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Germany national under-21 football team
National U–21 association football team
National U–21 association football team
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Germany Under-21 |
| Badge | Deutscher Fußball-Bund Logo 2008–2016.svg |
| Association | Deutscher Fußball-Bund |
| Coach | Antonio Di Salvo |
| Captain | Tom Bischof |
| Most caps | Fabian Ernst (31) |
| Top scorer | Pierre Littbarski (18) |
| pattern_la1 | _ger24h |
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| leftarm1 | FFFFFF |
| body1 | FFFFFF |
| rightarm1 | FFFFFF |
| shorts1 | FFFFFF |
| socks1 | FFFFFF |
| pattern_la2 | _ger24a |
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| rightarm2 | DD42AA |
| shorts2 | 241E76 |
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| First game | U-23: |
| GER West Germany 3–3 Yugoslavia YUG | |
| (Frankfurt, West Germany; 25 June 1955) | |
| U-21: | |
| POL Poland 1–0 West Germany GER | |
| (Toruń, Poland; 10 October 1979) | |
| Largest win | U-23: |
| GER West Germany 3–0 Turkey TUR | |
| (Augsburg, West Germany; 24 April 1971) | |
| U-21: | |
| 0–11 **** | |
| (Serravalle, San Marino; 17 November 2009) | |
| Largest loss | U-23: |
| URS Soviet Union 3–1 West Germany GER | |
| (Yerevan, Soviet Union; 29 April 1972) | |
| U-21: | |
| 5–0 **** | |
| (Olomouc, Czech Republic; 27 June 2015) | |
| UEFAu21Champ apps | 14 |
| UEFAu21Champ first | 1982 |
| UEFAu21Champ best | Winners (2009, 2017, 2021) |
GER West Germany 3–3 Yugoslavia YUG (Frankfurt, West Germany; 25 June 1955) U-21: POL Poland 1–0 West Germany GER (Toruń, Poland; 10 October 1979) GER West Germany 3–0 Turkey TUR (Augsburg, West Germany; 24 April 1971) U-21: 0–11 **** (Serravalle, San Marino; 17 November 2009) URS Soviet Union 3–1 West Germany GER (Yerevan, Soviet Union; 29 April 1972) U-21: 5–0 **** (Olomouc, Czech Republic; 27 June 2015)
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
- 1994–present as
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 | Total | Quarterfinals | 1/3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 4 | Total | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Europe 1972 | Quarterfinals | 8th | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 1972 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Europe 1974 | did not qualify | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 1974 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Europe 1976 | did not enter | did not enter | 1976 |
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 | Total | 3 titles | 15/25 | 58 | 27 | 13* | 18 | 98 | 71 | 186 | 132 | 29 | 25 | 500 | 148 | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Europe 1978 | did not enter | did not enter | 1978 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Europe 1980 | 1980 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Europe 1982 | Runners-up | 2nd | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 5 | 1982 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Europe 1984 | did not qualify | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 4 | 1984 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Europe 1986 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 1986 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Europe 1988 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 9 | 1988 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Europe 1990 | Quarterfinals | 6th | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 1990 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Europe 1992 | 6th | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| France 1994 | did not qualify | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 20 | 8 | 1994 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spain 1996 | Quarterfinals | 7th | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 5 | 1996 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Romania 1998 | 5th | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 3 | 1998 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Slovakia 2000 | did not qualify | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 2000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Switzerland 2002 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 18 | 7 | 2002 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Germany 2004 | Group stage | 6th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 6 | 2004 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Portugal 2006 | 7th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 27 | 5 | 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Netherlands 2007 | did not qualify | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sweden 2009 | Champions | 1st | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 26 | 4 | 2009 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Denmark 2011 | did not qualify | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 26 | 10 | 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Israel 2013 | Group stage | 6th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 43 | 11 | 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| CZE 2015 | Semifinals | 3rd | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 30 | 5 | 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| POL 2017 | Champions | 1st | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 8 | 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| ITA 2019 | Runners-up | 2nd | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 33 | 7 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| HUN SVN 2021 | Champions | 1st | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 10 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| ROU GEO 2023 | Group stage | 15th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 32 | 9 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| SVK 2025 | Runners-up | 2nd | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 10 | 2025 |
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.
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
Main article: 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group F
Results and fixtures
- Arrey-Mbi
- Spáčil
- Tresoldi
- Nebel
- Woltemade
- Martel
- Scott
- Knauff
- Weiper
- Woltemade
- Weiper
- Röhl
- Koleosho
- Ambrosino
- Weiper
- Woltemade
- Gruda
- Elliott
- Hutchinson
- Rowe
- Weiper
- Nebel
- Ansah
- Pejčinović
- Weiper
- Tresoldi
- Damar
- Damar
- Rothe
- Kostoulas
- Tzimas
- Rallis
- McConville
- Ouédraogo
- Pejčinović
- Bischof
- Karl
- Damar
- Karl
- Tresoldi
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.
Note: Names in italics denote players that have been called up to the senior team.
:Caps and goals correct as of 18 November 2025, after the match against Georgia.
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.
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
;Most caps
| No. of caps | Player | U-21 career |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | Fabian Ernst | 1998–2001 |
| 30 | Levin Öztunalı | 2015–2019 |
| Ansgar Knauff | 2021–2025 | |
| Eric Martel | 2021–2025 | |
| 27 | Andreas Beck | 2007–2009 |
| 26 | Mike Hanke | 2003–2005 |
| 25 | Dennis Aogo | 2007–2009 |
| 24 | Christian Tiffert | 2002–2004 |
| Daniel Schwaab | 2007–2010 | |
| Lewis Holtby | 2009–2013 | |
| Moritz Leitner | 2011–2015 | |
| Nadiem Amiri | 2016–2019 |
;Most goals
| No. of goals | No. of caps | Player | U-21 career |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 21 | Pierre Littbarski | 1979–1982 |
| 17 | 20 | Heiko Herrlich | 1990–1993 |
| 15 | 23 | Benjamin Auer | 2002–2004 |
| 14 | 26 | Mike Hanke | 2003–2005 |
| 24 | Lewis Holtby | 2009–2013 | |
| 13 | 21 | Rouwen Hennings | 2007–2009 |
| 15 | Youssoufa Moukoko | 2021– | |
| 18 | Nick Woltemade | 2023–2025 | |
| 11 | 22 | Kevin Volland | 2012–2015 |
| 10 | 19 | Rudi Völler | 1979–1982 |
| 22 | Christian Nerlinger | 1992–1996 | |
| 15 | Luca Waldschmidt | 2017–2019 | |
| 17 | Lukas Nmecha | 2019–2021 |
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–)
Notes
References
References
- (17 June 2015). "Our all-time Under-21 EURO dream team". Union of European Football Associations.
- "Di Salvo nominiert Karl und Ibrahimovic". dfb.de.
- "U 21-Nationalteam Männer Team". dfb.de.
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