Monday, May 31, 2021 at 11:45 PM• Jeroen van Poppel

The Juniors will play against Young Germany in the semi-final of the European Under-21 Championship on Thursday. That team settled in the quarterfinals in a penalty series with Young Denmark (5-6 after penalties). The Danes seemed to be going to win in regular time, but in the absolute final phase, Lukas Nmecha’s equalizer was heard. Germany thought to decide the extension thanks to a hit by Jonathan Burkardt, but the Danes came back via a penalty from Victor Nelsson: 2-2.

The Germans were clearly the parent in the first half and also got a few chances. The best of them was after twenty minutes for Mergim Berisha, who appeared freely in the penalty area after a pass from Nmecha. Goalkeeper Oliver Christensen narrowed his goal and saw Berisha aim from about eleven meters wide. Three minutes earlier, the Danish goalie had already intervened on a shot from Arne Maier. The Danes give almost nothing in return.

Five minutes after the break, the Scandinavians had their first good opportunity, when Jacob Bruun Larsen was allowed to moor from eight meters. Finn Dahmen countered the low shot. It turned out to be a go-ahead for more, as Denmark surprisingly grabbed the lead in the 69th minute. Wahidullah Faghir received the ball on the edge of the penalty area, dribbled a few meters to the left and then scored straight through the middle of the goal: 1-0. Germany went full on the attack and was rewarded two minutes before time. A corner shot through to the far post, where Nmecha already fell in: 1-1.

Carlo Holse could have given Denmark the victory in injury time, but the attacker failed one-on-one with Dahmen. As a result, an extra time followed, in which Young Germany scored after ten minutes. Burkardt controlled a cross from the left on the chest and then fired in hard: 1-2. Denmark fought back and were awarded a penalty 108 minutes into the match when Carlo Holse broke through the right flank and went over the leg at Lukas Mai. The Danes received a penalty, which was used by Victor Nelsson: 2-2.

Both teams had a great opportunity to avoid a penalty shootout. Faghir saw his attempt blocked by Mai, while Burkardt aimed the ball wide to the right of the penalty area. The same Faghir and Burkardt then missed their penalty kick in the first run of five. Due to Victor Kristansen’s miss, Paul Jaeckel was then able to shoot the decisive penalty on behalf of Germany: 5-6.