It wasn’t just Jean-Manuel Mbom’s sending off that highlights the personnel problems of Germany’s U 21 – especially at right back.
It was a used day for Jean-Manuel Mbom. Less than 20 minutes into his fifth international match for Germany’s U21s, the Bremen man already had to make his way back to the dressing room. In addition to conceding three goals and an overlooked foul on him before the 0:3, the 21-year-old, who had been called up to play at right-back, also had to cope with a sending-off for an emergency foul. Not much really worked in the German back line in terms of positional play, counter-attacking or defensive tackling.
On Tuesday, in the last European Championship qualifier of the year, Mbom will be missing. A gap that will certainly have to be filled in Ingolstadt against outsiders San Marino. Fundamentally, however, it highlights the state of emergency of the current U-21 generation at this position. Mbom is not a trained right-back either – as was evident against Poland, and not only because of his lack of pace. Coach Antonio Di Salvo has to moderate a massive personnel shortage, with one stopgap solution replacing the next.
“Problems in youth development” – The wait for Vagnoman
“We’ve been talking for years about the fact that we have certain problems with our youth development in certain positions,” Di Salvo explains and is forced to improvise, “we have to come up with something. For example, right-back, where we currently have few to no alternatives.” The only player really trained for this position is Josha Vagnoman from Hamburger SV. But the 2021 European U-21 champion is injured and only in the rehabilitation phase after a muscle and tendon injury in his thigh.
The second candidate who at least used to play the position is Gladbach’s Jordan Beyer, “but he is a centre-back and unfortunately also injured,” Di Salvo said. “We also had to convert Manuel Mbom as a six or eight, and Roberto Massimo is actually at home further forward as well. That’s where we as a coaching team try to find the best solution.” Stuttgart’s Massimo helped out at right back in September’s games in San Marino (6-0) and Latvia (3-1), but also dropped out as an alternative on Sunday afternoon – he departed due to illness.
Before San Marino: A third candidate also leaves
Overall, the vacancy highlights a training problem in this country, which the DFB is trying to counteract together with the clubs. “When we talk about our project for the future, it makes sense because we are understaffed in some positions and don’t have the potential that we should have,” emphasises Di Salvo once again, who will not make any additional nominations and will use a man from another position at right back against San Marino.
Especially on the other defensive positions, there is little width at the top, which could already be reflected on Tuesday. In addition to Massimo and the suspended Mbom, central defender Marton Dardai has also left the U 21 (due to illness).
