Germany U21s, among the favourites to be crowned 2025 European Under-21 Championship winners, will be hoping to get off to a strong start in Group B at the expense of Slovenia U21s on Thursday.
With England also housed in that section, it is imperative that Antonio Di Salvo’s side hit the ground running and in Slovenia they are opening up against one of the tournament’s underdogs.
Germany came through qualifying undefeated, winning eight and drawing two of their 10 games in a section that also featured Poland, Bulgaria and Kosovo.
They have assembled a strong squad including the likes of Stuttgart striker Nick Woltemade, Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Ansgar Knauff and Brighton’s Brajan Gruda.
A lot of Slovenia’s squad is made up of homegrown talent playing in their own country and they are likely to be found wanting against elite opposition, especially as Germany have won this tournament in two of the last four renewals.
Team news
Germany boss Di Salvo has given maiden call-ups to defenders Elias Baum and Finn Jeltsch, while forwards Woltemade of Stuttgart and Hannover’s Nicolo Tresoldi are likely to have key roles to play.
Borussia Monchengladbach’s Rocco Reitz and Cologne pair Jan Thielmann and Eric Martel, who is captain, are three experienced members of the squad that are likely to be utilised to good effect.
Promising Inter Milan midfielder Luka Topalovic is an eye-catching inclusion in the Slovenia squad, which is made up of 10 players who ply their trade in their homeland.
Frosinone forward Tjas Begic is likely to be entrusted with leading the line for Andrej Razdrh’s men.
The stats
These two teams have met only twice previously, with Germany U21’s winning 3-0 in a friendly back in 2009 and the pair drawing 1-1 in another low-key clash five years ago.
Clearly, the squads are much-changed since then but Germany, who are unbeaten in 15 matches, are expected to have the edge.
Slovenia have won only one of their last six international matches and that came courtesy of a 2-0 win over Cyprus in qualifying. They did, however, go on to top a section featuring both France and Austria.
In qualifying, Germany won eight of their 10 matches and racked up 35 goals, while conceding only 10.
It means that seven of Germany’s last eight internationals have featured three or more goals, while Slovenia have seen both teams score in five of their last eight outings.
Prediction
Slovenia deserves plenty of praise for overcoming France and Austria to top their qualifying section, but this German outfit boasts real firepower and they should prove too lively for them.
Germany scored 35 goals across 10 qualifying matches and they have netted three or more goals in five of their last eight outings, something which may spell trouble for minnows Slovenia who have managed only two clean sheets in their last nine matches.
Germany, one of the pre-tournament favourites, will be desperate to get off to a strong start and with Tresoldi and Woltemade leading the line they could quickly go through the gears.