FIRST TEAM
03/23/2019

Otto scores in win for Germany U20s

Hoffenheim forward David Otto had a night to remember on Tuesday as he scored the opening goal − his first for the Germany U20s − in a 2-0 win over Poland. Otto was one of numerous TSG players in action for their national teams over the break. Nadiem Amiri was part of the Germany U21 side that won 2-1 in England, while Ermin Bicakcic and Bosnia & Herzegovina spurned a two-goal lead in the closing stages to draw 2-2 at home to Greece. achtzehn99.de brings you the lowdown on all the international fixtures involving TSG Hoffenheim players below.

The Germany U20 team's 2-0 (1-0) victory over their Polish counterparts was a special moment for striker David Otto, who was included in the starting XI and scored his first goal for the U20s. The 20-year-old opened the scoring with a left-footed strike in the 17th minute to put his side on course for victory. Alfons Amade was in the squad too but did not feature. Meanwhile, there was success for another German youth player in England. Nadiem Amiri made the starting line-up as the DFB U21 team beat the Three Lions 2-1 Bournemouth. Reiss Nelson had to pull out of the national squad due to injury in the run-up to the game, meaning the two Hoffenheim attacking midfielders did not go head to head.

Elsewhere, it was an evening of mixed fortunes for Ermin Bicakcic, whose Bosnia team raced into a 2-0 lead against Greece before ultimately drawing 2-2. The TSG defender played the full 90 minutes in the EURO 2020 qualifier in his homeland. Having taken a two-goal lead, Bicakcic & Co. had their advantage halved when Greece pulled one back on 64 minutes and then had to play with 10 men for 25 minutes following the dismissal of Miralem Pjanic. The equaliser came on the 85-minute mark.

Czech full-back Pavel Kaderabek did not feature as his country was defeated 3-1 by Brazil in a friendly.

SCHULZ THE HERO AS GERMANY EDGE NETHERLANDS

Several other TSG players had been in action on Sunday. In Germany's 3-2 victory over the Netherlands, Nico Schulz produced what was probably the best performance of his fledgling international career. The 25-year-old Hoffenheim full-back, who played the full 90 minutes and was voted "Man of the Match", set up Leroy Sané for the opener with a wonderful cross in the 15th minute before claiming a 90th minute winner for his country when he steered a Marco Reus cutback into the far corner with his weaker right foot. The late win ensured a successful start to EURO 2020 qualification for Germany and "kicker" magazine subsequently identified Schulz as the best player on the pitch.

In other news, Adam Szalai and Andrej Kramaric went head-to-head in Budapest, with the former coming out on top as Hungary came from behind to claim a surprising 2-1 win over World Cup runners-up Croatia. TSG record goalscorer Kramaric provided the assist for the opening goal, scored by Frankfurt frontman Ante Rebic in the 13th minute, but Szalai restored parity for Hungary with his 20th international goal in the 34th minute and Patkai added another on 76 minutes to complete the comeback. 

GRILLITSCH AND POSCH EXPERIENCE SETBACK WITH AUSTRIA

Meanwhile, an Austria squad with lofty ambitions suffered yet another setback in their EURO 2020 qualifying campaign. Franco Foda's charges were beaten 4-2 in Israel on Matchday 2, having previously lost 1-0 to Poland in Vienna. Florian Grillitsch, who started against Poland, did not feature in Haifa. Neither did Stefan Posch, who was on international duty for the first time but has yet to make his debut for the senior side.

OVERVIEW OF ALL INTERNATIONAL FIXTURES INVOLVING TSG PLAYERS: 

Nico Schulz – Germany

International friendly, Wednesday 20 March, 20:45, Wolfsburg: Germany 1-1 Serbia

EURO qualifier, Sunday 24 March, 20:45, Amsterdam: Netherlands 2-3 Germany

Stefan Posch – Austria

EURO qualifier, Thursday 21 March, 20:45, Vienna: Austria 0-1 Poland

EURO qualifier, Sunday 24 March, 18:00, Haifa: Israel 4-2 Austria

Florian Grillitsch – Austria

EURO qualifier, Thursday 21 March, 20:45, Vienna: Austria 0-1 Poland

EURO qualifier, Sunday 24 March, 18:00, Haifa: Israel 4-2 Austria

Pavel Kaderabek – Czech Republic

EURO qualifier, Friday 22 March, 20:45, London: England 5-0 Czech Republic

International friendly, Tuesday 26 March, 20:45, Prague: Czech Republic 1-3 Brazil

Andrej Kramaric – Croatia

EURO qualifier, Thursday 21 March, 20:45, Zagreb: Croatia 2-1 Azerbaijan

EURO qualifier, Sunday 24 March, 18:00, Budapest: Hungary 2-1 Croatia

Ermin Bicakcic – Bosnia & Herzegovina

EURO qualifier, Saturday 23 March, 20:45, Sarajevo: Bosnia & Herzegovina 2-1 Armenia

EURO qualifier, Tuesday 26 March, 20:45, Zenica: Bosnia & Herzegovina 2-2 Greece

Adam Szalai – Hungary

EURO qualifier, Thursday 21 March, 20:45, Trnava: Slovakia 2-0 Hungary

EURO qualifier, Sunday 24 March, 18:00, Budapest: Hungary 2-1 Croatia

Kasim Adams – Ghana

Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, Saturday 23 March, Accra: Ghana 1-0 Kenya

International friendly, Tuesday 26 March, Accra: Ghana vs. Rwanda

Nadiem Amiri – Germany U21s

U21 friendly, Thursday 21 March, 18:30, Essen: Germany U21s 2-2 France U21s

U21 friendly, Tuesday 26 March, 20:45, Bournemouth: England U21s 1-2 Germany U21s

Reiss Nelson – England U21s

U21 friendly, Thursday 21 March, 19:45, Bristol: England U21s 1-1 Poland U21s

U21 friendly, Tuesday 26 March, 20:45, Bournemouth: England U21s 1-2 Germany U21s

Alfons Amade – Germany U20s

U20 friendly, Friday 22 March, 20:30, Sandhausen: Germany U20s 1-0 Portugal U20s

U20 friendly, Tuesday 26 March, 18:00, Bielsko-Biala: Poland U20s 0-2 Germany U20s

David Otto – Germany U20s

U20 friendly, Friday 22 March, 20:30, Sandhausen: Germany U20s 1-0 Portugal U20s

U20 friendly, Tuesday 26 March, 18:00, Bielsko-Biala: Poland U20s 0-2 Germany U20s

Download Now!
Print Page to top