I didn't watch the entire match, but from what I saw he was average at best. He got beat 1 v 1 and gave up a cross that was converted. And in possession he wasn't much better.
Under 21 European Championship 2021 (March & May - June)
- Thread starter Classical Mechanic
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Imran @Annihilate Now! start with the good news by celebrating Manchester United Women's emphatic FA Cup win over Spurs at Wembley and the future of manager Marc Skinner.
Then it's the bad news and the ever worsening form of our Men with losses to Arsenal and Palace.
Finally the main debate - ETH Out now or keep him until the end of the season - if not longer. Are you Team Nik or Team Imran?
Portugal through to the final.
So much for our chances to win the final if we get there. Fecking Portugal.
Please beat the germans
Spain played better than us, got a bit lucky. Florentino has to start instead of Gedson, we give too much space with this midfield. Abdu Conte finally starting as left back made us a lot more solid though, I'd be surprised if one of the big clubs in Portugal don't pick him up this summer.
I love TT, gutted they took that ball from him and it was an own goal instead. Fabio Vieira and Vitinha are future stars, this Porto generation was ridiculous and it's a shame for football that they're not taking full advantage of it. Diogo Costa is the future goalkeeper of the main team too.
Diogo had a good game, didn't he?
If football was purely mathematical Spain would be on the final easily. Every change done by their coach was to take off the pitch their best players.
By the way Vitinha has been by far the best player from Portugal in this tournament.
Thank God Nuno was sacked from Wolves (even if Lage isn’t nothing to dream off) hard to understand how he only had a couple of chances, even if it’s hard to understand how Porto sold a player with that talent to them.
By the way Vitinha has been by far the best player from Portugal in this tournament.
Thank God Nuno was sacked from Wolves (even if Lage isn’t nothing to dream off) hard to understand how he only had a couple of chances, even if it’s hard to understand how Porto sold a player with that talent to them.
We take the lead within 30 seconds.
Great start that
That Nmecharesma assist 
Can't complain
Considering Burkardt is yet to make his sub appearance this is basically a 2:0 lead.
2-0
Right, that's a wrap.
Wirtz with an early brace. With how well he and Nmecha are working together, I wouldn't be surprised if both he gets a hat-trick and Nmecha scores at least one goal.
Didn't see much of that in the last game. I wouldn't overrated these ten minutes. The Dutch have been caught wide open at the back twice and Nmecha and Wirtz each had a brilliant individual moment. But this doesn't change the fact that all the games before this were hard work.
For sure. I was just commenting on this match alone. Since that comment, the Germans have basically set up shop and are looking to counter the Dutch, which is interesting given how early it is in the match. One defensive slip, and the Germans will be instantly under massive pressure.
Germany have a low quality team, they don't fall back as a strategy, they just aren't good enough to decide to dominate sich a game.
Compared to the other semi-finalists, perhaps, but I wouldn't say that it's that bad a side. With that said, I'm actually surprised at how easily the Germans are entering the Dutch's third every time they settle on the ball. The German midfield has almost always beaten that Dutch midfield press, and they've had lots of space to work with going forward.
Just now, though, the Dutch have had a great chance with Dörsch falling asleep. This match isn't over yet. @KirkDuyt
How good is he? Only has 1 year on his contract with City and we've been getting linked with him in the portuguese mediaThat Nmecharesma assist
I'd say there are maybe two or three players on this team who would have gotten into previous iterations. Where there used to be players with 100+ Bundesliga games under their belt it's now even second division players starting.
But if there's one thing Germany can do well it's drilling players, so they can still punish when defending is as loose as today.
I have no idea. He flopped in Wolfsburg, but seems to be doing okay in Belgium. Based on what I've seen in the u21 tournament I'd say he could play for a Bundesliga midtable side and maybe develop into a a top four challenger level. But the sample szte is really low and the team hasn't been playing well.
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I didn’t realise Dalot was under 21
If you don't mind, I can answer this as I have watched several Anderlecht matches in the most recent Belgian Pro League season.
He's a talented forward who I feel is in need of a bigger test. I feel like the Belgian league has been too easy for him, and that has meant that he has sometimes drifted through matches. When he's not coasting, though, he's a major goalscoring threat.
His movement's great, and he always seems to find space in the box. He's a massive counterattacking threat given the good positions he takes to receive the ball. Often, he positions himself out wide on the break, and he's a decent wide threat given his decent dribbling and crossing, though I think he doesn't get under enough defensive pressure to really fluster him. His size and strength also makes it tough to win the ball off of him. His finishing is quite good, but again, I think he doesn't get pressured enough to throw him off. Still, even if he doesn't get a goal, he's a great attacking focal point and does a great job of sucking defenders in to create space for others as well as play his teammates through into dangerous areas.
I think that Sporting will be a good next step for him in his career. He really needs a major step up from Belgium.
I see where you're coming from. That's fair. I think what's really helped Germany here is how well-drilled they are, but it does indicate a possibly boring final between two such well-drilled sides in Germany and Portugal.
We're just not very good. Beating France was a bit of a fluke to be honest. There isn't a sibgle player in that squad who'll make a mark on world football if you ask me. Wel Bijlow in a modest capacity perhaps, but the rest are rubbish.
All the good young players like Lang, Timber, Gakpo, Brobbey and De Ligt are injured or going to the euros.
Baby Germany should be able to see this out, I hope, with a nice 2-0 advantage at half time.
I hope you can say that to the Sven Botman fans on the Caf.
Note: I don't rate him that highly, so I can understand your assessment of this team, but still, they have time to get better.
Botman is a bit of a mystery to me. He's important for the French champions which means he should be at least decent, but from everything Ive seen from him, he's terrible. The way he just abandons his man for the 1-0 is something I'd expect me to do in my pubteam.I hope you can say that to the Sven Botman fans on the Caf.
Note: I don't rate him that highly, so I can understand your assessment of this team, but still, they have time to get better.
You overrate some of our past u21 teams and underrate the current one. Even our u21 champions with Boateng, Hummels, Höwedes, Özil etc. had to rely on Wagner as striker and weren't playing exciting football for the most part.
This team is also full of talents that (comparatively) didn't come with a "mega talent" label attached. Guys like Dorsch, Raum, Nmecha and so on play for smaller teams and don't have much exposure yet but show good progress. It's why even big name talents like Wirtz (before today) and Baku weren't playing on a different level compared to the rest.
The CBs are obviously not on the Boateng, Hummels etc. level but still solid Bundesliga CBs. So its overall a team which doesn't exactly excite one on paper but people overlook that it's a very solid squad overall and doesn't have huge imbalances like past squads which is often more important in a tournament.
Trust me, he's done that quite often for Lille; he just gets away with it due to Lille's overall defensive setup, their high-quality attacking players pinning back most French teams, and Fonte carrying him and the rest of the back line.
I don't believe in combined XIs, but for the sake of the argument:
Nübel - Klostermann, Tah, Baumgartl,Heinrichs - Sedar, Eggestein, Dahoud - Öztunali, Waldschmidt, Amiri
Nübel is Neuer's designated heir, Dahmen, doesn't even play. Klostermann vs Baku is debatable, Tah was head and shoulders above the current players, Baumgartl is debatable, Heinrichs is playing for CL level teams, Raum is playing for Fürth.
In the midfield three Dorsch is a
debatable inclusion, that's it.
When it comes to the front three Waldschmidt the very least was more proven than Nmecha, Wirtz is more talented than either wide player, but hasn't shown it at all until today. Öczan is significantly worse.
I know I'm being harsh, because it's Germany, but there are just so many seemingly small situations and decision every game that scream "inadequate" and "going nowhere", it's hard to watch, even if they are about to make the final.
This should be completely buried by now, some bayernesque misses
Looks like some utter gems in that German team. Very mobile and physical in the right areas of the pitch.
First time I have seen their Number 4 (Schlotterbeck) but he really does read the game quite well
First time I have seen their Number 4 (Schlotterbeck) but he really does read the game quite well
Oh dear
Yeah, the Dutch goal pretty much came out of nowhere, but this makes the match even more interesting now. Germany are going to be in trouble if they can't keep the ball and relieve some of the pressure.
Well that was more intense than it needed to be
That was a fun match! It was closer than it should have been, but Germany deserved their win at the end of the day. They may have been more defensive than needed in my eyes, but it worked out for them in the end.
I hope that the final is a thriller, but honestly, given how both teams play, I'm not expecting much in terms of exciting football.
I hope that the final is a thriller, but honestly, given how both teams play, I'm not expecting much in terms of exciting football.
Germany was much better, 2-1 is a very flattering scoreline for us. That dude hitting the post 3 times how is that guy under 21, he looks older than me.
how is that guy under 21, he looks older than me.The comparison of Raum and Henrichs is exactly what I mean. You look at the name/status instead of actual performances. Raum has been excellent in the 2nd BL as FB and has been very good for the u21 so far while Henrichs constantly disappoints and was at best average for the u21. You write he plays for CL level teams but the reality is that he hardly plays and still relies on his reputation as great talent.
In regards to the other positions... the attack this time is clearly stronger / a lot better infront of the goal and while Tah was/is a great talent on paper he is another one who couldn't really show it in the u21.
Don't get me wrong, the differences aren't huge in these comparisons but the team in this tournament has the right balance and except GK has at minimum solid options everywhere and no glaring weaknesses.
I also think (and this is obviously just an opinion) that this team has a better mentality, partly because there are many players who had to work their way to this level instead of relying on hype as talents. That's why I think this one might produce some surprises in the future.
It will be interesting to see Raum with Hoffenheim in the BL next season and I'm also curious what Nmecha and Dorsch will do next.
Thanks for the reply! I watched some highlights and it definitely looks like there's potential in him but we'll see. If he comes cheap due to his contract situation it could be a really good opportunity for us
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