Cajetan Lenz and Tim Drexler receive late Germany U21 call-ups | OneFootball

Germany U21 head coach Antonio Di Salvo has added Tim Drexler and Cajetan Lenz to his squad ahead of Tuesday’s potentially decisive European Championship qualifier against Georgia.

The late changes come after Tom Bischof moved up to Jürgen Klopp’s senior Germany squad and Augsburg defender Noahkai Banks was forced to withdraw through injury. Germany enter their final qualification fixture level with Greece on 24 points at the top of Group F. Victory over Georgia would leave Di Salvo’s side in a strong position to secure direct passage to next summer’s European Championship in Albania and Serbia.

The changes provide another reminder of how much movement there has been between Germany’s youth and senior setups during the current international window. GGFN’s preview of Di Salvo’s latest squad already highlighted the considerable disruption caused by Klopp’s expansive senior selection. Finn Jeltsch, Brajan Gruda and Said El Mala were among the established U21 players initially promoted, while Bischof remained behind for the beginning of the qualification run before subsequently reporting to the senior side.

His departure has now opened another opportunity.

Cajetan Lenz receives another Germany U21 chance

Hoffenheim midfielder Cajetan Lenz has been promoted from Germany’s U20 setup to provide additional depth in defensive midfield. The 20-year-old already received his first U21 nomination approximately six months ago and twice made the bench without appearing. He has since continued his development after moving from Bochum to Hoffenheim during the summer.

Lenz’s promotion comes directly in response to Bischof joining Klopp’s senior group. The Bayern midfielder started both of Germany U21’s victories over Latvia and Malta before making the step up, further underlining his increasingly unusual position between the country’s two highest international levels. Germany’s U21 midfield has already undergone considerable tactical adjustment during the current window.

GGFN’s latest U21 tactical review examined how Di Salvo has reshaped his team around aggressive full-back positioning, narrow attacking players and Nicolo Tresoldi as the central reference point.

The approach helped Germany record successive 4-0 and 4-1 victories over Latvia and Malta, although Di Salvo himself remained dissatisfied with elements of the performance against the latter. Lenz now arrives at a point when the coach may again have to alter his midfield balance.

Drexler replaces injured Banks

RB Salzburg centre-back Tim Drexler has meanwhile been recalled after Noahkai Banks suffered a lateral ligament injury in his right knee. Banks was forced off late in Germany’s 4-1 victory over Malta and subsequently returned to Augsburg. The injury will keep him sidelined for the time being. Drexler is considerably more familiar with Di Salvo’s setup than Lenz, having already been capped once at U21 level.

The 21-year-old made his Germany U21 debut last autumn while on loan at 1. FC Nürnberg from Hoffenheim. He has since continued his career at RB Salzburg and now returns for the most important fixture of the qualification campaign. Banks’ withdrawal represents another setback for a defensive unit that has already undergone significant personnel changes over the past several months.

Germany nevertheless remain in control of their own objective.

Germany target direct qualification against Georgia

Di Salvo’s side have collected 24 points from nine qualifiers and remain level with Greece heading into the final matchday. Germany host Georgia on Tuesday while Greece face Northern Ireland simultaneously. The qualification format leaves little room for complacency.

The nine group winners qualify directly for the European Championship alongside the best runner-up, while the remaining eight second-placed teams must negotiate the playoffs. Germany therefore have little interest in relying upon comparisons with other groups.

The assignment in Bielefeld is considerably simpler: beat Georgia and place maximum pressure on Greece.

GGFN | Peter Weis