Antonio di Salvo reveals provisional Germany U21 squad for European Championship | OneFootball

Germany U21 head coach Antonio di Salvo has nominated his provisional squad for the coming UEFA U21 European Championships in Slovakia. There are several changes to the squad called up to contest two friendlies during the recent March international break. Interesting developments since then have led to some interesting changes in what is a strange year for the Bundesliga, the German national team, and football in general

Di Salvo had a thankless task this year as FIFA’s inaugural June Club World Cup means that some players will be unavailable to him. The participation of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund in the tournament means that di Salvo must do without three players from FCB and BVB. Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi and Maximilian Beier will travel to the USA with Dortmund. Jonas Urbig’s recent rise with Bayern leaves him committed to the Bavarians.

Bayern talent Frans Krätzig – set to join RB Salzburg – will be contesting the tournament with the Austrian Red Bulls, as will previous Germany U21 call ups Leonadro Morgalla and Hendry Blank. Di Salvo did receive some good news in the form of the fact that Bayern talent Paul Wanner – currently on loan with FC Heidenheim – will unexpectedly be available due to his recent club form dip.

“Paul wanted to play in the U21 European Championship and the club gave him the go-ahead,” di Salvo remarked at a DFB press conference earlier this week. “I’m very happy about that.“

Another piece of good news di Salvo commented on directly concerned the involvement of rising VfB Stuttgart star Nick Woltemade. The versatile attacker – by far di Salvo’s best performer during the last international break – will be capable of pulling “double duty” with both Julian Nagelsmann’s German senior men’s international team and di Salvo’s U21s.

“I’m not worried about Nick at all,” di Salvo said of the 23-year-old. “He’s so well integrated and will certainly help us after the senior international matches.”

Four debutants have made the provisional squad. Dubstitute goalkeepers Johannes Schenk (Preußen Münster) and Nahuel Noll (SpVgg Greuther Fürth) have been called up for the first time. Eintracht Frankfurt fullback Elias Baum – currently on loan at SV Elversberg – and VfB Stuttgart centre-back Finn Jeltsch also earn their first call ups.

Defender Joshua Quarshie (SpVgg Greuther Fürth) has been dropped. New Borussia Mönchengladbach signing Jens Castrop is unavailable after incurring a major injury whilst playing for FC Nürnberg this season. Nine-times-capped U21 international Merlin Röhl returns after overcoming injury problems of his own.

Full Germany U21 Squad:

Goalkeepers: Noah Atubolu (Freiburg), Nahuel Noll (SpVgg Greuther Fürth), Johannes Schenk (Preußen Münster), Tjark Ernst (Hertha BSC)

Defenders: Bright Arrey-Mbi (SC Braga), Nathaniel Brown (Eintracht Frankfurt), Nnamdi Collins (Eintracht Frankfurt), Tim Oermann (VfL Bochum), Finn Jeltsch (VfB Stuttgart), Elias Baum (SV Elversberg) Max Rosenfelder (SC Freiburg), Jamil Siebert (Fortuna Düsseldorf), Lukas Ullrich (Borussia Mönchengladbach)

Midfielders: Brajan Gruda (Brighton & Hove Albion), Caspar Jander (FC Nürnberg), Ansgar Knauff (Eintracht Frankfurt), Eric Martel (FC Köln), Paul Nebel (Mainz 05), Rocco Reitz (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Jan Thielmann (FC Köln), Paul Wanner (FC Heidenheim), Merlin Röhl (SC Freiburg)

Forwards: Nicolo Tresoldi (Hannover 96), Nelson Weiper (Mainz 05), Nick Woltemade (VfB Stuttgart), Derry Scherhant (SC Freiburg)

GGFN | Peter Weis