Germany U21s into semi-finals

Nebel returns to the starting XI, Weiper comes off the bench to score against Italy.

Germany celebrate a goal in Dunajska Streda (Picture: Thomas Böcker/DFB)

Germany U21s defeated Italy 3-2 in extra time in a thrilling quarter-final at the European Championship in Slovakia on Sunday night. Antonio Di Salvo’s side’s winning goal came with three minutes to go in extra time against the nine men of Italy.

After Luca Koleosho put Italy ahead in the 48th minute, Nick Woltemade and FSV striker Nelson Weiper turned the game around and looked to have booked Germany’s place in the semi-finals late on, especially after Italy had two players sent off for second bookings. However, Giuseppe Ambrosino curled in a free-kick in injury time to take the match to extra time. Germany unsurprisingly dominated this 30-minute period thanks to their numerical advantage, but it took them until the 117th minute to find a winning goal – Freiburg’s Merlin Röhl fired home to scenes of great jubilation among the German camp.

Paul Nebel returned to the starting XI and played the first 62 minutes, while his Mainz teammate Weiper came on at this stage of the game and scored his second goal of the competition.

The FSV pair will be hoping to contribute again as Germany look to reach the final on Wednesday when they play France (21:00 CEST).

Paul Nebel had Germany’s best chance in the first half. (Picture: Thomas Böcker/DFB)

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