Germany have already ensured progress to the round of 16 at the U20 World Cup in New Zealand after only two matches. The team of talented young Germans, under the management of Frank Wormuth, asserted their dominance against the team from Uzbekistan, leading 1-0 at half-time, before claiming a 3-0 victory. That guarantees the team a place in the knockout stages after securing at the very least one of the four best third-placed positions. Eintracht Frankfurt’s Marc Stendera struck in the 33rd and 85th minute, either side of a 59th-minute goal from captain Kevin Akpoguma of Hoffenheim, to complete a commanding victory for the DFB-Team.
After the 8-1 victory over Fiji on Monday night, and the three points secured against the central Asian nation, Germany lead Group F with six points ahead of Honduras and Fiji, who both sit on three points after Fiji’s 3-0 win against Honduras, and Uzbekistan who have yet to win a point. The final game of the group stage takes place against Honduras on Sunday (04:00 CEST / 14:00 NZST).
Germany fought against a solid Uzbek defence
Wormuth put his faith in the same starting line-up that had defeated Fiji. In front of keeper Marvin Schwäbe was a back four of Grischa Prömel, Akpoguma, Niklas Stark and Marc Kempf. In midfield, Ville Steinmann, Stendera, Hany Mukhtar and Robert Bauer were charged with providing balls to the front two of Julian Brandt and Levin Öztunali.
The game was certainly no stroll in the park for the Germans, and they found it difficult from the start against a deep-lying Uzbek team. Admittedly, Wormuth’s charges had far more possession and combined well in the middle third but could go no further than the edge of the Uzbek penalty area. Uzbekistan defended with all eleven men in their own half, and were well drilled in that tactic, keeping Germany well away from the danger zone.
Marc Stendera with a brace
Germany’s first real chance came in the 21st minute with a long-range effort from Ingolstadt’s Robert Bauer, but in the 33rd minute, they were finally able to celebrate. Stendera skillfully curled a free kick into the left-hand corner of the goal to give the Germans a deserved half-time lead.
Wormuth would have told his players at the break that they needed to continue their patient build-up and attacking play until they found a clear way through the defence. And so they did, with the team finding it difficult to create clear goalscoring opportunities in the second half until their patience finally paid off in the 59th minute, when Akpoguma made it 2-0 after a piece of individual brilliance to put the result beyond doubt.
Germany’s defence, in front of Hoffenheim goalkeeper Schwäbe, were largely untroubled throughout the game. Uzbekistan’s long-ball tactics were dealt with professionally by Akpoguma & Co. Shortly before the end of the game, Wormuth’s side produced the best attack of the match, as substitute Jeremy Dudziak of Borussia Dortmund played a one-two with Stendera in the penalty area, before the Frankfurt player coolly slotted home for the third goal of the game in the 85th minute.
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Germany have already ensured progress to the round of 16 at the U20 World Cup in New Zealand after only two matches. The team of talented young Germans, under the management of Frank Wormuth, asserted their dominance against the team from Uzbekistan, leading 1-0 at half-time, before claiming a 3-0 victory. That guarantees the team a place in the knockout stages after securing at the very least one of the four best third-placed positions. Eintracht Frankfurt’s Marc Stendera struck in the 33rd and 85th minute, either side of a 59th-minute goal from captain Kevin Akpoguma of Hoffenheim, to complete a commanding victory for the DFB-Team.
After the 8-1 victory over Fiji on Monday night, and the three points secured against the central Asian nation, Germany lead Group F with six points ahead of Honduras and Fiji, who both sit on three points after Fiji’s 3-0 win against Honduras, and Uzbekistan who have yet to win a point. The final game of the group stage takes place against Honduras on Sunday (04:00 CEST / 14:00 NZST).
Germany fought against a solid Uzbek defence
Wormuth put his faith in the same starting line-up that had defeated Fiji. In front of keeper Marvin Schwäbe was a back four of Grischa Prömel, Akpoguma, Niklas Stark and Marc Kempf. In midfield, Ville Steinmann, Stendera, Hany Mukhtar and Robert Bauer were charged with providing balls to the front two of Julian Brandt and Levin Öztunali.
The game was certainly no stroll in the park for the Germans, and they found it difficult from the start against a deep-lying Uzbek team. Admittedly, Wormuth’s charges had far more possession and combined well in the middle third but could go no further than the edge of the Uzbek penalty area. Uzbekistan defended with all eleven men in their own half, and were well drilled in that tactic, keeping Germany well away from the danger zone.
Marc Stendera with a brace
Germany’s first real chance came in the 21st minute with a long-range effort from Ingolstadt’s Robert Bauer, but in the 33rd minute, they were finally able to celebrate. Stendera skillfully curled a free kick into the left-hand corner of the goal to give the Germans a deserved half-time lead.
Wormuth would have told his players at the break that they needed to continue their patient build-up and attacking play until they found a clear way through the defence. And so they did, with the team finding it difficult to create clear goalscoring opportunities in the second half until their patience finally paid off in the 59th minute, when Akpoguma made it 2-0 after a piece of individual brilliance to put the result beyond doubt.
Germany’s defence, in front of Hoffenheim goalkeeper Schwäbe, were largely untroubled throughout the game. Uzbekistan’s long-ball tactics were dealt with professionally by Akpoguma & Co. Shortly before the end of the game, Wormuth’s side produced the best attack of the match, as substitute Jeremy Dudziak of Borussia Dortmund played a one-two with Stendera in the penalty area, before the Frankfurt player coolly slotted home for the third goal of the game in the 85th minute.
