Germany U21s now unbeaten in 12 after victory over Denmark in test fixture

Antonio di Salvo’s new-look German U21s handily dispatched the Danish U21s at a friendly held at Alemannia Aachen’s Tivoli stadium on Friday afternoon. Goals from Nicolo Tresoldi, Nathaniel Brown, and Youssoufa Moukoko helped the squad representing Germany at the highest youth level extend their unbeaten run to 12 consecutive matches since the autumn of 2023. Di Salvo’s team have not lost since their group stage elimination in the summer 2023 UEFA U21 European Championship. 

Di Salvo went with four changes to the XI that drew Poland at the end of the October international break. Jan Thielmann, Bright Arrey-Mbi, Tom Rothe, and Paul Nebel were replaced with Nathaniel Brown, Nmandi Collins, Maximilian Beier, and Max Rosenfelder. Eintracht teammates Collins and Brown were given their much-coveted chance to play together.The SGE duo served as the fullbacks. Di Salvo maintained the squad’s 4-2-3-1 shape.

The German youths got off to an excellent start the opening goal in the 5th. Brajan Gruda broke through with an impressive long dribble. The new Brighton attacker crossed into the box at the end of his long run. Beier fired in a shot barely kept out by Danish keeper Andreas Jungdal. Nicolo Tresoldi was there to stuff home the rebound.

Some ten minutes later, both Beier and Tresoldi came close to scoring a second after an exceptional run and cut-back from Collins. Gruda nearly broke through again at the end of the half. That proved pretty much all the hosts could muster in what was largely a dull opening 45. After grabbing the early led, di Salvo’s men mostly dropped back and allowed their guests to have the ball.

Danish trainer Stefan Højer introduced eight new players at the break while his German counterpart went with just one. Stuttgart’s Nick Woltemade – on for starting ten Paul Wanner – made an immediate impact. Woltemade did an excellent job of keeping after a ball in the 48th. The Stuttgart sensation cut-back superbly for Brown from the baseline. Brown easily tapped home the 2-0. 

A little after the hour mark, it was di Salvo’s turn to employ wholesale changes. Returner Youssoufa Moukoko and Union Berlin debutant Aljoscha Kemlein were among four players introduced in the 65th. Moukoko was able to slot home the 3-0 after a botched clearance off a corner in the 81st. Di Salvo also eventually swapped goalkeepers.

Hertha’s Tjark Ernst made some quality saves down the stretch to help preserve a joint clean sheet with Köln net-minder Jonas Urbig. Karlsruhe’s Marcel Beifus and Nürnberg’s Jens Castrop also made strong impressions off the bench. Hoffenheim’s Tom Bischof remained unused in the dugout.