U21 national coach warns: Tough start against Slovenia awaited!

U21 national coach warns: Tough start against Slovenia awaited!

Osnabrück, Deutschland - On June 11, 2025, the dream of the European U21 national team will be true of the European Championship in Slovakia. The team, led by Antonio di Salvo, will play his first group game against Slovenia this evening at 9:00 p.m. The prelude is associated with mixed feelings, because Slovenia has qualified as a group leader in front of big names such as France and Denmark and is considered a persistent opponent. mainpost is to be concentrated in the duels, because it could be "very physical".

Rocco Reitz, player of the U21, was happy about the debut of Nick Woltemade in the A national team. Reitz followed his colleague's appearance on his cell phone and thanked Di Salvo for the opportunity to remain unpunished with this exception. The starting eleven for today's game is largely certain, only one position wants to leave di Salvo open. This shows its strategic sensitivity and the flexibility that is necessary in view of the strong opponent.

The challenges of the EM

After the duel against Slovenia, further challenges follow for the German U21. The team will meet the Czech Republic on Sunday, and on Wednesday on England. The pressure is high: only the two best teams of each group reach the knockout round. Di Salvo sees a tricky opponent in Slovenia who stands out due to his strong will and can sometimes play "gross". These characteristics can cause tension on the field.

Antonio di Salvo has been head coach since his time as an assistant coach under Stefan Kuntz and would like to continue the success. The U21 was able to win five out of six games under its leadership, and one point from the remaining encounters would already be enough to qualify for the 2023 European Championship in Romania and Georgia. T-Online highlights the game practice in high levels for the young talent. Di Salvo emphasizes the need to prove itself in a competition with older professionals.

talent development and psychological strength

An important aspect in di Salvo's work is the mental health of the players. In cooperation with psychologist Christoph Herr, he relies on the trust and observation of the players in order to support them in the best possible way. The reason for this is the conviction that intrinsic motivation and psychological stability are crucial in order to gain a foothold in the demanding football business, especially for young players. Ansgar Knauff, who successfully asserted itself at Eintracht Frankfurt, is an example of successful career.

Overall, the team looks at an exciting time at the European Championship and begins with the game against Slovenia full of anticipation and a portion of tension. All 23 players in the squad are fit, and so the adventure for the next generation of German football begins. For more information on game schedule and results, interested parties can be found on SPIEGE read.