The Germany U19s lost their opening European Championship Group B encounter 3-0 against Spain in Greece. The DFB Team still have qualification in their own hands. They face the Netherlands on Friday (20:00 CEST) and Russia next Monday (20:00 CEST). Germany are currently bottom of the table; Spain top it.
Osasuna’s Mikel Merino opened the scoring after eight minutes. The lead was doubled via Borja Mayoral’s 72nd minute penalty. Spain were reduced to ten men with just one minute to play - Alfonso Pedraza saw his marching orders – but this didn’t stop being victory being wrapped up in injury time thanks to Matías Nahuel.
Germany went into the game as reigning champions but rarely tested the Spanish outfit. Marcus Sorg utilised a 4-5-1 formation in the hope of squeezing out the Spanish midfield. Leroy Sané was tasked with stretching the game for the DFB Team and almost opened the scoring after four minutes but he fired wide when well placed.
They were left to rue this missed opportunity as the Spaniards went in front soon after. Pedraza played an excellent ball into the box, which was gleefully fired home by Merino.
The early goal played into Spain’s hands as it allowed them to keep the ball, sit back and operate on the counter. This meant that chances were few and far between for Sorg’s men. The next real chance came shortly before the break when Sané’s long range effort flew over the bar.
Amiri and Waldschmidt squander chances
Things didn’t change to much after the break. Germany failed to find gaps in the Spanish defence and the Iberians looked more likely to add to the scoring. Pedraza’s header (50’) and a powerful effort from Rodrigo Hernández (54’) were the early highlights. The DFB Team could have levelled around the hour mark but both Nadien Amiri and Luca Waldschmidt failed to beat Antonio Sivera.
The final half hour was a topsy turvy affair, with both sides pressing for the next goal. Spain got it: Uncertainty in the Germany defence ended up with an onrushing striker getting brought down by goalkeeper Funk. Mayoral coolly converted and the victory was sealed late on by Nahuel.
The Germany U19s lost their opening European Championship Group B encounter 3-0 against Spain in Greece. The DFB Team still have qualification in their own hands. They face the Netherlands on Friday (20:00 CEST) and Russia next Monday (20:00 CEST). Germany are currently bottom of the table; Spain top it.
Osasuna’s Mikel Merino opened the scoring after eight minutes. The lead was doubled via Borja Mayoral’s 72nd minute penalty. Spain were reduced to ten men with just one minute to play - Alfonso Pedraza saw his marching orders – but this didn’t stop being victory being wrapped up in injury time thanks to Matías Nahuel.
Germany went into the game as reigning champions but rarely tested the Spanish outfit. Marcus Sorg utilised a 4-5-1 formation in the hope of squeezing out the Spanish midfield. Leroy Sané was tasked with stretching the game for the DFB Team and almost opened the scoring after four minutes but he fired wide when well placed.
They were left to rue this missed opportunity as the Spaniards went in front soon after. Pedraza played an excellent ball into the box, which was gleefully fired home by Merino.
The early goal played into Spain’s hands as it allowed them to keep the ball, sit back and operate on the counter. This meant that chances were few and far between for Sorg’s men. The next real chance came shortly before the break when Sané’s long range effort flew over the bar.
Amiri and Waldschmidt squander chances
Things didn’t change to much after the break. Germany failed to find gaps in the Spanish defence and the Iberians looked more likely to add to the scoring. Pedraza’s header (50’) and a powerful effort from Rodrigo Hernández (54’) were the early highlights. The DFB Team could have levelled around the hour mark but both Nadien Amiri and Luca Waldschmidt failed to beat Antonio Sivera.
The final half hour was a topsy turvy affair, with both sides pressing for the next goal. Spain got it: Uncertainty in the Germany defence ended up with an onrushing striker getting brought down by goalkeeper Funk. Mayoral coolly converted and the victory was sealed late on by Nahuel.
