Group summit for U21s: "Match at eye level"
Two years after a gloomy international evening, the German U21 national team is going into the reunion with Poland's selection with a warning. "This is definitely a yardstick," said coach Antonio Di Salvo ahead of the home game on Tuesday (18:00 ProSiebenMaxx) in Essen. Two years ago, his side suffered their heaviest home defeat in recent years with a 4-0 defeat in Grossaspach.
After that, there was still a 2:1 win in Poland, but the German Football Association selection wants to put things right. This time it's all about the path to the 2025 European Championship finals in Slovakia. Poland lead the table with twelve points from four games. Germany is second with nine points from three games. In the final standings, the direct comparison would count. The nine group winners and the three best group runners-up qualify directly for the final round.
"It will be a completely different game against Poland. We have to have more control, otherwise it will be difficult," said goalscorer Youssoufa Moukoko after the recent 4:1 win against Estonia. "Poland are the strongest opponents in the group. It will be a completely different game than against Estonia," said captain Eric Martel of 1. FC Köln. Like Berlin's Marton Dardai, he was in the squad for the 4-0 defeat to Poland, while Cologne's Jan Thielmann was in the starting eleven at the time.
"Poland got off to a very good start in the qualifying round with four wins," said Di Salvo. "It will be a match of equals, so little things will be crucial." Poland will probably adopt a wait-and-see approach. "We can't take the biggest risks either."
The German U21 national team is aiming to improve their past results against Poland, as they previously suffered a 4-0 defeat at home in a qualifier for the European Championship. With this match, they seek to secure their place in the 2025 European Championship finals, as the nine group winners and three best runners-up qualify directly. Despite Poland leading the group with twelve points from four games, Di Salvo emphasizes that this match will be one of equals, with little differences deciding the outcome.
In the upcoming U21 soccer match against Poland, the DFB team must maintain better control over the game to avoid a similar result to their past 4-0 loss. With Poland boasting four consecutive victories in the qualifying round, they may opt for a cautious strategy, balancing the risk of defeat and the chance to secure points against the German team.
Source: www.dpa.com
