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European Under-21s Championship | Group Stage
Jun 20, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 

3-0

Volland (32', 48'), Ginter (53')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Live Commentary: Germany Under-21s 3-0 Denmark Under-21s - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage as Germany justify their tag as pre-tournament favourites in the Euro U-21 Championships by thumping Denmark 3-0.
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Germany moved top of Group A in the European Under-21 Championship by outclassing Denmark with a 3-0 win in Prague tonight.

Kevin Voller got the show on the road by converting Emre Can's excellent pass on 32 minutes to give the Germans a deserved half-time lead.

Minutes after the restart, it was two as Voller curled home a free kick, before Matthias Ginter headed home Amin Younes's through-ball shortly after for a third.

Below, relive the rout with Sports Mole's live commentary.


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Good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to our live text coverage of the European Under-21 Championship as Germany face Denmark tonight. I'm Shane and I'll be taking you through all the action in Prague as Ze Germans look to move top of the group. Excited? Me too. Let's set the scene with a bit of a preamble first, shall we?

Eleven months on since Germany swept all before them en route to winning the World Cup, Die Mannschaaft's Under-21 side now must emulate their senior counterparts by going all the way in the European Championship. It won't be easy. Just ask coach Horst Hrubesch, whose side laboured to a 1-1 draw with Serbia in their Group A opener earlier in the week. Nevertheless, the Germans - the pre-tournament favourites to lift the trophy - have a knack of getting things done and let's see if the younger generation share the same winning DNA as the group that went all the way in Brazil last summer.

And what for Denmark? Well, the Danes beat host nation Czech Republic 2-1 in the competition's curtain raiser courtesy of an 84th-minute winner from Pione Sisto (no relation to Jeremy, who we don't hear much from anymore). Indeed, it was a decent start to the finals from Jess Thorup's side. But it could all be in vein because defeat here would leave them outside the top two on goal difference, ahead of their final game with Serbia. Yep, the margins are so thin that you can find them on the cover of Heat Magazine.

Have we set the scene? Good. Now let's crack on with a bit of team news. Stay tuned ladies and gents.

GERMANY U-21: Ter Stegen; Korb, Ginter, Heintz, Schulz; Kimmich, Can; Bittencourt, Meyer, Younes; Volland

DENMARK U-21: Busk; Scholz, Vestergaard, Christensen, Knudsen; Jønsson, Christensen; Poulsen, Thomsen, Sisto; Brock-Madsen

Right, we'll start with Denmark and Mr Thorup makes four changes to the side that beat the Czechs last time out. Our mate Sisto is rewarded for his winning goal with a starting berth, who plays behind lone striker Nicolai Brock Madsen - also on the bench on Wednesday. Finally, Lasse Vigen Christensen and Jens Jonsson come into midfield. Watch out for young Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen, who starts in defence.

Likewise, there's four changes from Ze Germans as Dominique Heintez and Nico Schulz come into defence. Further forward you've got Joshua Kimmich and Leonardo Bittencourt also coming into the fold. Kevin Volland spearheads the attack, with Emre Can - who scored against Serbia - back in midfield.

Incidentally, it's Bittencourt what would happen if a Luis Suarez got angry at a trial? That's just a little joke.

These two have only ever met twice in an Under-21 setting before, with both winning one game apiece. Both outings came way back in 1993 during a Euro qualifying round, where Germany won the first game 4-1 away, before Denmark salvaged a bit of pride by winning 1-0 in the reverse fixture. Will we see a repeat of either scoreline? Let's find out. Six minutes until kickoff folks.

Despite drawing in their opening game, Denmark coach Thorup is still aware that Germany are not to be trifled with. He told UEFA.com prior to kickoff: "We are meeting maybe the favourites in this tournament. Though they didn't have the best start [on matchday one], I still think they are the favourites. It will be a very difficult match but also one that we are going to look forward to."

Ooooook. Both sets of players are entering the field of play now and Denmark look a little worried it has to be said. Understandable, given that Germany are the pre-tournament favourites, but let's see what transpires. Let's get the anthems underway.

There's a Germany fan in attendance wearing one of those nifty hat/umbrella contraptions. It's not raining or?

Sadly, Germany's national anthem isn't 99 red balloons, but it should be. Anywho, we're just minutes away now folks. Stay tuned.

KICKOFF: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand we're off in Prague, ladies and gents. Denmark, playing from right to left, kick us off. Let's go. They're up against it today.

We said Denmark looked a little nervous in the tunnel, but Germany look a little nervous on the field. There's plenty of misplaced passes so far and we're only, like, three minutes in. Those nerves will subside surely.

Pavel Nedved is among the attendees today. Has he still got those golden locks, I hear you ask? Yes. Good for him. What a player he was back in the day.

CHANCE! Oh no this was a decent chance for Denmark. Schulz and Heintz get in each other's way, and the ball falls to Thomsen, who squares to Sisto on the edge of the box but the youngster hesitates before going for goal and his effort is blocked. He panicked a little there it has to be said.

Ten minutes in now and we haven't really seen why the Germans are pre-tournament favourites as of yet. Denmark have been the better team in these early stages it has to be said and, well, they might've been one-up had Sisto kept his cool.

CHANCE! We've seen our first sign of life from Germany, and it's a brilliant move. Kevin Volland plucks a long ball from defence beautifully out of the sky, before playing a superb ball to the overlapping Bittencourt, whose first-time shot went high and wide over the bar from a good position. Would've been a fine goal.

CHANCE! Really good end-to-end game this and the pendulum swings back in Denmark's favour now as Yussuf Poulsen runs through with Ter Stegen, but he's forced wide and ends up clipping it wide. Poor finishing and indecision is the story of this one so far folks.

We spoke about Kevin Volland's beautiful first touch a few minutes ago, but Ter Stegen has just plucked a sky-high ball out of the atmosphere with consumate ease. Class. You can see why Barcelona signed him.

BOOKING: We've seen our first booking now, and it's for Denmark's Jonas Knudsen, who misses the game with Serbia through suspension.

The game has settled down now a little after those few chances - one of which definitely should've been scored, and probably Germany's effort through Bittencourt. Nevertheless, it's still 0-0. Denmark probably just the better team thus far.

Sisto, on Denmark's wing, looks a very decent little player it has to be said. He's dipped into his bag of tricks once or twice tonight and it could be a long evening for Germany's right-back Julian Korb.



CLOSE! This isn't far away at all from Amin Younes, who's in an acre of space on the left flank before cutting inside on to his right and watching his effort just shave the outside of the far post. Fine effort.

Bittencourt is having a bit of a shocker unfortunately. He's missed Germany's best chance of the clash thus far, and by some distance, and has just seen a cross fly over the crossbar.

GOAL! Germany 1-0 Denmark (Kevin Volland)

We've seen the first goal and it's Volland, who latches on to Emre Can's perfectly weighted ball before sliding the ball under Jakob Busk Jensen. Didn't Brendan Rodgers play Can in defence regularly last season? Bizarre. Great goal and a great assist in two games for Mr Can.

It's such a big ask for Denmark now but they won't be too disheartened hopefully. Afterall, they had the better of the chances before Volland struck and let's see if they can get their way back into it.

Denmark have done well since falling behind. They're pressing their German counterparts with far more intensity now and it's forcing mistakes. They need to keep this up for the last eight minutes of this half.

CHANCE! Should be 2-0. Simple as. Schulz cuts back for Younes in the box, but his side-footed effort is wide of the far post. It was a fine passing move to begin with and, ominously, Germany have their tails up.

Crucial clearance from Knudsen there after Bittencourt's cross looked certain to find the unmarked Voller inside the box. Three minutes to go and Denmark will want this whistle as soon as possible.

HALF TIME: Germany Under-21 1-0 Denmark Under-21

That's all she wrote in this half ladies and gents. Germany been the better side and lead through Kevin Volland's cool finish, following Emre Can's superb through-ball.

RESTART: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand we're back underway in Prague. Germany, who lead 1-0 courtesy of Kevin Voller's goal, kick us off once more. Will Germany extend their lead? Will Denmark get back into it? Or will it, eh, finish 1-0?

GOAL! Germany 2-0 Denmark (Kevin Voller)

Take a bow Mr Voller, who grabs his second goal of the game - and this is special. It's a free kick from about 35 yards. Voller steps up, curls it over the wall and right into the corner of the net to leave the Danish keeper with no chance. Fine goal and Germany are on their way to the top of the group.

BOOKING: Yussuf Poulsen goes into the book now for a foul on Voller. If you can't beat him, foul him.

Germany left-winger Younes looks like a fine prospect. He's got amazing close control as he dances through a few challenges there but his end product is lacking.

GOAL! Germany 3-0 Denmark (Matthias Ginter)

Stick a fork in it. It's 3-0 and there's no way back for Denmark now surely. We spoke about Younes a moment ago, and it's a moment of magic from him that creates the goal as his wonderful outside-of-the-boot cross is headed home by Ginter. Voller has two of the goals, but we can't forget how excellent Younes has been in this match so far.

In truth, Denmark are paying the penalty for a lack of composure early on. They missed two wonderful chances long before Voller opened the scoring and maybe, just maybe, the complexion of the clash would look a little different had Sisto and Poulsen kept their heads.

CLOSE! I don't want to keep talking about Younes, but another fantastic run from the little winger almost leads to the fourth goal as Max Meyer thrashes into the side netting from close range. Should've been four, and should've been another assist for the little man.

DENMARK SUB: First sub of the night now as Poulsen makes way for Uffe Bech. Poulsen was disappointing tonight it has to be said.

Denmark, to their credit, are still hanging in there. I mean, it's 3-0, and it's definitely a case of damage limitation, but they've done well since the third goal it has to be said.

SAVE! If you see a better save than this all tournament then I'm a monkey's uncle. Voller looks certain to tap home Younes's cut-back, but Jensen pulls off a worldie of an instinctive save to thwart the striker. Exceptional stuff.

I think it's safe to say that the Germans have justified their label as pre-tournament favourites tonight. There were question marks following a lukewarm start to the campaign after drawing with Serbia, but they've stamped their authority all over this and they'll take some beating. Younes is an absolute menace on the left wing; Voller is lethal from inside and outside the box as he's proven, while Emre Can is a very capable midfielder with fantastic vision. Yep, the Germans are definitely the team to beat.

DENMARK SUB: The Danes make their second sub now as Sisto makes way for Viktor Fischer (no relation to Don).

SUBS: Germany make their first change as Can makes way for Johannes Geis, while Norgaard replaces Jonsson for the Danes - their last sub.

What a ridiculously brilliant block this is. Schulz, after galloping forward from left-back, looks certain to add a fourth but young Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen comes out of nowhere to block the shot. Fine work.

GERMAN SUB: Speaking of young Premier League players, Arsenal winger Serge Gnabry replaces Bittencourt for the last nine minutes or so.

Emre Can did himself proud tonight again with another fine display in the middle of midfield. Liverpool fans watching this must be pulling their hair out after seeing Can in defence for large parts of last season.

Denmark haven't done much tonight it has to be said. They had two brilliant chances in the first 10 minutes but both went begging and now it's 3-0. Fine margins and all.

Some stewards escort a few pitch invaders off the field now. German by the look of their flag but they never got to meet their heroes before being tackled by the men in luminous jacket.

THREE MINUTES ADDED ON:

FULL TIME: Germany Under-21 3-0 Denmark Under-21

That's all she wrote here, folks. Germany move top of Group A with an easy win over Denmark it has to be said. Goals from Kevin Voller and Matthias Ginter ultimately sealed the straightforward victory. Watch out for Amin Younes in the future. He's flip-hot.

Anywho, that's all we've got time for. Enjoy your Saturday night and we'll see you next time! Take care friends.

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