Germany national under-21 football team
| Association | Deutscher Fußball-Bund | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Antonio Di Salvo | ||
| Captain | Tom Bischof | ||
| Most caps | Fabian Ernst (31) | ||
| Top scorer | Pierre Littbarski (18) | ||
| |||
| First international | |||
| U-23: West Germany 3–3 Yugoslavia (Frankfurt, West Germany; 25 June 1955) U-21: Poland 1–0 West Germany (Toruń, Poland; 10 October 1979) | |||
| Biggest win | |||
| U-23: West Germany 3–0 Turkey (Augsburg, West Germany; 24 April 1971) U-21: San Marino 0–11 Germany (Serravalle, San Marino; 17 November 2009) | |||
| Biggest defeat | |||
| U-23: Soviet Union 3–1 West Germany (Yerevan, Soviet Union; 29 April 1972) U-21: Portugal 5–0 Germany (Olomouc, Czech Republic; 27 June 2015) | |||
| UEFA U-21 Championship | |||
| Appearances | 14 (first in 1982) | ||
| Best result | Winners (2009, 2017, 2021) | ||
The Germany national under-21 football team represents the under-21s of Germany in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship and is controlled by the German Football Association (DFB), the governing body of football in Germany.
Before the reunification of Germany, East Germany and West Germany played as separate entities — the two teams played separately until summer 1990. Following the realignment of UEFA's youth competitions in 1976, international under-21 football in Europe began. A West German team, however, did not compete in the U-21 European Championship until the qualifying round (beginning in 1980) of the 1982 competition.
West Germany competed in the first two under-23 competitions, which finished in 1972 and 1974. The first under-21 competition finals were in 1978, and since the under-21 competition rules state that players must be 21 or under at the start of a two-year competition, technically it is an under-23 competition.
The current Germany team can be legitimately considered as the current incarnation of the West German team, since the West Germany flag, uniform, and football association all became those of the unified Germany. In effect, the West German team absorbed the East German team to become 'the Germany national under-21 football team'.
For these reasons, the record of West Germany for the U-23 and U-21 competitions is shown below.
Competitive record
For the East Germany team record, look here.
- 1972–1990 as West Germany
- 1994–present as Germany
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place
UEFA U-23 Championship record
| UEFA European Under-23 Championship finals record | Qualifications record | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | GP | W | D* | L | GF | GA | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | ||
| 1972 | Quarterfinals | 8th | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 1972 | |
| 1974 | did not qualify | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 1974 | ||||||||
| 1976 | did not enter | did not enter | 1976 | |||||||||||||
| Total | Quarterfinals | 1/3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 4 | Total | |
UEFA U-21 Championship record
| UEFA European Under-21 Championship finals record | Qualifications record | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | GP | W | D* | L | GF | GA | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | ||
| 1978 | did not enter | did not enter | 1978 | |||||||||||||
| 1980 | 1980 | |||||||||||||||
| 1982 | Runners-up | 2nd | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 5 | 1982 | |
| 1984 | did not qualify | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 4 | 1984 | ||||||||
| 1986 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 1986 | |||||||||
| 1988 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 9 | 1988 | |||||||||
| 1990 | Quarterfinals | 6th | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 1990 | |
| 1992 | 6th | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 1992 | ||
| 1994 | did not qualify | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 20 | 8 | 1994 | ||||||||
| 1996 | Quarterfinals | 7th | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 5 | 1996 | |
| 1998 | 5th | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 3 | 1998 | ||
| 2000 | did not qualify | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 2000 | ||||||||
| 2002 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 18 | 7 | 2002 | |||||||||
| 2004 | Group stage | 6th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 6 | 2004 | |
| 2006 | 7th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 27 | 5 | 2006 | ||
| 2007 | did not qualify | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 2007 | ||||||||
| 2009 | Champions | 1st | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 26 | 4 | 2009 | |
| 2011 | did not qualify | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 26 | 10 | 2011 | ||||||||
| 2013 | Group stage | 6th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 43 | 11 | 2013 | |
| 2015 | Semifinals | 3rd | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 30 | 5 | 2015 | |
| 2017 | Champions | 1st | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 8 | 2017 | |
| 2019 | Runners-up | 2nd | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 33 | 7 | 2019 | |
| 2021 | Champions | 1st | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 10 | 2021 | |
| 2023 | Group stage | 15th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 32 | 9 | 2023 | |
| 2025 | Runners-up | 2nd | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 10 | 2025 | |
| Total | 3 titles | 15/25 | 58 | 27 | 13* | 18 | 98 | 71 | 186 | 132 | 29 | 25 | 500 | 148 | Total | |
Individual awards
- Golden Player: Rudi Völler (1982)
- Golden Boot: Luca Waldschmidt (2019), Lukas Nmecha (2021), Nick Woltemade (2025)
- Silver Boot: Kevin Volland (2015)
- Bronze Boot: Marco Richter (2019)
- EURO Under-21 dream team
On 17 June 2015, UEFA revealed an all-time best XI from the previous Under-21 final tournaments.[1]
Included players from Germany:
- Goal: Manuel Neuer
- Defence: Mats Hummels
- Midfield: Mesut Özil
UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greece | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 2 | +14 | 15 | Final tournament | — | 31 Mar '26 | 4–0 | 3–0 | 1 Oct '26 | 27 Mar '26 | |
| 2 | Germany | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 4 | +13 | 12 | Play-offs | 2–3 | — | 27 Mar '26 | 6 Oct '26 | 5–0 | 6–0 | |
| 3 | Northern Ireland | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | −2 | 7 | 6 Oct '26 | 1–2 | — | 1 Oct '26 | 1–0 | 2–0 | ||
| 4 | Georgia | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 26 Sep '26 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 27 Mar '26 | 31 Mar '26 | ||
| 5 | Latvia | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 8 | −6 | 4 | 0–1 | 26 Sep '26 | 31 Mar '26 | 1–1 | — | 6 Oct '26 | ||
| 6 | Malta | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 19 | −19 | 0 | 0–5 | 30 Sep '26 | 26 Sep '26 | 0–5 | 0–1 | — |
Results and fixtures
Win Draw Loss
| 21 March 2025 Friendly | Slovakia | 0–1 | Germany | Trnava |
| 18:00 | Report | Gruda 34' | Stadium: Anton Malatinský Stadium Attendance: 1,721 Referee: Marek Radina (Czech Republic) |
| 25 March 2025 Friendly | Germany | 3–1 | Spain | Darmstadt |
| 20:30 | Woltemade 3', 56', 79' | Report | Veiga 19' | Stadium: Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor Attendance: 16,267 Referee: Vassilis Fotias (Greece) |
| 12 June 2025 2025 UEFA Euro | Germany | 3–0 | Slovenia | Nitra, Slovakia |
| 21:00 | Woltemade 19', 42', 82' (pen.) | Report | Stadium: Štadión pod Zoborom Attendance: 2,708 Referee: Jakob Sundberg (Denmark) |
| 15 June 2025 2025 UEFA Euro | Czech Republic | 2–4 | Germany | Dunajská Streda, Slovakia |
| 21:00 | Report | Stadium: MOL Aréna Attendance: 7,870 Referee: Alexis Herrera (Venezuela) |
| 18 June 2025 2025 UEFA Euro | England | 1–2 | Germany | Nitra, Slovakia |
| 21:00 |
|
Report | Stadium: Štadión pod Zoborom Attendance: 5,624 Referee: Sander van der Eijk (Netherlands) |
| 22 June 2025 2025 UEFA Euro | Germany | 3–2 (a.e.t.) | Italy | Dunajská Streda, Slovakia |
| 21:00 | Report | Stadium: MOL Aréna Attendance: 6,503 Referee: Manfredas Lukjančukas (Lithuania) |
| 25 June 2025 2025 UEFA Euro | Germany | 3–0 | France | Košice, Slovakia |
| 21:00 | Report | Stadium: Košická futbalová aréna Attendance: 11,913 Referee: Nick Walsh (Scotland) |
| 28 June 2025 2025 UEFA Euro | England | 3–2 (a.e.t.) | Germany | Tehelné pole, Slovakia |
| 21:00 |
|
Report | Stadium: Tehelné pole Attendance: 19,153 Referee: Sander van der Eijk (Netherlands) |
| 5 September 2025 Friendly | Albania | 0–2 | Germany | Elbasan |
| 18:00 | Report |
|
Stadium: Elbasan Arena Attendance: 2,234 Referee: Eldorjan Hamiti (Albania) |
| 9 September 2025 2027 UEFA EC Q | Germany | 5–0 | Latvia | Rostock |
| 20:30 | Report | Stadium: Ostseestadion Attendance: 9,019 Referee: Łukasz Kuźma (Poland) |
| 10 October 2025 2027 UEFA EC Q | Germany | 2–3 | Greece | Jena |
| 18:00 | Report | Stadium: Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld Attendance: 7,830 Referee: Matteo Marcenaro (Italy) |
| 14 October 2025 2027 UEFA EC Q | Northern Ireland | 1–2 | Germany | Belfast |
| 18:30 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: The Oval Attendance: 1,152 Referee: Patrik Kolarić (Croatia) |
| 14 November 2025 2027 UEFA EC Q | Germany | 6–0 | Malta | Fürth |
| 18:00 | Report | Stadium: Sportpark Ronhof Thomas Sommer Attendance: 7,729 Referee: David Fuxman (Israel) |
| 18 November 2025 2027 UEFA EC Q | Georgia | 0–2 | Germany | Tbilisi |
| 21:00 | Report | Stadium: Mikheil Meskhi Stadium Attendance: 2,357 Referee: Ashot Ghaltakhchyan (Armenia) |
| 27 March 2026 2027 UEFA EC Q | Germany | v | Northern Ireland | |
| Report |
Players
Current squad
Players born in or after 2004 are eligible for the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
The following players were called up for the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying matches against Malta and Georgia on 14 and 18 November 2025.[2]
Note: Names in italics denote players that have been called up to the senior team.
Recent call-ups
The following players have previously been called up to the Germany under-21 squad in the last 12 months and remain eligible for selection.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Leon-Oumar Wechsel | 9 March 2005 | 0 | 0 | GKS Tychy | v. Norway, 14 October 2025 |
| DF | Tom Rothe | 29 October 2004 | 6 | 1 | Union Berlin | v. Malta, 14 November 2025 |
| DF | Hendry Blank | 21 August 2004 | 6 | 0 | Hannover 96 | v. Norway, 14 October 2025 |
| DF | Elias Baum | 26 October 2005 | 4 | 0 | Eintracht Frankfurt | v. Norway, 14 October 2025 |
| DF | Tim Drexler | 6 March 2005 | 1 | 0 | 1. FC Nürnberg | v. Norway, 14 October 2025 |
| DF | Kofi Amoako | 6 May 2005 | 0 | 0 | Dynamo Dresden | v. Norway, 14 October 2025 |
| DF | Julian Pauli | 20 July 2005 | 0 | 0 | Dynamo Dresden | v. Greece, 10 October 2025 |
| DF | Linus Gechter | 27 February 2004 | 3 | 0 | Hertha BSC | v. Greece, 10 October 2025 |
| MF | Assan Ouédraogo | 9 May 2006 | 2 | 1 | RB Leipzig | v. Malta, 14 November 2025 |
| MF | Paul Wanner | 23 December 2005 | 9 | 1 | 1. FC Heidenheim | v. Norway, 14 October 2025 |
| MF | Brajan Gruda | 31 May 2004 | 19 | 3 | Brighton & Hove Albion | v. Greece, 10 October 2025 |
| MF | Aaron Zehnter | 31 October 2004 | 1 | 0 | VfL Wolfsburg | v. Latvia, 9 September 2025 |
| MF | Umut Tohumcu | 11 August 2004 | 4 | 0 | TSG Hoffenheim | v. Latvia, 5 September 2025 |
Past squads
- 1996 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
- 1998 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
- 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
- 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
- 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
- 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
- 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
- 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
- 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
- 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
- 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
Player records
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|
Former coaches
- Hannes Löhr (1990–2002)
- Jürgen Kohler (2002–2003)
- Uli Stielike (2003–2004)
- Dieter Eilts (2004–2008)
- Horst Hrubesch (2008–2009)
- Rainer Adrion (2009–2013)
- Horst Hrubesch (2013–2016)
- Stefan Kuntz (2016–2021)
- Antonio Di Salvo (2021–)
See also
- Germany national football team
- Germany national youth football team
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship
Notes
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Germany national under-21 football team.
- ^ "Our all-time Under-21 EURO dream team". UEFA. Union of European Football Associations. 17 June 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
- ^ "Di Salvo nominiert Karl und Ibrahimovic". dfb.de. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
- ^ "U 21-Nationalteam Männer Team". dfb.de. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
External links
- Site of the Under-21 national team at the German Football Association homepage