Nmecha strikes as Germany edge Portugal to win Under-21 Euro title

Germany won the Under-21 European Championship for the third time as Lukas Nmecha’s second-half goal secured a 1-0 victory over Portugal in Sunday’s final in Ljubljana.

The goal arrived just four minutes into the second half in the Slovenian capital, with Ridle Baku setting up Nmecha and the striker’s first touch taking him around goalkeeper Diogo Costa before he slotted home.

Forward Nmecha, belongs to Manchester City but has been loaned out to a succession of clubs, and has just enjoyed a prolific campaign in Belgium with Anderlecht.

Germany-born Nmecha played only a handful of games at his parent club City. The Belgian club Anderlecht is coached by former City great Vincent Kompany.

Florian Wirtz, the Bayer Leverkusen starlet who netted a brace as Germany beat the Netherlands 2-1 in the semi-finals, also hit the bar in the first half.

Germany also won the Under-21 title in 2009 and 2017, before losing 2-1 to Spain in the final of the last tournament, in Italy in 2019.

Coach Stefan Kuntz, who played in Germany’s Euro 96-winning side, was also in charge of the team that won the title in 2017.

It is Portugal’s second defeat in the final of this competition in four editions after they were beaten on penalties by Sweden in 2015.

Germany will now hope their senior side can take inspiration from their Under-21 team as they also face Portugal in the group stage of Euro 2020 later this month. Portugal’s team in 2015 included three players who were in the senior national team that won the 2016 European Championship final. Portugal defend their title in the postponed Euro 2020 tournament that starts on Friday, and will play Germany in a Group F match in Munich on June 19.

Agencies