German U21 EC quali playoff [R]

["Eisenfuß" Eilts]

After Germany sucessfully survived the group stage, became first in their group, the U21 now has to face Czech Republic in a qualification match for the EC.

Here´s the German squad for the two matches:
Goalies:
René Adler (Bayer 04 Leverkusen)
Michael Rensing (FC Bayern München)
Defense:
Malik Fathi (Hertha BSC Berlin)
Marvin Matip (1. FC Köln),
Patrick Ochs (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Christian Schulz (Werder Bremen)
Moritz Volz (FC Fulham/England)
Nico Herzig (Wacker Burghausen)
Midfield:
Roberto Hilbert (SpVgg Greuther Fürth)
Matthias Lehmann (TSV München 1860)
Ioannis Masmanidis (Karlsruher SC)
Peter Niemeyer (FC Twente Enschede/Holland)
Sascha Riether (SC Freiburg)
Piotr Trochowski (Hamburger SV)
Forwards:
Mike Hanke (VfL Wolfsburg)
Aaron Hunt (Werder Bremen)
Stefan Kießling (1. FC Nürnberg)
David Odonkor (Borussia Dortmund)
Nando Rafael (Hertha BSC Berlin)

[F96]

very good squad imo

The WCs should be 2010! :D

[The Old Lady Hertha]

Like it too...

[Cazlon]

When's the game supposed to take place ? Looks like an interesting matchup for a change, most group stage games weren't overly exciting due to passive and clearly inferiour opponents.

[The Old Lady Hertha]

Games are on 11th and the 15th...

from uefa.com, the Czech lineup

Forward Petr Mikolanda has been recalled by the Czech Republic for their UEFA European Under-21 Championship play-off against Germany.

Diving header
The 21-year-old had a fine pre-season at English Premiership club West Ham United FC but has since struggled with injuries. However, he made an impressive return to reserve-team action last night, scoring in a 1-0 victory against Norwich City FC. His presence will make up for the absence of suspended Michal Papadopulos and injured captain Tomáš Sivok. The winners of the two-legged tie on 11 and 15 November will go through to the finals.

Czech Republic squad
Goalkeepers: Antonín Buček (FC Baník Ostrava), Tomáš Grigar (AC Sparta Praha).

Defenders: Roman Hubník (SK Sigma Olomouc), Michal Kadlec (AC Sparta Praha), Josef Kaufman (FK Teplice), Michal Klein (FK Teplice), Martin Knakal (FC Viktoria Plzeň), Martin Latka (SK Slavia Praha).

Midfielders: Luboš Hušek (FK Jablonec 97), Tomáš Jirsák (FK Teplice), David Limberský (FC Viktoria Plzeň), Lukáš Magera (FC Baník Ostrava), Milan Petržela (1. FC Slovácko), Filip Trojan (VfL Bochum).

Forwards: Pavel Fořt (SK Slavia Praha), Emil Rilke (FK Teplice), Václav Svěrkoš (VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach), Petr Mikolanda (West Ham United FC).

[DanielHSV]

Peter Niemeyer? Who the hell is he? I've never heard of the dude before... :rolleyes:

["Eisenfuß" Eilts]

Peter Niemeyer? Who the hell is he? I've never heard of the dude before... :rolleyes:

21 years old defensive midfielder from Twente Entschede,
who already made more than 70 matches in Holland for his club in the last 3 years. Absolute first-team player at his club.
Last summer Feyenoord Rotterdam was interested in signing him.

[OP_M]

Best U21 Generation for years, those guys are germany's future. :)

[The Old Lady Hertha]

Game on in a few I believe!

[SelfDeception]

Just a short list of players missing for the U21 due injuries or selection for the nationalteam squad :
- Lahm
- Podolski
- Schweinsteiger
- Mertesacker
- Jansen
- Sinkiewicz
- Huth

And players didn`t get a selection
- Alex Meier (he scored 4 goals, and made 4 assists in the last 4 bundesliga games !!!)
- Gentner
- Baier
- Schlaudraff
- Gomez
- Eigler
- Milchraum
- Westermann
- Castro (well, he decided yesterday to play for germany)
...

[Cazlon]

Germany Playing 4-3-3

Rensing
Volz, Matip, Malik, Schulz
Lehmann, Kiessling, Riether
Odonkor, Hanke, Rafael

Czech are the clearly better team, but Nando scored Germany's first good offensive ball ( 35th minute ).

[SelfDeception]

I don`t understand, why Trochowski is on the bench, and Eilts plays with 4 (!) forwards.

The game is over and Germany won with 2:0. The second goal was scored by Schulz. It was weakest game of the U21, but they are still unbeaten in 13 games (only 3 draws).

Just a short list of players missing for the U21 due injuries or selection for the nationalteam squad :
- Lahm
- Podolski
- Schweinsteiger
- Mertesacker
- Jansen
- Sinkiewicz
- Huth


i`ve forgot Christian Pander.

[scorpio81]

finished 0-2 to germany! what a result against a very talented U-21 Czech team!

[Cazlon]

I don`t understand, why Trochowski is on the bench, and Eilts plays with 4 (!) forwards.

It's somewhat speculative, since they for whatever reason only show lists of players, not the actual formations. From what i gathered the intention was something like this:


---------- Hanke --------------
Nando ---------------------- Odonkor
------------------------------------
----- Riether-Kiessling--Lehmann-----
-------------------------------------
Malik ---- Matip ---- Schulz --- Volz

Meaning a 4-3-2-1 with 3 more or less central midfielders. The problem with this line up ( not necessarily the formation ) is the lack of defensive capabilites within the midfield, that's exactly what we saw. Especially Kiessling just doesn't fit that role. This would work just fine though with a player like Essien. I'm not familiar enough with some of the not so often fielded players, maybe Niemeyer or Masmanidis could fill that role ? I'd be very suprised to see the same line up anytime soon though.

Btw 2nd leg: Tuesday @ Leverkusen

[SelfDeception]

It's somewhat speculative, since they for whatever reason only show lists of players, not the actual formations. From what i gathered the intention was something like this:


---------- Hanke --------------
Nando ---------------------- Odonkor
------------------------------------
----- Riether-Kiessling--Lehmann-----
-------------------------------------
Malik ---- Matip ---- Schulz --- Volz



yeah, but they rather played like that:

----------Rafael---Hanke-----------
-----------------Kiessling---Odonkor
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
---------Lehmann----Riether-------

there was too much space between the forwards and midfield players.
rafael is not left winger and kiessling is far away from a playmaker. in my opinion Lehmann and Riether are two excellent defensive midfield player (they often have been player of the match in previous U21 games, and are both key players in their clubs), but they can`t control the midfield all alone and close the gap.

The best lineup for tuesday:

---------------Kiessling---------------
--Hunt------------------------Odonkor-
--------------Trochowski--------------
---------------------------------------
----------Lehmann-----Riether---------
---------------------------------------
--Fathi----Schulz----Matip----Volz-----
---------------------------------------
----------------Rensing----------------

Usually i would post Hanke on the central forward position, and set Kiessling on to the left wing. But for the reason, that we have a 2:0 lead, i would prefer a little bit more defensive lineup. And Hunt convinced me at his last games on the left wing. He can control the ball, and that`s the key in Leverkusen.
We can`t give the Czechs such a load of chances again. We`ve gonna control this game ;)

Player of the match: Michael Rensing - i hope Kahn will retire or leave Bayern soon, he would be a fantastic young goalkeeper for them.

Other U21 results for tonight:
England - Frankreich 1:1
Hungary - Italy 1:1

[Cazlon]

I'd replace Odonkor with Hilbert, but agree on all other points. The win tonight was 80% luck and I'm sure Eilts will act accordingly.

I don't think anyone needs to worry despite the lacking performance, they are already showing the probably defining trait of most German NTs: Finding a way to win anyway.

[Cazlon]

2nd leg match will start in about two hours, according to dfb.de Eilts will likely play the same formation. That'd be mildly surprising seeing Friday's performance.

[The Old Lady Hertha]

Agree with lineup there but I think Nando would be better than Hunt...I think he's faster and a better finisher.

[Cazlon]

They are playing:

Rensing
Malik, Matip, Volz, Schulz
Riether, Lehman, Trochowski
Rafael, Hanke, Kiessling

0:0 as of 60th minute

edit: 1:0, guess who :cool:

[The Old Lady Hertha]

:D

Wunderbar!