After the 6:0 in San Marino, the new German U 21 won 3:1 in Latvia as expected. The team is showing its first signs of success. Schalke’s Malick Thiaw sees the previous generation as a role model, but not as a real part of it.
When you think back to the bumpy beginnings of the previous generation that ultimately triumphed at the European Championship in September 2019, the start of the newly-formed U 21s after the victories in San Marino (6:0) and Latvia (3:1) can be classified as thoroughly successful and promising. Of course, not everything is running smoothly yet, and Stefan Kuntz’s talents are still a long way from the level they were aiming for at the European Championship finals. But they still have almost two years of development ahead of them. A lot will depend on how much of the game the U-21 candidates can win for themselves in their clubs by then.
“The last U-21 had an outstanding team spirit, everyone got on well off the pitch too, we have to get there too,” demands Malick Thiaw, who is already gaining valuable experience as a regular at Schalke 04, “we’ll get there, we can build something great again.”
The centre-back had also been part of the journey to the European Championship title under Kuntz. “I was there in the group stage of the European Championship, I also felt part of the team then, but it’s not like I feel like a European champion. I wasn’t there in the knockout phase either. “
“I hope I never have to experience a season like this again. “
Now, however, the 20-year-old seems to have established himself as a top performer right from the start. Born in Düsseldorf to a Senegalese father and a Finnish mother, he made his first ever international appearances and made a conscious decision to join the DFB – even though he could still change national associations before his 21st birthday on 8 August 2022. “My goal was very clear that I wanted to play for Germany.”
He is already doing that quite well. In the still bumpy German build-up to the game and the still improvable switching phases after losing the ball, the Schalke player was a reliable calming pole and security guarantor. In addition, thanks to his strong header and determination, he scored his debut goal for Germany to make it 3:1 in Latvia. A copy of the early deficit after a poorly defended corner by the hosts.
Toughened by relegation with Schalke
“You hate conceding goals,” Thiaw asserted in the run-up to the game and also recognises a need for action on this point for the Schalke side in the new second division season: “We have to work as a team on conceding fewer goals. And score more goals, that’s our goal.” To realise the longed-for direct re-promotion. “I already think that we have a qualitatively very good team that has a lot of potential. So far we haven’t shown it on the pitch in all the games,” said Thiaw, “but if we keep stepping on the gas, we can also think we have a good chance of being promoted.”
The disastrous relegation season, in which the homegrown player was allowed or forced to make 19 appearances, has in any case steeled him. “Last season was very difficult, but that should actually make you stronger in terms of character,” says Thiaw, “I hope I never have to experience a season like that again.”
Cornerstones in the team are crystallising
Behind the new head of defence, the race for the number 1 spot in coach Stefan Kuntz’s newly-formed U-21 squad seems to remain completely open.Neither Salzburg’s Nico Mantl nor Hoffenheim’s Luca Philipp have been able to score in a sustained manner, but have been more convincing in training than Bremen’s Olympian Luca Plogmann, who was missing from the matchday squad in both games.
In front of them, Hoffenheim’s Angelo Stiller, Nuremberg’s Tom Krauß seem to recommend themselves as cornerstones, as do exceptional talent Youssoufa Moukoko up front and the new captain and European champion Jonathan Burkardt from Mainz. In the next few months, several potential regular U-21 members who were currently injured or ill, such as European champion Josha Vagnoman (HSV), Yannik Keitel (Freiburg), Jan Thielmann (Cologne) or Marton Dardai (Hertha), will probably get their chance. In addition, the U-21 European champions Florian Wirtz (Leverkusen) and Karim Adeyemi (Salzburg), who have already made it through to the senior national team, as well as Jamal Musiala (Bayern), who is eligible to play in this cycle after his change of association from England, could still be used in the oldest DFB juniors
