The Euros are in the past, the 2016 Olympics are the future. Germany U21s begin their preparations with a friendly against Denmark on 3rd September at the Stadion an der Lohmühle in Lübeck. It is the first match in preparation for Rio, and the opposition is high class, with Denmark also having reached the semi-finals of the Euros and winning their ticket to Brazil.
After the one-sided defeat to Portugal at the Euros in the Czech Republic, Horst Hrubesch team will now begin the new season in Lübeck. The 1980 European champion once again has a promising pool of players at his disposal, and they are players who are already top performers at their clubs. As well as Max Meyer (Schalke), Serge Gnabry (Arsenal) and Joshua Kimmich (now at Bayern München) were already part of the Euro squad, but now players such as Marc Stendera (Eintracht Frankfurt), Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen) or Levin Ötzunali (Werder Bremen) are now hoping for a call up. “The quality of players that grow up every year in Germany is obvious to see,” says Hrubesch. “And I’m already looking forward to starting the season with the new team.”
In this sense the friendly against Denmark is an important match for the coaching staff and the young internationals. Only a few days later, on 8th September, the U21s begin qualification for the 2017 European Championship in Poland with an away fixture in Azerbaijan. “We want to show from the start what we have,” says Kimmich. “I’m looking forward to this new U21s and achieving big things with them.”
Rio via Lübeck
There will be something new at the Rio Games in 2016 – a German team. Germany has not had a football team at the Olympic Games since 1988. And memories of Brazil could not be better for German football after the senior side won the 2014 World Cup in Rio. There is the possibility for a further German footballing success story at the Olympics next summer.
And preparations for that begin in Lübeck. “The summer break did us all good. We’ve refilled our tanks and are now looking forward to the visit to Lübeck,” says Hrubesch. “For the players who are joining us for the first time, they are at the beginning of an important phase in their development. They aim is to make it to Joachim Löw’s team. But they have to lay the foundations in the U21 side.” Serge Gnabry also cannot wait for the start of the season: “it’s always a big honour to play for the national team. And I’ve heard that we can look forward to a brilliant crowd in Lübeck. As a player there’s nothing better.”
The Euros are in the past, the 2016 Olympics are the future. Germany U21s begin their preparations with a friendly against Denmark on 3rd September at the Stadion an der Lohmühle in Lübeck. It is the first match in preparation for Rio, and the opposition is high class, with Denmark also having reached the semi-finals of the Euros and winning their ticket to Brazil.
After the one-sided defeat to Portugal at the Euros in the Czech Republic, Horst Hrubesch team will now begin the new season in Lübeck. The 1980 European champion once again has a promising pool of players at his disposal, and they are players who are already top performers at their clubs. As well as Max Meyer (Schalke), Serge Gnabry (Arsenal) and Joshua Kimmich (now at Bayern München) were already part of the Euro squad, but now players such as Marc Stendera (Eintracht Frankfurt), Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen) or Levin Ötzunali (Werder Bremen) are now hoping for a call up. “The quality of players that grow up every year in Germany is obvious to see,” says Hrubesch. “And I’m already looking forward to starting the season with the new team.”
In this sense the friendly against Denmark is an important match for the coaching staff and the young internationals. Only a few days later, on 8th September, the U21s begin qualification for the 2017 European Championship in Poland with an away fixture in Azerbaijan. “We want to show from the start what we have,” says Kimmich. “I’m looking forward to this new U21s and achieving big things with them.”
Rio via Lübeck
There will be something new at the Rio Games in 2016 – a German team. Germany has not had a football team at the Olympic Games since 1988. And memories of Brazil could not be better for German football after the senior side won the 2014 World Cup in Rio. There is the possibility for a further German footballing success story at the Olympics next summer.
And preparations for that begin in Lübeck. “The summer break did us all good. We’ve refilled our tanks and are now looking forward to the visit to Lübeck,” says Hrubesch. “For the players who are joining us for the first time, they are at the beginning of an important phase in their development. They aim is to make it to Joachim Löw’s team. But they have to lay the foundations in the U21 side.” Serge Gnabry also cannot wait for the start of the season: “it’s always a big honour to play for the national team. And I’ve heard that we can look forward to a brilliant crowd in Lübeck. As a player there’s nothing better.”
