Germany U21’s newest goalkeeper Tom Ritzy Hülsmann has already made quite an impression on his international teammates. The 22-year-old Stade Reims shot-stopper stands an imposing 2.05 metres tall, and his first encounters with fellow internationals Muhammed Damar and Maurice Krattenmacher have provided some entertaining stories.
Speaking at Tuesday’s DFB U21 press conference, attended remotely by Get German Football News, the two midfielders offered amusing accounts of their introductions to the towering goalkeeper. Hülsmann, a former Bayern Munich youth prospect, received his first call-up to any German national team when head coach Antonio Di Salvo announced his squad for November’s internationals against Belgium and Croatia.
The Trier native spent last season with Austrian Bundesliga outfit TSV Hartberg, where he was voted the league’s best goalkeeper. His performances earned him a summer transfer to French second-division side Stade Reims. Hülsmann’s impressive physical stature was the subject of some lighthearted discussion as Tuesday’s press conference drew to a close.
Damar and Krattenmacher share amusing first impressions
DFB U21 press spokesperson Markus Beer brought up the subject of Germany’s towering new goalkeeper, noting that his arrival had apparently produced some rather unusual situations when the players first greeted him.
Damar was happy to elaborate.
“He’s like a television tower,” the Wolfsburg midfielder explained. “When I first saw him, I asked him what tablets he takes. He told me it’s just genetics. Apparently, his parents are very tall too.”
The 22-year-old continued with an amusing account of their initial handshake.
“When he stood in front of me and wanted to shake my hand, I had to look up three storeys,” Damar said. “I thought [Joshua] Quarshie was already tall, but compared to him, he’s an ant.”
Damar’s reference was to fellow Germany U21 defender Joshua Quarshie, another player who possesses an imposing physical stature.
Elversberg midfielder Maurice Krattenmacher, who earned a late call-up to the squad following several injury-related withdrawals, was similarly amused by his first encounter with Hülsmann.
“I can only agree,” Krattenmacher said. “You’ve got a huge tower coming towards you. But he’s a great guy, and I’m looking forward to training with him.”
Beer acknowledged that Hülsmann’s height had indeed produced some peculiar moments during the team’s initial introductions, bringing the press conference to an entertaining conclusion.
Serious preparations, despite the lighthearted atmosphere
The amusing exchange provided some levity at the end of a press conference otherwise focused on Germany’s preparations for next summer’s European U21 Championship.
Earlier in proceedings, Beer had briefly intervened to emphasize that the upcoming encounters with Belgium and Croatia should be regarded as preparation matches for the European Championship rather than simply friendlies.
Germany have already secured qualification for next summer’s tournament in Albania and Serbia, with the November internationals providing Di Salvo with an opportunity to integrate new players and evaluate his team’s progress against fellow European Championship participants.
The Germans host Belgium at the Stadion an der Hafenstraße in Essen on Friday, November 13, before travelling to Rijeka to face Croatia four days later.
Hülsmann will be hoping to make his first international appearance during the upcoming fixtures. Whatever happens on the pitch, the Stade Reims goalkeeper has certainly already made his presence felt among his new teammates.
