![]() | |||
Association | Deutscher Fußball-Bund | ||
---|---|---|---|
Head coach | Antonio Di Salvo | ||
Captain | Eric Martel | ||
Most caps | Fabian Ernst (31) | ||
Top scorer | Pierre Littbarski (18) | ||
| |||
First international | |||
U-23:![]() ![]() (Frankfurt, West Germany; 25 June 1955) U-21: ![]() ![]() (Toruń, Poland; 10 October 1979) | |||
Biggest win | |||
U-23:![]() ![]() (Augsburg, West Germany; 24 April 1971) U-21: ![]() ![]() (Serravalle, San Marino; 17 November 2009) | |||
Biggest defeat | |||
U-23:![]() ![]() (Yerevan, Soviet Union; 29 April 1972) U-21: ![]() ![]() (Olomouc, Czech Republic; 27 June 2015) | |||
UEFA U-21 Championship | |||
Appearances | 14 (first in 1982 ) | ||
Best result | Winners (2009, 2017, 2021) |
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.
For the East Germany team record, look here.
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place
UEFA European Under-23 Championship finals record | Qualifications record | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | GP | W | D* | L | GF | GA | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | ||
![]() | Quarterfinals | 8th | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 1972 | |
![]() | did not qualify | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 1974 | ||||||||
![]() | did not enter | did not enter | 1976 | |||||||||||||
Total | Quarterfinals | 1/3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 4 | Total |
UEFA European Under-21 Championship finals record | Qualifications record | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | GP | W | D* | L | GF | GA | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | ||
![]() | did not enter | did not enter | 1978 | |||||||||||||
![]() | 1980 | |||||||||||||||
![]() | Runners-up | 2nd | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 5 | 1982 | |
![]() | did not qualify | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 4 | 1984 | ||||||||
![]() | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 1986 | |||||||||
![]() | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 9 | 1988 | |||||||||
![]() | Quarterfinals | 6th | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 1990 | |
![]() | 6th | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 1992 | ||
![]() | did not qualify | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 20 | 8 | 1994 | ||||||||
![]() | Quarterfinals | 7th | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 5 | 1996 | |
![]() | 5th | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 3 | 1998 | ||
![]() | did not qualify | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 2000 | ||||||||
![]() | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 18 | 7 | 2002 | |||||||||
![]() | Group stage | 6th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 6 | 2004 | |
![]() | 7th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 27 | 5 | 2006 | ||
![]() | did not qualify | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 2007 | ||||||||
![]() | Champions | 1st | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 26 | 4 | 2009 | |
![]() | did not qualify | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 26 | 10 | 2011 | ||||||||
![]() | Group stage | 6th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 43 | 11 | 2013 | |
![]() | Semifinals | 3rd | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 30 | 5 | 2015 | |
![]() | Champions | 1st | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 8 | 2017 | |
![]() | Runners-up | 2nd | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 33 | 7 | 2019 | |
![]() ![]() | Champions | 1st | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 10 | 2021 | |
![]() ![]() | Group stage | 15th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 32 | 9 | 2023 | |
![]() | Runners-up | 2nd | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 10 | 2025 | |
Total | 3 titles | 15/25 | 58 | 27 | 13* | 18 | 98 | 71 | 186 | 132 | 29 | 25 | 500 | 148 | Total |
On 17 June 2015, UEFA revealed an all-time best XI from the previous Under-21 final tournaments. [1]
Included players from Germany:
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | +5 | 3 | Final tournament | — | 10 Oct | 6 Oct '26 | 27 Mar '26 | 5–0 | 14 Nov | |
2 | ![]() | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | +5 | 3 | Play-offs | 31 Mar '26 | — | 14 Nov | 18 Nov | 1 Oct '26 | 27 Mar '26 | |
3 | ![]() | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 18 Nov | 26 Sep '26 | — | 1–1 | 27 Mar '26 | 31 Mar '26 | ||
4 | ![]() | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 14 Oct | 6 Oct '26 | 1 Oct '26 | — | 13 Nov | 9 Oct | ||
5 | ![]() | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | −5 | 0 | 26 Sep '26 | 14 Oct | 10 Oct | 31 Mar '26 | — | 6 Oct '26 | ||
6 | ![]() | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | −5 | 0 | 30 Sep '26 | 0–5 | 14 Oct | 26 Sep '26 | 18 Nov | — |
Win Draw Loss
11 October 2024 2025 UEFA EC Q | Germany ![]() | 2–1 | ![]() | Regensburg |
18:00 | Report |
| Stadium: Jahnstadion Attendance: 8,586 Referee: Ben Mcmaster (Northern Ireland) |
15 October 20242025 UEFA EC Q | Poland ![]() | 3–3 | ![]() | Łódź |
17:00 |
| Report | Stadium: Widzew Stadium Attendance: 11,496 Referee: Dario Bel (Croatia) |
15 November 2024 Friendly | Germany ![]() | 3–0 | ![]() | Aachen |
18:00 | Report | Stadium: New Tivoli Attendance: 11,872 Referee: Alex Bos (Netherlands) |
19 November 2024Friendly | France ![]() | 2–2 | ![]() | Valenciennes |
18:15 | Report | Beier ![]() | Stadium: Stade du Hainaut Attendance: 6,111 |
21 March 2025Friendly | Slovakia ![]() | 0–1 | ![]() | Trnava |
18:00 | Report | Gruda ![]() | Stadium: Anton Malatinský Stadium Attendance: 1,721 Referee: Marek Radina (Czech Republic) |
25 March 2025Friendly | Germany ![]() | 3–1 | ![]() | Darmstadt |
20:30 | Woltemade ![]() | Report | Veiga ![]() | Stadium: Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor Attendance: 16,267 Referee: Vassilis Fotias (Greece) |
12 June 2025 2025 UEFA Euro | Germany ![]() | 3–0 | ![]() | Nitra, Slovakia |
21:00 | Woltemade ![]() | Report | Stadium: Štadión pod Zoborom Attendance: 2,708 Referee: Jakob Sundberg (Denmark) |
15 June 20252025 UEFA Euro | Czech Republic ![]() | 2–4 | ![]() | Dunajská Streda, Slovakia |
21:00 | Report | Stadium: MOL Aréna Attendance: 7,870 Referee: Alexis Herrera (Venezuela) |
18 June 20252025 UEFA Euro | England ![]() | 1–2 | ![]() | Nitra, Slovakia |
21:00 |
| Report | Stadium: Štadión pod Zoborom Attendance: 5,624 Referee: Sander van der Eijk (Netherlands) |
22 June 20252025 UEFA Euro | Germany ![]() | 3–2 (a.e.t.) | ![]() | Dunajská Streda, Slovakia |
21:00 | Report | Stadium: MOL Aréna Attendance: 6,503 Referee: Manfredas Lukjančukas (Lithuania) |
25 June 20252025 UEFA Euro | Germany ![]() | 3–0 | ![]() | Košice, Slovakia |
21:00 | Report | Stadium: Košická futbalová aréna Attendance: 11,913 Referee: Nick Walsh (Scotland) |
28 June 20252025 UEFA Euro | England ![]() | 3–2 (a.e.t.) | ![]() | Tehelné pole, Slovakia |
21:00 |
| Report | Stadium: Tehelné pole Attendance: 19,153 Referee: Sander van der Eijk (Netherlands) |
5 September 2025Friendly | Albania ![]() | 0–2 | ![]() | Elbasan |
18:00 | Report |
| Stadium: Elbasan Arena Attendance: 2,234 Referee: Eldorjan Hamiti (Albania) |
9 September 2025 2027 UEFA EC Q | Germany ![]() | 5–0 | ![]() | Rostock |
20:30 | Report | Stadium: Ostseestadion Attendance: 9,019 Referee: Łukasz Kuźma (Poland) |
10 October 20252027 UEFA EC Q | Germany ![]() | v | ![]() | Jena |
Report | Stadium: Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld |
14 October 20252027 UEFA EC Q | Northern Ireland ![]() | v | ![]() | |
Report |
14 November 20252027 UEFA EC Q | Germany ![]() | v | ![]() | Fürth |
Report | Stadium: Sportpark Ronhof Thomas Sommer |
27 March 20262027 UEFA EC Q | Germany ![]() | v | ![]() | |
Report |
Players born in or after 2004 are eligible for the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
The following players were called up for the friendly match against Albania and the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying match against Latvia on 5 and 9 September 2025. [2]
Note: Names in italics denote players that have been called up to the senior team.
The following players have previously been called up to the Germany under-21 squad in the last 12 months and remain eligible for selection.
Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DF | Nnamdi Collins | 10 January 2004 | 10 | 0 | ![]() | 2025 Euro |
MF | Mert Kömür | 17 July 2005 | 0 | 0 | ![]() | v. ![]() |
MF | Paul Wanner | 23 December 2005 | 8 | 1 | ![]() | 2025 Euro |
MF | Tom Bischof | 28 June 2005 | 0 | 0 | ![]() | v. ![]() |
FW | Youssoufa Moukoko | 20 November 2004 | 15 | 13 | ![]() | v. ![]() |
FW | Keke Topp | 25 March 2004 | 1 | 0 | ![]() | v. ![]() |
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