Drama in the European Championship quarter-finals: Germany beats Italy 3-2 after extra time!

Drama in the European Championship quarter-finals: Germany beats Italy 3-2 after extra time!

The German U21 footballers cheated their way into the semi-finals of the European Championship with an exciting 3-2 win after extra time over Italy. Coach Antonio Di Salvo can look back on a very successful phase, as the DFB team has now been unbeaten in 19 games. This success eases the pressure as Germany aims for its fourth European Championship title, having already won the championship in 2009, 2017 and 2021. France is now waiting in the semi-finals, defeating Denmark 3-2.

The game against Italy, which took place on the evening of June 23, 2025, was a real drama. Germany showed itself to be combative from the start, but was initially unable to assert itself decisively. After a brilliant first half, Italy took the lead in the 58th minute through Luca Koleosho. But the German players, agile and smart, did not give up. Nick Woltemade equalized in the 68th minute and Nelson Weiper made it 2-1 in the 87th minute. Italy threw everything forward in stoppage time and equalized 2-2 through Giuseppe Ambrosino in the 90th + 6th minute, which sent the game into extra time.

A furious final spurt

In extra time, Germany was the dominant team, while Italy had to fight while twice outnumbered (after yellow-red cards for Wilfried Gnonto and Mattia Zanotti). The German team's superiority paid off when Merlin Röhl scored the decisive goal in the 117th minute. This victory gave Germany a place in the semi-finals of the U21 European Championship for the seventh time and their next chance at the title.

Captain Eric Martel was overjoyed after the game and praised the team for their tireless efforts, despite the poor performance at times. Special mention also goes to the tactical changes and well-timed substitutions by Di Salvo, which brought a breath of fresh air into the game.

Looking at the European Championships

The European Championships will take place in Slovakia from June 11th to 28th. The German U21 rocked the preliminary round with a flawless record of nine points. During this time there were some personnel changes, including the cancellation of Karim Adeyemi and Maximilian Beier, who were not available due to the Club World Cup in the USA. In addition, DFB coach Antonio Di Salvo had to contend with injury-related absences, including Johannes Schenk.

The U21 squad includes numerous talents who are highly sought after in the German league, such as Eric Martel from 1. FC Köln and Merlin Röhl from SC Freiburg. Nick Woltemade, who made a huge contribution to the win against Italy, could also be in the spotlight for the senior team. The team undoubtedly has the potential to continue to cause a sensation in the coming days.

The semi-final game against France already promises a lot of excitement and could be the next big moment for the U21s. The coaches and players are ready and optimistic when it comes to achieving the big goal – the title.

For anyone who wants to keep an eye on what's happening, the reporting and live tickers from Sports show as well as the analyzing articles by Süddeutsche.de of great interest. It's also worth taking a look at Ran.de to find out about the current squad and developments in the U21 European Championship.