Erleichtert klatschten sich die U-21-Nationalspieler um Matchwinner Nick Woltemade ab, Trainer Antonio Di Salvo lächelte stolz. Die Auswahl des Deutschen Fußball-Bundes (DFB) hat sich mit einem mühsamen Pflichtsieg als vorzeitiger Gruppensieger endgültig für die Europameisterschaft qualifiziert. Das Team steht nach dem 2:1-Sieg über Bulgarien bereits vor dem letzten Spiel am Dienstag in Polen als Gruppenerster fest.
„Wir kamen nicht gut in die Zweikämpfe. Schlussendlich ist es einfach erleichternd und ein geiles Gefühl“, sagte der Stuttgarter Woltemade, der in der 66. Minute per Foulelfmeter den Siegtreffer erzielte. Dabei hatte er zuvor im Training noch zwei von zwei Elfmetern verschossen, wie er dem übertragenden Sender ProSieben Maxx berichtete: „Ich habe den Jungs gesagt: Ich schieße trotzdem im Spiel.“
Mehr Mühe als erwartet
Das U-21-Team hatte beim knappen Erfolg mehr Mühe als erwartet. Nach der frühen Führung durch den Dortmunder Maximilian Beier (9. Minute) glich Bulgarien vor 8.586 Zuschauern im Regensburger Jahnstadion durch Nikola Iliew (37.) aus, ehe Woltemade doch noch traf. Die EM-Endrunde findet vom 11. bis zum 28. Juni 2025 in der Slowakei statt.
Returnee Beier, one of three new players in the starting line-up compared to the goal feasts in September, took over the main role before the break. The BVB professional, who was nominated for the senior national team in September, celebrated his third goal for the U21s.
After a corner from Gladbach’s Rocco Reitz was initially cleared, he crossed the ball again in front of the goal. Beier rose highest there and headed in an exemplary manner to take the deserved lead in the very dominant opening phase. Frankfurt’s Ansgar Knauff, also new to the starting line-up, came closest to making it 2-0. But his powerful shot flew just over the goal.
Iliev as a beneficiary
Bulgaria was able to free itself from the initial constant pressure from the DFB team, but the hosts also slowed down a bit. After Martin Georgiew’s header chance had no consequences (30′), the ball ended up in the German goal a little later.
This was preceded by a pass from Beier, who reached the Bulgarian Marin Petkow in the German penalty area instead of Cologne captain Eric Martel, who was too passive in this scene. The ultimate beneficiary was Iliev. In stoppage time, Freiburg’s Noah Atubolu, who returned to the goal for Jonas Urbig, even prevented Petkow from falling behind.
Without Dortmund’s Karim Adeymi, who was so accurate in September with five goals in two games and was missing due to injury, the German team had less power against a much stronger opponent. Despite all their efforts, the team led by driver Reitz sometimes lacked precision and the final punch.
Martel (63′) and Nicolo Tresoldi from Hannover 96 (64′) didn’t miss much of a header to take the lead again. The nerve-racking Woltemade took care of that with his fourth U-21 goal after Tresoldi had previously been fouled. In the last 20 minutes, 18-year-old Paul Wanner from Heidenheim was able to celebrate his debut.
