Child prodigy Urbaniak: Ball boy becomes DFB hero in Nations League thriller!

Child prodigy Urbaniak: Ball boy becomes DFB hero in Nations League thriller!

The semi-final pairings of the Nations League in June have now been determined. Germany secured their place in the Final Four with a 3-3 draw against Italy in the second leg. Crucial to the success was a 15-year-old ball boy, Noel Urbaniak, who played a key role in the decisive second goal. His quick ball throw to DFB captain Joshua Kimmich in the 36th minute enabled Jamal Musiala to take the lead. With an overall score of 5:4 after two games, Germany reached the semi-finals against Portugal, who defeated Denmark in the quarter-finals.

In the first meeting between Germany and Italy, which took place in Milan, the DFB team won 2-1. The second leg in Dortmund ended with a spectacular 3:3. Kimmich opened the game for Germany with a penalty and Tim Kleindienst also got on the scoresheet with a goal before halftime. Italy responded with goals from Moise Kean (49th, 69th) and Giacomo Raspadori (95th/penalty). However, a penalty for Italy was overturned by VAR, which led to criticism from the Italian media.

The hero of the game

Noel Urbaniak was declared the new hero of the German team after the game. He was thrilled: "It's unbelievable. I've never been involved in something like this before." For his outstanding support, Urbaniak was promised a free ticket for the next home game by DFB sports director Rudi Völler. Urbaniak also posed with Kimmich for a photo together in which Kimmich signed the ball for him.

With a view to the semi-finals, Germany will face Portugal on June 4th in Munich. The Portuguese team, which beat Denmark 5-2 in the quarter-finals, will be a challenge for the DFB selection. National coach Julian Nagelsmann sees the game against Portugal as a “big game” with strong individual players and has his sights firmly set on the Nations League title. Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the goalscorers in the win over Denmark, will certainly be in focus.

Important aspects of the Nations League

The German team's participation in the semi-finals is not only an important step in the Nations League, but also has an impact on the World Cup qualification for 2026. Germany had to overtake Italy to end up in pot one in the World Cup draw. After the decision against Italy, the focus turned to possible opponents in the event of a victory: Slovakia, Luxembourg and Northern Ireland could be the next challenges. In the event of a defeat, however, a route through Norway, Israel, Estonia and Moldova would be expected.

In the semi-finals it will be exciting to see whether Nagelsmann makes personnel and tactical changes in the starting eleven. Players like Tim Kleindienst and Nico Schlotterbeck could move into the first eleven. Another important event in German football was the minute's silence for the late ex-national player Doris Fitschen, who died at the age of just 56 after a long battle with cancer and is remembered with 144 international matches and several European Championship titles.

What will happen next for the DFB selection will probably be seen in the decisive games in June. Germany is ready to win its first title since the 2017 Confed Cup.

Laola1 reports that Germany has reached the Final Four, Sports star highlights the role of Urbaniak, and Football data provides important context for the Nations League.