Just as we did in September and October, Get German Football News is pleased to supply full coverage of the Germany U21 squad during the forthcoming November international break. Antonio Di Salvo’s DFB-Juniors prepare to contest two more 2027 UEFA U21 European Championship qualification fixture against Malta (in Fürth next Friday, November 14th) and Georgia (in Tiflis on Tuesday, November 18th).
Technically, there are only five “changes” to the squad Di Salvo nominated in October. The fact that Di Salvo’s last selection was hit especially hard by injuries throughout last month’s break can still render matters a little confusing. We’ll cover the major talking points before getting to the full squad list and a projected lineup below.
As always, there’s loads of interesting stuff going on at Germany’s highest youth level.
Lennart Karl receives his chance
Bayern’s 17-year-old phenom has bypassed three youth levels and risen directly from the U17 to U21 level and shall be hoping to emulate the success of his fellow Bundesliga professional Said El Mala of 1. FC Köln. Karl actually receives an excellent chance to be inserted directly into Di Salvo’s starting XI, due to the fact that Brajan Gruda (out injured), Paul Wanner (not nominated), and El Mala (promoted to senior level) are not present.
Karl can serve on either flank in Di Salvo’s current tactical system, or work central as a No. 10 should Di Salvo wish to change his constellation. It seems likely in any event that both Karl and rising Leipzig youngster Assan Ouédraogo will both work in attack. Assuming Union Berlin’s Aljosha Kemlein can keep fit this time, matters get quite crowded in midfield.
Arijon Ibrahimovic gets a look
Whether Karl’s fellow debutant (and technical Bayern München teammate) shall get some minutes remains to be seen. The 19-year-old has yet to really arrive at his loan club 1. FC Heidenheim. FCH trainer Frank Schmidt has used Ibrahimovic as a stater in all nine league fixtures (perhaps in too many different tactical roles), but the Nürnberg-native simply isn’t clicking for the team that desperately needs him.
Since being moved out of attack and into midfield, Ibrahimovic’s play has nevertheless ticked up in recent weeks. He was able to get his name on a Bundesliga scoresheet for the very first time last weekend, notching an assist in Heidenheim’s 1-1 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt. Di Salvo might consider allowing Ibrahimovic to push one of his regular starters Muhammed Damar, who has been slumping a tad for Hoffenheim recently.
Captain and No. 1 Keeper return
Stuttgart defender Finn Jeltsch (treated as the de-facto captain of the squad) returns after missing out last time with injury. So too does Werder Bremen starter Mio Backhaus, who recently fully committed himself to Germany. Future Stuttgart No. 1 Dennis Seimen fell victim to a rough outing last time, meaning that Backhaus should reprise his role as Di Salvo’s starter between the sticks.
Di Salvo, grateful to have healthy natural center backs once again, should insert Jeltsch directly back into the starting lineup. Assuming everyone remains fit, Jeltsch should snap on the armband again and serve alongside Joshua Quarshie in central defense. Frankfurt’s Nnamdi Collins (right) and Gladbach’s Lukas Ullrich (left) will then complete the back-four.
Is the squad imbalanced?
A bit. It does depend a tad on whether or not one classifies players such as Karl, Ouédraogo, and Ibrahimovic as midfielders or attackers. On the other hand, it doesn’t really matter which category one places this trio in. Di Salvo’s selection is fairly “top heavy” and not well poised to absorb any injuries in the defensive corps. It might be the case that Di Salvo is even planning on moving some midfielders into the back-four.
Hannover’s Noël Aseko Nkili filled in as a right-back to great success during the previous international break. Bayern’s Tom Bischof, meanwhile, has been enjoying some success as a makeshift left-back for his club. Di Salvo may have some interesting experiments up his sleeve. For the time being, we’ll project something more straightforward below.
The Full squad
Goalkeepers:
Dennis Seimen (SC Paderborn), Max Weiß (FC Burnley), Mio Backhaus (Werder Bremen)
Defenders:
Finn Jeltsch (VfB Stuttgart), Nnamdi Collins (Eintracht Frankfurt), Aaron Zehnter (VfL Wolfsburg), Leandro Morgalla (VfL Bochum), Joshua Quarshie (FC Southampton), Tom Rothe (Union Berlin), Lukas Ullrich (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
Midfielders:
Noël Aseko Nkili (Hannover 96), Muhammmed Damar (TSG Hoffenheim), Aljoscha Kemlein (Union Berlin), Mert Kömür (FC Augsburg), Tom Bischof (Bayern Munich), Assan Ouédraogo (RB Leipzig), Anton Kade (FC Augsburg)
Forwards:
Ilyas Ansah (Union Berlin), Dzenan Pejcinovic (VfL Wolfsburg), Nicolo Tresoldi (Club Brugge), Nelson Weiper (Mainz 05), Lennart Karl (FC Bayern München), Arijon Ibrahimovic (1. FC Heidenheim)
Projected Lineup
Lineup—DFB (Projected)
As noted above, Bischof could slide over to work as a left-back. If that proves the case, Ouédraogo would maintain his place in midfield and Ibrahimovic could start on the second axis (on either side) opposite Karl. Damar might also retain his place as a support attacker, something that would keep Ouédraogo in midfield and lead to Aseko Nkili either forfeiting his place or remaining at right back.
Bochum’s Leandro Morgalla presently makes a strong case to start over Collins at right back as well. Kemlein’s case for a return to a six starting slot could also move either Bischof or Nseko Akili back. Competition for starting places in midfield remains exceptionally fierce. To make matters a mite more complicated still, left-back Aaron Zehnter is once again featuring as a regular starter for Wolfsburg.
Somehow, Di Salvo must piece this puzzle together.
