Germany U21 updates | Goalkeeping race remains open, Lennart Karl guaranteed minutes | OneFootball

Contrary to the expectations of many, Werder Bremen’s Mio Backhaus and VfB Stuttgart’s Dennis Seimen (currently on loan at Paderborn) will continue to compete for the Germany U21 No. 1 goalkeeping spot. Germany U21 head coach Antonio Di Salvo confirmed that Backhaus and Seimen will both start one game apiece at a Thursday DFB press conference. 

Backhaus will stand in goal tomorrow against Malta while Seimen starts on Tuesday against Georgia. Despite struggling whilst filling in for Backhaus during the October international break, Di Salvo believes Seimen’s form for first-placed 2. Bundesliga side Paderborn merits another look. Di Salvo labelled his situation in goal a “luxury problem“.

In other Germany U21 news: 

Lennart Karl guaranteed minutes

Di Salvo has publicly committed to deploying new Germany U21 call up Lennart Karl in tomorrow’s match. Whether the 17-year-old will start remains unclear. Di Salvo may wish to give preference to local product Arijon Ibrahimovic at the Sportpark Ronhof in Fürth. In any event, Karl will set foot on the pitch. 

The DFB released a publicity interview with Karl on Wednesday in which the young phenom again reiterated that he faced opponents fearlessly. The record-setting teenage talent will be hoping to catch the eye of Bundestrainer Julian Nagelsmann and earn a call up to the senior team just as Köln’s Said El Mala recently did.

Tom Bischof and Finn Jentsch to split captaincy

Just as Backhaus and Seimen will be sharing their duties, Finn Jeltsch’s return to the U21s does not necessarily mean that Tom Bischof will be relinquishing the captain’s armband. Bischof – like Seimen – had a difficult debut for the U21s during the September international break, but recovered to the second match and has recently been thriving in a new tactical role for Bayern Munich.

“We have two captains,” Di Salvo said on Thursday. “Slowly but surely, a clear picture is emerging for me. Tom and Finn have emerged as the ones who have a good rapport with me and the coaching team, but also with the squad.”

Union Berlin’s Tom Rothe departs camp injured

Di Salvo already nominated one replacement for his squad (Paderborn’s Mika Baur) to replace RB Leipzig’s Assan Ouédraogo, who was called up to the senior team as a replacement for the injured Nadiem Amiri. Union Berlin centre-back Tom Rothe had to leave camp injured, forcing Di Salvo to call upon Nürnberg local pro Winners Osawe to help him conclude an 11-aside scrimmage on Thursday. 

No replacement for Rothe – who started both matches during the September break in central defense – yet. At present, Di Salvo can hope to rely on Jeltsch and Southhampton’s Joshua Quarshie as his two starting central defenders. Should either one of them succumb to injury a later round of call ups (like in October) can be expected. 

GGFN | Peter Weis