Di Salvo releases preliminary squad for U21 European Championship

FSV Mainz 05 striker Nelson Weiper is the lone new call up to the latest incarnation of Antonio di Salvo’s Germany U21 national team. The 18-year-old has impressed off FSV trainer Bo Svensson’s bench this season, netting two league goals amid his nine substitute appearances. Weiper is one of 26 players headed to the team’s training camp in northern Italy. The roster will be reduced by three on June 14th.

As part of the German FA’s deliberate plan to give developmental prospects who have already earned senior national team call-ups further practice with the U21s, three players who have spent time in Bundestrainer Hansi Flick’s camp will work with di Salvo this time. Youssoufa Moukoko (Dortmund), Josha Vagnoman (VfB Stuttgart), and Kevin Schade (FC Brentford) will represent the country’s highest youth level.

Three players who could have worked under di Salvo’s aegis are nevertheless working with Flick this time. The Bundestrainer opted to keep Florian Wirth (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Malick Thiaw (AC Milan), and Jamal Musiala (FC Bayern München) are part of Flick’s latest selection.

Felix Nmecha (VfL Wolfsburg), Jonathan Burkardt (FSV Mainz 05), Armel Bella Kotchap (Southhampton), Noah Katterbach (FC Köln), and Karim Adeyemi (Borussia Dortmund) are regrettably unavailable to either coach due to injury.

“We are happy to have the three guys back in the team as important pillars for the European Championships,” Di Salvo said of the trio that Flick left him, “And we’re also very excited about Nelson Weiper. He’s developed excellently for both the junior and senior Mainz squads.”

The full squad:

Goalkeepers:
Noah Atubolu, SC Freiburg
Christian Früchtl, Austria Wien
Nico Mantl, RB Salzburg