["Eisenfuß" Eilts]

First defeat for the team of my namesake.

German U21 lost 1-2 against the NT of Latvia.

First 30 minutes the Eilts team was superior and had some good chances,
Hilbert played some good wings to Nando Rafael (who couldn´t use them),
because he had many space in the first minutes,
but then Latvia stood very compact in defense and their strikers were very dangerous.
Germany continued playing offensive,
still had chances, but they lost the control over the match,
In the 45th minute the U21 was uncentrated, Latvia had a freekick,
played to Verpakovskis, who made a good header and scored.
His opponent Brzenska lost nearly all heading duels against him,
unless Brzenska is 17 cm than Verpakovskis (the best man on pitch).
In the second half Bleidelis made the 2-0 with a short disctance shot,
no chance for Rensing, after Verpakovskis won a heading duell again.
The match was decided, the U21 tried all, played out some chances,
but didn´t scored, while Latvia was always dangerous at counters.
But in the last minute Castro made a good dribbling,
then a shot on the keeper, who could only bounce the ball
in the middle, where Nando Rafael stood.

Well, first defeat for Dieter Eilts in the 15th match,
but losing against a such experienced side is not a shame.
He said after the match, his players learned today,
that they aren´t allowed to make many mistakes in such matches,
but they can be confident for the future, that they also can
bring such teams into trouble, when they act as a team.

I think, he´s right, it was today a lesson for the players
and a motivation to continue improving.

["Eisenfuß" Eilts]

btw: Here´s the match statistic from kicker:
German U21: Rensing - P. Ochs, Brzenska, Sinkiewicz, Fathi - Hilbert, Niemeyer, Polanski, Fischer - Masmanidis, Rafael
Latvia: Kolinko - Klava, Ivanovs, Stepanovs, Korablovs - Solonicins, Bleidelis, Astafjevs, Rubins - Verpakovskis, Karlsons

goals: 0:1 Bleidelis (45+1.), 0:2 Verpakovskis (69.), 1:2 Rafael (90+3.)
(thought Bleidelis made the second one, but if kicker says )

substitutions: 46. Helmes for Fischer, 60. Odonkor for Masmanidis, 60. Castro for Hilbert, 66. C. Schulz for Fathi, 72. Trochowski for Polanski, 80. Matip for Brzenska - 46. Prohorenkovs for Karlsons, 59. Zirnis for Korablovs, 70. Isakovs for Stepanovs, 86. Kalnins for Verpakovskis, 88. Stolcers for Rubins, 88. Visnakovs for Solonicins
referee: da Silva (Portugal)
attendance: 2150 (match was at Wolfsburg, more coaches than normal spectators )
yellow: Rafael - Klava

[European16]

how did we lose to them? no offence but arent we suppost to be a LOT better ?

[scorpio81]

Originally Posted by European16

how did we lose to them? no offence but arent we suppost to be a LOT better ?

in case you didnt notice, that was the latvian senior team... the same one that didnt allow a goal vs germany at euro2004, and gave worns and nowotny quite a few problems...

id say thats quite a respectable result!

[ForeverRed]

Originally Posted by scorpio81

in case you didnt notice, that was the latvian senior team... the same one that didnt allow a goal vs germany at euro2004, and gave worns and nowotny quite a few problems...

id say thats quite a respectable result!

Absolutely, although a draw might have been more reflective of the teams performance and efforts on the pitch.

In either case, Rafael seems to be continuing to do well at this level. That Verbakovskis is ONE talented player...he was amazing at Euro 2004, I wonder why he hasn't been picked up by one of the bigger European clubs.

[smithfan]

Originally Posted by scorpio81

in case you didnt notice, that was the latvian senior team... the same one that didnt allow a goal vs germany at euro2004, and gave worns and nowotny quite a few problems...

id say thats quite a respectable result!

Eilts also tested the players who usually sit on the bench.

Riether, Lehmann, Hanke, Volz all didn't play. And Trochowski, Schulz and Matip just played the last 10 minutes. So this wasn't our best squad! Don't worry.

[The Old Lady Hertha]

Originally Posted by ForeverRed

Absolutely, although a draw might have been more reflective of the teams performance and efforts on the pitch.

In either case, Rafael seems to be continuing to do well at this level. That Verbakovskis is ONE talented player...he was amazing at Euro 2004, I wonder why he hasn't been picked up by one of the bigger European clubs.

He starts for Dynamo Kyiv, which is a respectable club.

To be honest with you, he is actually one of my favorite players in the WORLD, not only is he pretty talented, but hard working....we really should have lost to Latvia in Euro 2004, Woerns hacked the shit out of Verpakovskis and he should have had a penalty.

[ForeverRed]

Originally Posted by The Old Lady Hertha

He starts for Dynamo Kyiv, which is a respectable club.

To be honest with you, he is actually one of my favorite players in the WORLD, not only is he pretty talented, but hard working....we really should have lost to Latvia in Euro 2004, Woerns hacked the shit out of Verpakovskis and he should have had a penalty.

This isn't the Dynamo of the 70's though, he would do very well in the top leagues of Europe I think.

[Bayerntone]

"E" Eilts> thanks for the after match report.

[Cazlon]

Next Tuesday the U21 plays Armenia's seniour team. First time appearance: Alex Meier of Eintracht Frankfurt.

Squad according to Kicker:

goalies: Rene Adler (Bayer Leverkusen), Michael Rensing (Bayern München)

defense: Markus Brzenska (Borussia Dortmund), Malik Fathi (Hertha BSC Berlin), Marvin Matip (1. FC Köln), Patrick Ochs (Eintracht Frankfurt), Christian Schulz (Werder Bremen), Lukas Sinkiewicz (1. FC Köln), Moritz Volz (FC Fulham)

midfield: Gonzalo Castro (Bayer Leverkusen), Matthias Lehmann (1860 München), Alexander Meier (Eintracht Frankfurt), Peter Niemeyer (Twente Enschede), Eugen Polanski (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Sascha Riether (SC Freiburg), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburger SV)

offense: Patrick Helmes (1. FC Köln), Stefan Kießling (1. FC Nürnberg), David Odonkor (Borussia Dortmund), Nando Rafael (Borussia Mönchengladbach)


Missing is my personal favourite Roberto Hilbert of Greuter Fuerth. He was kinda poor in the Latvia game though

Does anyone know why Eilts doesn't call up K.P Boateng anymore ? Maybe i'm just biased, but his performances lately seem to be at least on par with all those midfielders. I'd in fact go as far and say only Meier ( 1st leg of current season ) and Trochowski match him. Lehmann has been kinda poor overall since that Polish guy knocked half his teeth out, Polanski and Riether did alright for themselves, but weren't outstanding. Can't say much about Niemeyer, he's been hyped a lot, but the performance vs the Latvians wasn't that great either.