Germany U21 vs Italy U21 preview: Team news & predicted lineups – U21 Euros 2025 | OneFootball

Germany U21

Antonio Di Salvo’s side finished the group stage as the only team to win all three matches. Without the tournament's top scorer, Nick Woltemade, Germany beat England 2-1 in the final game of a group that also included the Czech Republic and Slovenia.

For Di Salvo, it’s a huge contrast to the competition two years ago when they failed to get out of the group stage. Before that, Germany won two of the previous U21 Euro competitions and finished runners-up in the 2019 edition.

This quarter-final will be a special occasion for the former Bayern striker. Di Salvo has Italian descent with roots in Sicily. Since losing to England in the final group game of the 2023 Euros, his team is undefeated in their last 18 games.

Team News

Woltemade spoke about fixture congestion after his electric start to the competition, and Di Salvo went on to rest him on Wednesday. For the quarter-final, he’ll once again partner Nicolò Tresoldi in Germany’s attack.

Meanwhile, Ansgar Knauff will hope that his strong first-half performance against England will be enough for him to earn a starting berth. Noah Atubolu will be back between the sticks if he recovers from a sore throat.

Italy U21

Italy finished on equal points with Spain in the group stage. They beat Romania and hosts Slovakia 1-0 before a respectable draw with the 2023 finalists on the final day. Spain finished the group in top place based on a superior goal difference.

Alongside Spain, Italy held the record with the most championships (5). However, their last win was back in 2004 when Germany hosted the tournament. Losing the 2013 final is their best return in the past two decades.

This will be the third meeting between Germany and Italy at the U21 Euros. Andreas Beck scored the winner to send Germany to the 2009 final. Germany went on to win the championship for the first time with a 4-0 victory over England. The other meeting was in the group stage when Germany became champions again in 2017.

Team News:

Woltemade scored more goals than Italy in the group stage. Former Chelsea youngster Cesare Casadei, who scored the winning goal against Slovakia, is among the experienced players in the squad.

Germany U21 vs. Italy U21: Predicted Lineups

Germany U21: Atubolu; Collins, Rosenfelder, Arrey-Mbi, Brown; Martel ©, Reitz, Nebel; Gruda, Tresoldi, Woltemade

Italy U21: Desplanches; Zanotti, Pirola, Ghilardi, Ruggerii; Ndour, Prati, Fabbian; Casadei, Baldanzi; Gnonto