Sieb, Castrop, and Tohumcu earn first time call ups to di Salvo's Germany U21s
The latest incarnation of head-coach Antonio di Salvo's Germany U21s features three first time call-ups; two of which play for Middle Franconia clubs in the 2. Bundesliga.
Antonio di Salvo's Germany U21s seek to keep their perfect record in the qualification round for the 2025 UEFA U21 European Championship intact during the coming March international break. Since their disappointing group stage exit in the most recent continental championship this past summer, the youngsters representing Germany at the highest youth level have won all four of their qualification fixtures for the next tournament in the September, October, and November international breaks. Di Salvo's DFB Juniors also emerged victorious in a September friendly against the Ukraine.
The German U21s currently top their qualifying group with a maximum 12 points from four matches. Both of the qualifying matches scheduled for the current international break will take place in the Bundesrepublik. The team will host Kosovo in Chemnitz next Friday. Israel awaits in the Saxon-Anhalt city of Halle the following Tuesday. Both games kick off at 18:00. Di Salvo's charges won the reverse fixture against Kosovo in September. Germany face Israel for the first time this cycle after the away fixture was cancelled for political reasons last autumn.
Di Salvo will have to do without striker Maximilian Beier after the 21-year-old was called up to Julian Nagelsmann's senior men's national team on Thursday. Beier's Hoffenheim teammate Umut Tohumcu is among a trio of players receiving their first call up to the U21s. Two players active for Middle Franconia club teams - striker Armindo Sieb of SpVgg Greuther Fürth and midfielder Jens Castrop of 1. FC Nürnberg - are the others. Kenneth Schmidt (Freiburg), Leandro Morgalla (RB Salzburg) and Tim Lemperle (Köln) will have to miss out due to injury.
Di Salvo opted to drop FC Augsburg's Tim Breithaupt from his November side due to his lack of playing time for his top-tier side. Hertha BSC central defender Marton Dardai has also switched his allegiance to his heritage country Hungary. Players not involved in the November action returning to the squad include Linus Gechter (Hertha BSC) and Nicolo Tresoldi (Hannover 96). Both Sieb and Castrop have enjoyed immensely successful seasons for their respective clubs. Sieb has consistently impressed with nine goals in the second division.
The full squad:
Goalkeepers:
Noah Atubolu (SC Freiburg)
Jonas Urbig (SpVgg Greuther Fürth)
Felix Gebhardt (SSV Jahn Regensburg)
Defenders:
Jens Castrop (1. FC Nürnberg)
Nathaniel Brown (1. FC Nürnberg)
Bright Arrey-Mbi (Hannover 96)
Linus Gechter (Hertha BSC)
Julian Eitschberger (Hertha BSC)
Jamil Siebert (Fortuna Düsseldorf)
Colin Kleine-Bekel (Holstein Kiel)
Luca Netz (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
Midfielders:
Eric Martel (1. FC Köln)
Jan Thielmann (1. FC Köln)
Ansgar Knauff (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Merlin Röhl (SC Freiburg)
Brajan Gruda (FSV Mainz 05)
Rocco Reitz (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
Paul Nebel (Karslruher SC)
Umut Tohumcu (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim)
Strikers:
Youssoufa Moukoko (Borussia Dortmund)
Nick Woltemade (SV Werder Bremen)
Nicolo Tresoldi (Hannover 96)
Armindo Sieb (SpVgg Greuther Fürth)