What: European Under-21 Championship
Who: Germany U21 vs Russia U21
When: Wednesday 12th June, 2013, at 17:00 UK Time
Where: Netanya Stadium, Netanya, Israel
Early Exit for 2009 Champions
They may be out but Germany’s young team will be looking to show that they have the character required to make it at senior level when they meet Russia. Hansi Flick, senior coach Joachim Low’s assistant, has written an article since the team’s early exit in which he says that playing a third game after being knocked out is a test of the squad’s mentality.
For a team who have lost twice in two matches there is not a huge amount of shame in the way Germany have been beaten. They lost by a single goal late on in both games against the Netherlands and Spain, probably the two strongest teams in the tournament. Against the Dutch, Rainer Adrion’s side had been just as good as their opponents and were unfortunate in defeat after dominating the second half, but against Spain it was a case of defending as well as possible. As most teams find against the Spanish, time on the ball is radically limited.
This match also gives Germany the chance to experiment with new faces, particularly with three key figures out injured. Lasse Sobiech and Patrick Funk will hope to start for Germany after missing out in their last game whilst young midfielder Emre Can may get a chance to show his glowing potential.
Group of Death Lives Up To Name for Russia
This has been quite a baptism of fire for the Russians, in what is their first appearance in this competition as an independent nation since the fall of the Soviet Union. Defeat to Spain in their opener was followed by a crushing defeat to a rampant Dutch side, meaning they are also set to travel home after this encounter.
Whilst it was the 5-1 defeat against the Netherlands last time out that sealed their fate, the writing was on the wall for the Russians after they were beaten with a late Spanish goal in the opening game. But Russia had seemed to improve against the Netherlands, with CSKA Moscow’s Alan Dzagoev coming into the team after playing for the seniors in World Cup qualifying last week, and he was at the heart of some impressive moves early on.
They may have lost anyway, but the red card given to Nikita Chicharin secured Russia’s fate. As with Germany, the Russians will look to exit the tournament on a high and salvage some pride. There is no shame in being knocked out in the group of death, but the Russians will want to show that there is reason for optimism in the years ahead, and that some of these young talents can replace the ageing generation that reached the semi-finals of the senior European Championship in 2008.
Recent form
Germany U21:
Israel 1-2 Germany (24/03; Friendly)
Netherlands 3-2 Germany (06/06; Euro U21)
Germany 0-1 Spain (09/06; Euro U21)
Russia U21:
Italy 2-0 Russia (22/03; Friendly)
Spain 1-0 Russia (06/06; Euro U21)
Netherlands 5-1 Russia (09/06; Euro U21)
Key absences
Germany: Christoph Moritz; Peniel Mlapa; Sead Kolasinac
Russia: Maksim Belyaev; Nikita Chicharin
Players to watch
Germany – Emre Can: The latest in a catalogue of German-Turkish talents, Can is following in the footsteps of Mesut Ozil in choosing to ply his trade for the country where he was brought up rather than go with his heritage in Turkey, as the Altintop brothers did. Can showed his prodigious talent at last year’s Under-17 World Cup, as one of the players of the tournament. Tall and elegant, with superb technique, the canny playmaker was described by Steffen Freund as the most complete player he’d ever seen. The Bayern Munich man may give further justification for that in this game.
Russia – Alan Dzagoev: Dzagoev sparkled last year in the European Championship, a bright spot in a disappointing campaign for Russia. His direct running and skill from a central attacking midfield position was a highlight of their play and he is the type of player who can make something happen when his team needs it. Creative and with an eye for goal, he is set to be the star of the next generation for Russia, and he can show exactly why in this final group game.
Match Prediction
Two sides coming off back-to-back defeats suggests that a match-up between them won’t be the highest quality encounter but there is reason to suggest this could be an exception to that general rule. There is a sense that neither Germany or Russia has been able to show their true quality because of the level of their opponents, but this gives one nation the chance to salvage some pride.
For Germany they will be expecting to win the game having held out for long periods against Spain and only been beaten late on by the Netherlands. In Lewis Holtby they have a match-winner whose ability to dictate play could be key in this game. But Germany’s defence was vulnerable against the Dutch and Russia have the ability to hurt them.
The Russians showed some endeavour against the Netherlands before going down to ten men and in Dzagoev and Fedor Smolov they have plenty of creativity in midfield. The big question mark against them is their ability in the final third. Alexander Kokorin, their main forward, is absent from this tournament altogether whilst they have now lost Maksim Belyaev as well. Germany should therefore have enough to see Russia off. Germany 2-1 Russia.
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