There was a round of applause on the pitch immediately after Friday night's final training session in Baku. Germany's U17 team had practiced passing sequences, building attacks and shooting on goal during their one-hour session as they gathered the necessary stability for their quarterfinal encounter with Belgium on Saturday.
"Everyone who is involved is very excited for this quarterfinal," reported DFB U17 coach Meikel Schönweitz, who has full confidence in his team. "We are capable of playing at high tempo throughout the entire match and forcing our game onto our opposition. The team has continued to develop in each of the three group games." Against Belgium they are now facing a true challenge. "We are going up against a technically and physically strong opposition. Belgium are very solid in defence and we'll need to find a way to break through," knows Schönweitz.
"Want to keep a clean sheet"
The youth teams have played each other twice recently. In October 2015 Germany recorded a 2-0 and a 2-1 victory against Belgium but these games will not set the standard for Saturday's game. "Both teams experimented and tested a lot of players in those games," recalled Schönweitz. Belgium finished in second place of their group, recording five points from three games while conceding just one goal.
Germany topped their group with seven points from three games and will enter this quarterfinal with confidence. The players are looking forward to the challenge, "We will need to live up to our potential," said Sam Schreck (FC St. Pauli). Jannis Kübler (Karlsruher SC) added: "We need to be awake right from the start." Alfons Amade (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim) knows the key to success: "We want to keep a clean sheet, because our attack is always good to score a goal."
Portugal will take on Austria, Sweden will face off against the Netherlands and Spain will play England in the other quarterfinals of the 2016 U17 European Championship. All matches will take place in Baku on May 14th and 15th.
There was a round of applause on the pitch immediately after Friday night's final training session in Baku. Germany's U17 team had practiced passing sequences, building attacks and shooting on goal during their one-hour session as they gathered the necessary stability for their quarterfinal encounter with Belgium on Saturday.
"Everyone who is involved is very excited for this quarterfinal," reported DFB U17 coach Meikel Schönweitz, who has full confidence in his team. "We are capable of playing at high tempo throughout the entire match and forcing our game onto our opposition. The team has continued to develop in each of the three group games." Against Belgium they are now facing a true challenge. "We are going up against a technically and physically strong opposition. Belgium are very solid in defence and we'll need to find a way to break through," knows Schönweitz.
"Want to keep a clean sheet"
The youth teams have played each other twice recently. In October 2015 Germany recorded a 2-0 and a 2-1 victory against Belgium but these games will not set the standard for Saturday's game. "Both teams experimented and tested a lot of players in those games," recalled Schönweitz. Belgium finished in second place of their group, recording five points from three games while conceding just one goal.
Germany topped their group with seven points from three games and will enter this quarterfinal with confidence. The players are looking forward to the challenge, "We will need to live up to our potential," said Sam Schreck (FC St. Pauli). Jannis Kübler (Karlsruher SC) added: "We need to be awake right from the start." Alfons Amade (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim) knows the key to success: "We want to keep a clean sheet, because our attack is always good to score a goal."
Portugal will take on Austria, Sweden will face off against the Netherlands and Spain will play England in the other quarterfinals of the 2016 U17 European Championship. All matches will take place in Baku on May 14th and 15th.
