U21 European Championship: Woltemade scores hat-trick in opening match against Slovenia

Nitra. Nick Woltemade took a hearty swig from his water bottle after the final whistle and then received many congratulations. The VfB Stuttgart rising star once again excelled at the start of the U21 European Championship, scoring a hat trick to lead the German national team to a 3-0 (2-0) victory over Slovenia.

"Very, very good, an important start for us. We all didn't really know what to expect," Woltemade said after the dream start to the European Championship on TV channel Sat.1. "And of course: three goals – that tastes very good."

Thanks to the goals of the 23-year-old (19th/42nd/82nd, penalty), the U21 national team, which had been efficient at the start, took a big step towards the quarter-finals.

On Sunday, the "very talented" German national team, according to sporting director Rudi Völler, can already book its ticket to the knockout rounds. The three-time European champions will then face defending champions England in the group final next Wednesday. Coach Antonio Di Salvo's team suffered its last defeat against England almost two years ago, when they were eliminated from the 2023 European Championship.

Woltemade's upward trajectory continued at the U21 European Championship in front of around 2,700 spectators in Nitra. After winning the cup with VfB Stuttgart and being promoted to the senior national team under national coach Julian Nagelsmann, the 1.98-meter-tall attacker also demonstrated his class against Slovenia. Despite all the exertions of the past few weeks, Woltemade is really looking forward to the tournament, which runs until June 28th in Slovakia.

This was also evident in the technically skilled attacking giant's performance against the Slovenians, who for a long time presented themselves as the expected unpleasant opponent. Woltemade, who only arrived earlier this week for the Nations League, had no trouble getting started in an intense match with plenty of one-on-ones, as Di Salvo predicted.

Before the opening goal, Woltemade first set up fellow striker Nicolo Tresoldi, but the future Bruges player's shot was powerfully cleared for a corner by Slovenian keeper Martin Turk (19'). This led to the opening goal: This time, Tresoldi headed the ball to Woltemade, who coolly slotted home under pressure from the passionately defending Slovenians.

With a 1-0 lead, Germany surprisingly allowed their opponents to get more into the game in the two teams' first competitive meeting. Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu saved his team by winning a one-on-one with Tio Cipot (27').

Shortly before halftime, Woltemade put the game on the right track for the DFB with a 2-0 lead after an outstanding solo effort by Freiburg's Max Rosenfelder. Woltemade had already made a statement with three goals in the 3-1 European Championship friendly win against Spain in March.

After the German U21 team botched their tournament debut two years ago, being eliminated without a win after the group stage, things went differently this time. Woltemade scored the 3-0 goal from the penalty spot; two years ago, the German team had missed two penalties in a 1-1 draw with Israel.

RND/dpa