Four German U21s receive guaranteed starts ahead of crucial match

Four starters from last week's convincing win over the Israeli U21s will also feature in Germany U21 head-coach Antonio di Salvo's initial XI tomorrow in the current international break's second fixture. The German U21s have a chance to officially clinch qualification for next summer's UEFA U21 European Championship in Slovakia. The victory over Israel ensured that an undefeated qualifying run for di Salvo's Juniors continued. 

Matters could have hardly gone better for the U21s in Györ last Wednesday. It's such that the team finds itself brimming with confidence ahead of tomorrow's trip to Tallinn to take on the Estonian U21s. While di Salvo may employ some personnel changes, Freiburg teammates Merlin Röhl and Max Rosenfelder will play from the beginning. So too shall the midfield tandem on Gladbach's Rocco Reitz and Köln's Eric Martel. 

Speaking to Tim Lüddecke of Germany's preeminent footballing publication, Röhl had plenty of words of praise for his SCF teammate. Röhl's flexible role with the U21 attack helps di Salvo's squad out immensely. Rosenfelder, meanwhile, appears to have a starting center back role secured for both club and country. The 21-year-old has gone the full 90 minutes in both league fixtures for Julian Schuster's Breisgauer. 

"We have real quality in this team," Röhl told Lüddecke, "There are a lot of players in the squad who have logged a lot of Bundesliga minutes. One can sense that. We've got a great aura around us. And when everyone feels comfortable, they can also perform." 

"The best part about his story is that he is healthy and can play," Röhl said of Rosenfelder, "Many have spoken to me of his quality. I've also seen it myself [when playing for] the Freiburg reserves. He's suffered [whilst out]. I have that too. One has to come back with gratitude and joy for football."

The midfield six tandem of Borussia Mönchengladbach's Rocco Reitz and 1. FC Köln's Eric Martel appears somewhat odd given that di Salvo relies upon players currently working in different tiers to run his game. The 45-year-old nevertheless declared himself satisfied with the pair at a Monday presser and guaranteed them both starts. Martel - also present at the presser - commented on his work alongside Reitz. 

"They're doing well," di Salvo said of the partners, "We're much more secure in the build-up and are well positioned for the counter-press. “Both complement one another. They look for one another. Eric provides a bit more stability, and Rocco pushes the game forward a bit more.” 

“One ignores the topic of club level," Martel said, "It's just about us getting along on the pitch - and we do that. We're great off the pitch too.  There are always a few wrinkles, but that just makes it more fun.”