Woltemade shines: German U21 team celebrates 3-0 opening win!

Woltemade shines: German U21 team celebrates 3-0 opening win!

The German U21 national team celebrated a convincing start to the U21 European Championship on June 13, 2025. In the first group game, the German talents beat Slovenia 3-0. Nick Woltemade was the star of the game and scored all three goals for the DFB team. Already in the 19th minute he opened the shooting with a header goal, which he scored after an assist from Tresoldi. Shortly before half-time, Woltemade increased the lead to 2-0 after receiving the ball from Rosenfelder.

The first half was surprisingly lively for the Germans, with Slovenia's best chance being missed in the 27th minute with a header from Cipot. In the second half, the German team managed the result with concentration. A penalty awarded after a foul by Golic in the penalty area led to Woltemade's third goal in the 82nd minute.

Overview of the U21 European Championships

The U21 European Football Championship, launched by UEFA in 1978, is an important tournament for young players. National teams whose players have not yet reached the age of 21 at the start of qualification are eligible to participate. Players up to 23 years old may also be represented in the squads. The competition not only serves to crown the best U21 team in Europe, but also acts as a qualification for the Olympic Games.

The group stage of the current finals includes 16 teams divided into four groups. The best two teams in each group advance to the knockout rounds. This means that the first and second-placed teams advance to the quarter-finals, while the other countries have to be eliminated early. This structure has been maintained since 2021 and has proven successful in making the competition more exciting and accessible.

Further results from the first match day

England also achieved a clear victory on the first matchday of the U21 European Championship. The team won 3-1 against the Czech U21s. Elliot gave England the lead in the 39th minute with a low shot. The Czech Republic had the opportunity to equalize, but England successfully stopped them. Rowe increased the score to 2-0 in the 48th minute. Despite a goal from Fila for the Czech Republic in the 51st minute, Cresswell restored the old gap in the 76th minute, making the final score of 3-1 perfect.

Another exciting game took place between the Netherlands and Finland, which ended in a 2-2 draw. Finland took a surprising 2-0 lead at half-time thanks to goals from Terho and Keskinen. The Dutch were able to reduce the score to 1-2 in the second half through Valente before Poku equalized in stoppage time.

These first games not only show the talent that is emerging in the European leagues, but also the high competitive pressure that will prevail throughout the U21 European Championship. The importance of the competition is also reflected in the selection of the best young players, who may be found in the senior squads of the senior national teams in the coming years.