Germany-Israel is a match valid for the group stage of the European Under-21 Championship 2023 and is played on Thursday at 18:00: news, formations and predictions.
Germany are called upon to defend the title they won in the last edition of the European Under-21 Championships, those organised in 2021 by Hungary and Slovenia. Although the Germans did not play an extraordinary tournament, they beat Portugal 1-0 in the final thanks to a goal from Wolfsburg striker Lukas Nmecha, thus wearing the continental crown for the third time in their history after triumphs in 2009 and 2017.
On the bench of the German national team no longer sits Stefan Kuntz, one of the main architects of the victory two years ago, which is as if he had closed a magnificent cycle. The former selector decided it was time to make the infamous leap, accepting the proposal of the Turkish federation following the failure to qualify for the last World Cup. He was replaced by the German-Italian Antonio Di Salvo, who for the time being has managed not to make him regret it. Germany won nine out of ten matches in the qualifying round, the only blackout being against Poland, who overwhelmed the reigning European champions 4-0. The pre-European friendlies went less well: in particular, the defeats against France and England, two possible antagonists in the fight for the title, raised some doubts. It will be the English team that will contend for the first place in group C against Germany, also drawn with the Czech Republic and Israel.
Israel not to be underestimated
The amount of talent the Germans can rely on is impressive, especially if we consider that in the past two years they have ‘lost’ players of the calibre of Thiaw, Wirtz and Musiala, who are now in the senior national team.
Turgeman
The attack rests on Borussia Dortmund-owned ’04 centre forward Youssoufa Moukoko, already a permanent fixture in the first team. And Israel? Do not underestimate it. Especially after their third place in the last Under-20 World Cup in Argentina: selector Guy Luzon has called up five players from that experience, including the interesting Turgeman, who scored plenty of goals in South America.
The Prediction
Germany have already faced Israel in the qualifiers and prevailed on both occasions. The gap between the two teams is huge, although in the last few matches the Germans have not won easily against the Israelis. We hypothesise a victory for Germany, who should score no less than two goals, at least one per half.
The official line-ups for Germany-Israel
- GERMANIA U21 (4-3-3): Atubolu; Vagnoman, Bisseck, Dardai, Netz; Stiller, Keitel, Huseinbasic; Schade, Moukoko, Alidou.
- ISRAEL U21 (5-3-2): Kaiuf; Jaber, Cohen, Lemkin, Blorian, Morgan; Kartsev, Gandelman, Gloukh; Turgeman, Jorno.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 3-1
