U21 European Championship 2025: Germany beats England in the last group match

After continuing their winning streak, the German U21 national team players cheered each other on – and, as group winners, looked forward to the European Championship quarter-final against Italy. Without previous tournament star Nick Woltemade and after a significant rotation, the German Football Association (DFB) team won the group final against defending champions England 2-1 (2-0). Frankfurt's Ansgar Knauff (3rd minute) and Mainz's Nelson Weiper (33rd minute) brought beaming faces to Woltemade and Co. on the bench. Alex Scott's goal only briefly dampened their joy (76th minute).

"We've shown that we have a good depth in our squad, which says a lot about our quality. Everyone is ready, we showed that today," Knauff told Sat.1, adding: "Now we want to reach the semifinals." He didn't want to overstate his own goal: "I'm just happy that I was able to help the team today."

Two years ago, the German U21 team suffered a 2-0 defeat against England at the 2023 European Championship. Now, in their 13th European Championship clash, they achieved only their third victory in front of 5,624 spectators in Nitra.

Suddenly dark: One of the floodlight masts briefly failed during the German U21 match against England.

Source: IMAGO/Shutterstock

Coach Antonio Di Salvo replaced all eleven starting eleven players with his team's quarterfinals already confirmed. "Originally, I had in mind to keep one axis on the pitch. But after consulting with the players, who said having a game every three days was a challenge, that changed. Then one piece of the puzzle leads to the next," the 46-year-old explained the drastic change.

But forget about the B-team! The reserves from the victories against Slovenia (3-0) and the Czech Republic (4-2) positioned themselves for a place in the starting lineup on Sunday in Dunajska Streda in the knockout match against the Italians, who, like Spain, are record European champions.

Neither the changes nor the brief outage of one of the floodlights towards the end of the first half derailed the German national team's path to a perfect group stage with three wins in three matches. Germany got off to a dream start against England, who would have been eliminated had they achieved a similarly high victory against Slovenia.

After good pressing, the ball fell to Lukas Ullrich. The Mönchengladbach left-back showed great vision, and his cross found Knauff. The Frankfurt Champions League player converted for the fourth goal in his 27th U21 international match. Di Salvo screamed his joy loudly – ​​and could also be pleased with his team afterward.

England were repeatedly stopped for long periods by the German team, which, as against Slovenia and the Czech Republic, was very alert and strong in the tackle. A shot from Jonathan Rowe that hit the side netting of the goal guarded by Tjark Ernst in place of the ill Noah Atubolu was their best chance before the break (21'). Germany were more mature. A cross from Knauff was nodded in by Weiper, under pressure from two defenders, to make it 2-0.

England responded with three substitutions at halftime. The defending champions, led by Arsenal striker Ethan Nwaneri, whose market value is estimated at €55 million, started with more energy and pace than in the first half. The English applied considerable pressure and posed a threat late on. However, a comeback like the one the England U19s had managed to draw 5-5 after a 5-1 deficit against Germany the previous day was no longer possible.

The English will now face Spain in the quarterfinals, who, like Italy, have won the title in this age group five times. "We definitely put in a good performance. No team likes playing against us," Di Salvo said before the England clash. This is even more true after the reserves' victory against arguably their strongest group opponent.

RND/dpa