TSG players star in Germany victories

In the footballing classic between Germany and Italy in Munich, Sebastian Rudy was in the DFB starting XI while Kevin Volland started the game from the bench. Rudy - who has recently been pulling the strings for Hoffenheim in a defensive midfield position - started on the right wing in a 3-4-3 formation and put in a convincing performance with a number of good passes and runs, showing composure and creativity on the ball.

In the 74th minute, Rudy went through one-on-one against Buffon, took the ball round the Italy keeper and won his team a penalty which Mesut Özil tucked away to make it 4-0. Toni Kroos, Mario Götze and Jonas Hector were the scorers of the first three goals. The Italians managed to reduce the deficit by one goal from El Shaarawy. In the 85th minute, Kevin Volland was brought on for Julian Draxler to get some minutes under his belt.

U21s take a big step towards qualification 

The Germany U21s also enjoyed a successful evening as they ran out 2-0 winners in Russia to continue their perfect qualifying record. TSG defensive duo Niklas Süle and Jeremy Toljan played the full 90 minutes in Rostow am Don. Davie Selke or second division side RB Leipzig put Horst Hrubesch’s side ahead after twelve minutes before Schalke’s Max Meyer killed the game in the closing stages. 

Amiri debut - defeat for Schär

Towards the end of the game, Nadiem Amiri - called up by Hrubesch at short notice to the squad - came on to make his debut for the U21s: an all-round successful evening for the Germany U21s’ TSG players. 

The same cannot be said for TSG centre back Fabian Schär with the Switzerland team, who lost 2-0 to Bosnia-Herzegovina in Zurich. Schär played the first 45 minutes. Hoffenheim fullback Pavel Kaderabek was an unused substitute in Stockholm where his Czech Republic side drew 1-1 with Sweden.

U19s win again

The dress rehearsal for the U19s ahead of the European Championship on home soil was a successful one. In the space of four days, manager Guido Streichsbier’s side played twice against South Korea and won both games. After the 2-1 in which TSG player Philipp Ochs got on the scorsheet, the U19s went on to win the next game 1-0. 

Ochs and Benedikt Gimber were both in the starting XI, for the former - who played the full 90 minutes - it was a good day at work with a number of good opportunities in the first half, from which he was unfortunate not to score, followed by an effort hitting the post in the second half. The second half marked the end of Gimber’s evening as he was brought off. Karlsruhe’s Marvin Mehlem scored the winner in the U19s’ last friendly before the European Championship kicks off on the 11th July.