The Germany U-21 national team suffered a 2-1 loss to Hungary in their first match after winning the 2017 UEFA U-21 European Championship in June. The match took place in front of 5,510 fans at the Benteler Arena in Paderborn on Friday evening.
Hungary took the lead against the run of play as the Germans looked like the better side at the beginning. Donát Zsótér found the back of the net in the 15th minute with a fine shot which left goalkeeper Alexander Nübel stunned. The Germans looked nervous and made a lot of mistakes throghout the game.
Máté Vida increased the lead in the 60th minute with a great free kick, while Johannes Eggestein reduced the margin just five minutes later. Germany increased the pressure and pushed hard for the equaliser. But Hungary managed to get away with a 2-1 win.
“I told the boys that they should all try and enjoy themselves out there. The fact it wasn’t a perfect performance is understandable. We deserved to lose, and at the end of the day that’s what happened,” said Kuntz after the game.
Germany head coach Stefan Kuntz has the task to build a new competitive team since the core of the European U-21 Championship winning squad is not eligible anymore to play in the U-21 age group. The match against Hungary has proved that Kuntz and his coaching staff will face a lot of work ahead of their 2019 UEFA European U-21 Championship Qualifier against Kosovo on Tuesday.
The German U-21 team is currently having a training camp at the Hotel-Residence Klosterpforte in Marienfeld as part of their preparations for the Kosovo match.
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