Germany national under-21 football team
The Germany national under-21 football team represents the under-21s of Germany in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship and is controlled by the German Football Association (DFB), the governing body of football in Germany.
| Association | Deutscher Fußball-Bund | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Antonio Di Salvo | ||
| Captain | Jonathan Burkardt | ||
| Most caps | Fabian Ernst (31) | ||
| Top scorer | Pierre Littbarski (18) | ||
| |||
| First international | |||
| U-23: West Germany 3–3 Yugoslavia (Frankfurt, West Germany; 25 June 1955) U-21: Poland 1–0 West Germany (Toruń, Poland; 10 October 1979) | |||
| Biggest win | |||
| U-23: West Germany 3–0 Turkey (Augsburg, West Germany; 24 April 1971) U-21: San Marino 0–11 Germany (Serravalle, San Marino; 17 November 2009) | |||
| Biggest defeat | |||
| U-23: Soviet Union 3–1 West Germany (Yerevan, Soviet Union; 29 April 1972) U-21: Portugal 5–0 Germany (Olomouc, Czech Republic; 27 June 2015) | |||
| UEFA U-21 Championship | |||
| Appearances | 14 (first in 1982) | ||
| Best result | Winners (2009, 2017, 2021) | ||
Before the reunification of Germany, East Germany and West Germany played as separate entities — the two teams played separately until summer 1990. Following the realignment of UEFA's youth competitions in 1976, international under-21 football in Europe began. A West German team, however, did not compete in the U-21 European Championship until the qualifying round (beginning in 1980) of the 1982 competition.
West Germany competed in the first two under-23 competitions, which finished in 1972 and 1974. The first under-21 competition finals were in 1978, and since the under-21 competition rules state that players must be 21 or under at the start of a two-year competition, technically it is an under-23 competition.
The current Germany team can be legitimately considered as the current incarnation of the West German team, since the West Germany flag, uniform, and football association all became those of the unified Germany. In effect, the West German team absorbed the East German team to become 'the Germany national under-21 football team'.
For these reasons, the record of West Germany for the U-23 and U-21 competitions is shown below.
Competitive record
For the East Germany team record, look here.
- 1972–1990 as West Germany
- 1994–present as Germany
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place
UEFA U-23 Championship record
| UEFA European Under-23 Championship finals record | Qualifications record | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | GP | W | D* | L | GF | GA | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | ||
| 1972 | Quarterfinals | 8th | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 1972 | |
| 1974 | did not qualify | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 1974 | ||||||||
| 1976 | did not enter | did not enter | 1976 | |||||||||||||
| Total | Quarterfinals | 1/3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 4 | Total | |
UEFA U-21 Championship record
| UEFA European Under-21 Championship finals record | Qualifications record | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | GP | W | D* | L | GF | GA | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | ||
| 1978 | did not enter | did not enter | 1978 | |||||||||||||
| 1980 | 1980 | |||||||||||||||
| 1982 | Runners-up | 2nd | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 5 | 1982 | |
| 1984 | did not qualify | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 4 | 1984 | ||||||||
| 1986 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 1986 | |||||||||
| 1988 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 9 | 1988 | |||||||||
| 1990 | Quarterfinals | 6th | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 1990 | |
| 1992 | Quarterfinals | 6th | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 1992 | |
| 1994 | did not qualify | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 20 | 8 | 1994 | ||||||||
| 1996 | Quarterfinals | 7th | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 5 | 1996 | |
| 1998 | Quarterfinals | 5th | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 3 | 1998 | |
| 2000 | did not qualify | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 2000 | ||||||||
| 2002 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 18 | 7 | 2002 | |||||||||
| 2004 | Group stage | 6th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 6 | 2004 | |
| 2006 | Group stage | 7th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 27 | 5 | 2006 | |
| 2007 | did not qualify | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 2007 | ||||||||
| 2009 | Champions | 1st | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 26 | 4 | 2009 | |
| 2011 | did not qualify | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 26 | 10 | 2011 | ||||||||
| 2013 | Group stage | 6th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 43 | 11 | 2013 | |
| 2015 | Semifinals | 3rd | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 30 | 5 | 2015 | |
| 2017 | Champions | 1st | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 8 | 2017 | |
| 2019 | Runners-up | 2nd | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 33 | 7 | 2019 | |
| 2021 | Champions | 1st | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 10 | 2021 | |
| 2023 | Group stage | 15th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 32 | 9 | 2023 | |
| Total | 3 titles | 14/24 | 52 | 22 | 13* | 17 | 81 | 64 | 176 | 124 | 27 | 25 | 465 | 138 | Total | |
Individual awards
- Golden Player: Rudi Völler (1982)
- Golden Boot: Luca Waldschmidt (2019), Lukas Nmecha (2021)
- Silver Boot: Kevin Volland (2015)
- Bronze Boot: Marco Richter (2019)
- EURO Under-21 dream team
On 17 June 2015, UEFA revealed an all-time best XI from the previous Under-21 final tournaments.[1]
Included players from Germany:
- Goal: Manuel Neuer
- Defence: Mats Hummels
- Midfield: Mesut Özil
UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 4 | +11 | 16 | Final tournament | — | 3–1 | 11 Oct '24 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 2–0 | |
| 2 | Poland | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 6 | +8 | 15 | Play-offs | 15 Oct '24 | — | 0–1 | 3–0 | 5–0 | 2–1 | |
| 3 | Bulgaria | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 7 | +7 | 12 | 2–3 | 10 Sep '24 | — | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–0 | ||
| 4 | Kosovo | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 10 | −2 | 9 | 0–3 | 11 Oct '24 | 2–2 | — | 2–0 | 3–1 | ||
| 5 | Estonia (E) | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 19 | −17 | 1 | 10 Sep '24 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 15 Oct '24 | — | 7 Sep '24 | ||
| 6 | Israel (E) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 10 | −7 | 0 | 4 Sep '24 | 1–2 | 15 Oct '24 | 10 Sep '24 | 10 Oct '24 | — |
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(E) Eliminated
Results and fixtures
Win Draw Loss
| 22 June 2023 2023 UEFA EC | Germany | 1–1 | Israel | Kutaisi, Georgia |
| 20:00 | Bisseck 26' | Report | Turgeman 20' | Stadium: Ramaz Shengelia Stadium Referee: Willy Delajod (France) |
| 25 June 2023 2023 UEFA EC | Czech Republic | 2–1 | Germany | Batumi, Georgia |
| 20:00 | Report | Stiller 70' | Stadium: Batumi Stadium Referee: Espen Eskås (Norway) |
| 28 June 2023 2023 UEFA EC | England | 2–0 | Germany | Batumi, Georgia |
| 20:00 | Report | Stadium: Batumi Stadium Referee: Aliyar Aghayev (Azerbaijan) |
| 8 September 2023 Friendly | Germany | 2–0 | Ukraine | Saarbrücken |
| 18:15 | Report | Stadium: Ludwigsparkstadion Attendance: 6,503 Referee: Jasmin Sabotic (Luxembourg) |
| 12 September 2023 2025 UEFA EC Q | Kosovo | 0–3 | Germany | Pristina |
| 19:00 | Report |
|
Stadium: Fadil Vokrri Stadium Attendance: 1,950 Referee: Mikkel Redder (Denmark) |
| 13 October 2023 2025 UEFA EC Q | Bulgaria | 2–3 | Germany | Sofia |
| 18:15 | Report | Moukoko 40', 49', 69' | Stadium: Stadion Aleksandar Shalamanov Attendance: 1,223 Referee: Nathan Verboomen (Belgium) |
| 17 November 2023 2025 UEFA EC Q | Germany | 4–1 | Estonia | Paderborn |
| 18:00 | Report | Kuraksin 64' | Stadium: Home Deluxe Arena Attendance: 5,493 Referee: Danijar Sachi (Kazakhstan) |
| 21 November 2023 2025 UEFA EC Q | Germany | 3–1 | Poland | Essen |
| 18:00 | Report | Mosór 24' | Stadium: Stadion an der Hafenstraße Attendance: 8,559 Referee: Kyriakos Athanasiou (Cyprus) |
| 22 March 2024 2025 UEFA EC Q | Germany | 0–0 | Kosovo | Chemnitz |
| 18:00 | Report | Stadium: Stadion an der Gellertstraße Attendance: 6,899 Referee: Daniele Chiffi (Italy) |
| 26 March 2024 2025 UEFA EC Q | Germany | 2–0 | Israel | Halle |
| 18:00 | Report | Stadium: Leuna Chemie Stadion Attendance: 4,766 Referee: John Brooks (England) |
| 4 September 2024 2025 UEFA EC Q | Israel | v | Germany | |
| Report | ||||
| Note: The match, originally scheduled for 17 October 2023, was postponed due to the Israel–Hamas war.[2] | ||||
Players
Current squad
Players born in or after 2002 are eligible for the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
The following players were called up for the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification matches against Kosovo and Israel on 22 and 26 March 2024.[3]
Note: Names in italics denote players that have been called up to the senior team.
- Caps and goals correct as of 26 March 2024.[4]
Recent call-ups
The following players have previously been called up to the Germany under-21 squad in the last 12 months and remain eligible for selection.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Tjark Ernst | 15 March 2003 | 0 | 0 | Hertha BSC | v. Kosovo, 12 September 2023 |
| DF | Colin Kleine-Bekel | 24 January 2003 | 5 | 1 | Holstein Kiel | v. Kosovo, 26 March 2024 |
| DF | Márton Dárdai | 12 February 2002 | 8 | 0 | Hertha BSC | v. Poland, 21 November 2023 |
| DF | Leandro Morgalla | 13 September 2004 | 3 | 0 | Red Bull Salzburg | v. Poland, 21 November 2023 |
| DF | Kenneth Schmidt | 3 June 2002 | 4 | 0 | SC Freiburg | v. Bulgaria, 13 October 2023 |
| DF | Clemens Riedel | 19 July 2003 | 1 | 0 | Darmstadt 98 | v. Bulgaria, 13 October 2023 |
| DF | Tom Rothe | 29 October 2004 | 1 | 0 | Holstein Kiel | v. Kosovo, 12 September 2023 |
| DF | Marco John | 2 April 2002 | 1 | 0 | 1899 Hoffenheim | v. Ukraine, 8 September 2023 |
| MF | Tim Breithaupt | 7 February 2002 | 3 | 0 | FC Augsburg | v. Poland, 21 November 2023 |
| MF | Robert Wagner | 14 July 2003 | 3 | 0 | Greuther Fürth | v. Bulgaria, 13 October 2023 |
| FW | Nicolò Tresoldi | 20 August 2004 | 1 | 0 | Hannover 96 | v. Kosovo, 12 September 2023 |
| FW | Tim Lemperle | 5 February 2002 | 7 | 1 | 1. FC Köln | v. Poland, 21 November 2023 |
| FW | Maximilian Beier | 17 October 2002 | 5 | 2 | 1899 Hoffenheim | v. Poland, 21 November 2023 |
| FW | Karim Adeyemi | 18 January 2002 | 4 | 0 | Borussia Dortmund | v. Bulgaria, 13 October 2023 |
| FW | Nelson Weiper | 17 March 2005 | 3 | 0 | Mainz 05 | v. Ukraine, 8 September 2023 |
Past squads
- 1996 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
- 1998 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
- 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
- 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
- 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
- 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
- 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
- 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
- 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
- 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
- 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
Player records
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Former coaches
- Hannes Löhr (1990–2002)
- Jürgen Kohler (2002–2003)
- Uli Stielike (2003–2004)
- Dieter Eilts (2004–2008)
- Horst Hrubesch (2008–2009)
- Rainer Adrion (2009–2013)
- Horst Hrubesch (2013–2016)
- Stefan Kuntz (2016–2021)
- Antonio Di Salvo (2021–)
See also
Notes
References
- "Our all-time Under-21 EURO dream team". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 17 June 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
- "UEFA postpones matches in Israel". UEFA.com. 8 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
- "Di Salvo beruft drei Neulinge". dfb.de. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
- "U 21-Nationalteam Männer Team". dfb.de. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
External links
- Site of the Under-21 national team at the German Football Association homepage