DFB.de: There must still be a lot of disappointment in the camp.
Reimann: Huge disappointment. But we still have one game left against Austria and we have to give our all. Firstly because we’re hosting this tournament, and the stadium in Reutlingen will be sold out once again – we have to give everything for our fans. And secondly, a win would mean we can at least achieve what we said was our minimum goal – we can’t reach the semi-final or final anymore, but now our main aim is to win the fifth-place play-off. We need to forget what’s gone before to be able to perform at our best.
DFB.de: That’s something you managed to do this season, having won the reserve league with BVB at the end of May.
Reimann: It was a great year for us – we played well right from the off, and especially at the end of the season we showed great character. After a poor first leg in the semi-final against 1860 München we gave our all in the second leg and pulled it back, before putting in a great performance to beat Hoffenheim in the final.
DFB.de: How did it feel to lift the trophy?
Reimann: It was an amazing feeling. I’d already won the league at an earlier age, but to do it at this stage is even better. There are more fans at the games, the games are shown live, and the whole thing is very professional.
The dream is over: Germany U19’s 4-3 defeat to Portugal last night meant that Guido Streichsbier’s side can no longer qualify for the semi-finals of this summer’s U19 European Championship. But there’s still something to play for, as a win against Austria in their final match on Sunday could still se Germany finish in third place – which would set up a play-off with the third-placed side in Group B for a place in next year’s U20 World Cup.
Goalkeeper Dominik Reihmann sat down with DFB.de to talk about the upcoming game with Austria.
DFB.de: Mr. Reihmann, what’s the mood like in the Germany camp after Thursday’s loss to Portugal?
Dominik Reimann: We’re all still a little bit shocked. Obviously, we imagined the whole tournament would go a lot differently. Now we have to pull ourselves together in the next few days and motivate ourselves to beat Austria in order to give us a chance of qualifying for the U20 World Cup.
DFB.de: Despite ending in the same result, we saw two very different games against Italy and Portugal – but both must have been just as frustrating for you?
Reimann: Definitely. Against Italy we had the game under control. They created absolutely nothing from open play – I had very little to do. Then they finally get in on our goal for the first time and they get a penalty. It was a very different game for a keeper, because you have to keep your concentration for the whole game regardless of what is going on.
DFB.de: And against Portugal…
Reimann: They were a much more attacking side, so naturally they created more chances. Having said that, I had a bit of déjà-vu because again they scored with their first shot. I was able to show what I can do a couple of times in the second half, but the overriding feeling was one of frustration. We started well and dominated up to the 20th minute – then they got into the game a little and brought it back to 1-1 from nothing. We then conceded just after the break. I was hopeful after we levelled it at 2-2, but then we conceded another goal just a couple of minutes later.
DFB.de: There must still be a lot of disappointment in the camp.
Reimann: Huge disappointment. But we still have one game left against Austria and we have to give our all. Firstly because we’re hosting this tournament, and the stadium in Reutlingen will be sold out once again – we have to give everything for our fans. And secondly, a win would mean we can at least achieve what we said was our minimum goal – we can’t reach the semi-final or final anymore, but now our main aim is to win the fifth-place play-off. We need to forget what’s gone before to be able to perform at our best.
DFB.de: That’s something you managed to do this season, having won the reserve league with BVB at the end of May.
Reimann: It was a great year for us – we played well right from the off, and especially at the end of the season we showed great character. After a poor first leg in the semi-final against 1860 München we gave our all in the second leg and pulled it back, before putting in a great performance to beat Hoffenheim in the final.
DFB.de: How did it feel to lift the trophy?
Reimann: It was an amazing feeling. I’d already won the league at an earlier age, but to do it at this stage is even better. There are more fans at the games, the games are shown live, and the whole thing is very professional.
