
Two free-kick goals in the final phase
DFB coach Kuntz seemed to have found the right words during his break speech. With the beginning of the second round, the German team played the game – and was rewarded early. After a foul on Mahmoud Dahoud in the penalty area, Luca Waldschmidt from SC Freiburg converted the penalty to 2: 2.
Luca Waldschmidt turns the penalty kick ice-cold to 2: 2
The DFB team had other good opportunities. The best was awarded by substitute Lukas Nmecha. The 20-year-old forward from Preston North End, loaned by Manchester City, scored the only goal in the 86th minute before the goal, but hit the crossbar. But the German team continued. In the last minute of the regular season Waldschmidt scored the deciding 3: 2. The 23-year-old shot a free-kick from 18 yards flat and placed in the right corner. And Amiri went one better: in injury time he also circled a free-kick over the wall into the left corner. Previously, the Romanian Pascani had seen red because of the foul on Nmecha.
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