Germany U21s vs Latvia U21s: Germany run riot to dispatch Latvia in style  | OneFootball

Germany began their 2027 U21 European Championship qualifying campaign in emphatic fashion, sweeping aside Latvia 5-0 in front of the Ostseestadion crowd.

Unlike the controlled but uninspiring first half in Albania on Friday, Antonio Di Salvo’s side showed their intent from the very start in Rostock, looking sharp and purposeful from the offset. It took only two minutes for Germany to carve out their first opportunity, with Aljoscha Kemlein threading a clever ball through to Nicolo Tresoldi. The forward found himself one-on-one inside the box, but Latvian goalkeeper Ņikita Parfjonovs stood tall to deny him - a save that only delayed the inevitable.

Aside from a nervy moment when Mio Backhaus’ miscued clearance gifted Kristiān Mežsargs a chance, Germany looked unphased and in complete control. Their relentless pressing suffocated Latvia, who struggled even to cross the halfway line.

The breakthrough arrived in the 19th minute. After Nelson Weiper forced an initial save, Germany immediately regained possession and recycled the ball. Some sharp interplay between Brajan Gruda and Noël Aséko Nkili on the edge of the box opened the space for Weiper, who drilled a fierce low strike into the bottom corner to make it 1-0.

Latvia offered little in response, and their problems only deepened as the half wore on. The midfield trio of Kemlein, Aséko Nkili and Muhammed Damar set the tone with their intensity, while Gruda consistently pulled the strings, leaving the visitors chasing shadows. With half-time approaching, Latvia looked desperate to escape to the dressing room just a goal down. Germany, however, had other ideas. Gruda won possession high up the pitch and released Weiper, who squared first time for Tresoldi to slide home, delivering the 2-0 sucker punch on the stroke of the interval.

The second half began with Latvia needing a miracle, but within five minutes any lingering hope was killed off. Germany’s intensity showed no signs of fading, with Kemlein winning back possession high up the pitch. He released Weiper, who threaded a clever pass into Tresoldi’s path. The striker cut inside before calmly curling the ball home to claim his second of the night and put Germany 3-0 up.

By the 56th minute the floodgates had truly opened. Tresoldi was quickest to react from a corner, firing in to complete his hat-trick and cap off a ruthless display of finishing. Latvia barely had time to regroup before they were breached again just two minutes later, as Damar drifted into space on the edge of the box, cut inside, and bent a precise effort into the far corner to make it 5-0. By this point Germany were rampant and looked like scoring every time they went forward.

A flurry of substitutions eventually slowed the onslaught, much to Latvia’s relief, though replacements Said El Mala and Dženan Pejčinović still carved out chances that went begging. Germany continued to dominate until the final whistle, but the scoreline remained 5-0 - a statement victory and a near-perfect performance which will surely please Di Salvo.

With momentum firmly on their side, Germany now turn their attention to an early top-of-the-table clash next month, where they will host Greece U21s in Jena.