The captain is back once again: Kevin Volland is in the Under-21 squad for both play-off games against Ukraine, with the first leg taking place on Friday (17:30 CEST) in Cherkasy and the second leg in Essen on Tuesday (18:00 CEST).
The 1899 Hoffenheim forward missed the end of the group stage through injury, but the 22-year-old from Allgäu will lead Horst Hrubesch’s team out on to the pitch in both upcoming games. As usual, the play-offs will be played over two legs and the winner will go through to compete at the European Championship. “It’s a great feeling to be playing for the Under-21s again,” said the Volland after the first training session in Düsseldorf, which is where the DFB-Team are preparing for the upcoming games. “Unfortunately, I was injured for the last two games and therefore I’m delighted to be here once again and that I can try and help the lads.”
Volland regarding the senior team: “I’d like to be given another chance”
According to the forward, the excitement of the next few games can be seen at every training session. The fact that Germany head coach Joachim Löw didn’t pick him to go to the World Cup in Brazil after the training camp in South Tyrol doesn’t bother him anymore: “I honestly didn’t expect to be selected for the training camp. To be able to train with the senior team was an amazing experience for me and I had a lot of fun. I’m playing for the Under-21s and I’ll give my all so that hopefully I’ll be given another chance in the future.”
The forward, who is great with the ball at his feet, is a permanent fixture at Hoffenheim and after a few difficulties at the beginning of the season, is now back in top form. “We haven’t lost in our last seven games,” said Volland. “Things didn’t go as I’d planned at the start of the Bundesliga season, but I’ve got into gear in the last few games and I feel good.”
Volland regarding the under-21s: “A great team with big ambitions”
As captain, he is required to lead his teammates and his enthusiasm for this role of responsibility is always noticeable. And Volland knows that manager Horst Hrubesch will also be expecting a lot of him: “The gaffer has told me to get stuck in and to bring my confidence from my club football into the Under-21s. That’s easy for me to do because we have a great side with big ambitions to make that next step as a team.”
The U21s want to convert the tension of the play-offs into positive energy. The situation of a knockout game isn’t something new for Kevin Volland. He was in the squad in 2012 when the Under-21s drew 1-1 in the first leg against Switzerland, before confidently winning 3-1 away and therefore qualifying for the 2013 European Championship in Israel. “In the play-offs, everything’s at stake and the games are amazing,” said Volland. “We expect Ukraine to be defensive and therefore we have to let the ball do the work. We want to lay down a marker in the first leg and then close the game out in Essen.”
The captain is back once again: Kevin Volland is in the Under-21 squad for both play-off games against Ukraine, with the first leg taking place on Friday (17:30 CEST) in Cherkasy and the second leg in Essen on Tuesday (18:00 CEST).
The 1899 Hoffenheim forward missed the end of the group stage through injury, but the 22-year-old from Allgäu will lead Horst Hrubesch’s team out on to the pitch in both upcoming games. As usual, the play-offs will be played over two legs and the winner will go through to compete at the European Championship. “It’s a great feeling to be playing for the Under-21s again,” said the Volland after the first training session in Düsseldorf, which is where the DFB-Team are preparing for the upcoming games. “Unfortunately, I was injured for the last two games and therefore I’m delighted to be here once again and that I can try and help the lads.”
Volland regarding the senior team: “I’d like to be given another chance”
According to the forward, the excitement of the next few games can be seen at every training session. The fact that Germany head coach Joachim Löw didn’t pick him to go to the World Cup in Brazil after the training camp in South Tyrol doesn’t bother him anymore: “I honestly didn’t expect to be selected for the training camp. To be able to train with the senior team was an amazing experience for me and I had a lot of fun. I’m playing for the Under-21s and I’ll give my all so that hopefully I’ll be given another chance in the future.”
The forward, who is great with the ball at his feet, is a permanent fixture at Hoffenheim and after a few difficulties at the beginning of the season, is now back in top form. “We haven’t lost in our last seven games,” said Volland. “Things didn’t go as I’d planned at the start of the Bundesliga season, but I’ve got into gear in the last few games and I feel good.”
Volland regarding the under-21s: “A great team with big ambitions”
As captain, he is required to lead his teammates and his enthusiasm for this role of responsibility is always noticeable. And Volland knows that manager Horst Hrubesch will also be expecting a lot of him: “The gaffer has told me to get stuck in and to bring my confidence from my club football into the Under-21s. That’s easy for me to do because we have a great side with big ambitions to make that next step as a team.”
The U21s want to convert the tension of the play-offs into positive energy. The situation of a knockout game isn’t something new for Kevin Volland. He was in the squad in 2012 when the Under-21s drew 1-1 in the first leg against Switzerland, before confidently winning 3-1 away and therefore qualifying for the 2013 European Championship in Israel. “In the play-offs, everything’s at stake and the games are amazing,” said Volland. “We expect Ukraine to be defensive and therefore we have to let the ball do the work. We want to lay down a marker in the first leg and then close the game out in Essen.”
