When the IFAF U19 European Championships resume on Saturday, May 11, Germany makes its 2024/25 tournament debut by traveling to take on Denmark at the Vejle Atletikstadion.
The Danes will aim to bounce back from a 38-7 opening game loss away to Sweden against a German team that has a rich history at the U19 level, winning the continental crown in 1998, 2000, and 2008.
“We are looking forward to the game against Germany,” said Denmark head coach Kasper Skyum. “It will be a big challenge, but also a fantastic opportunity for our team to play against one of the biggest football nations in Europe. It has been a long time since our U19 national team has played at home, so I am looking forward to our players getting the chance to give their all-in front of hopefully an enthusiastic home crowd. It is experiences like these that make playing for the national team special.”
Coach Skyum added:
“After the match against Sweden, we have had the opportunity to evaluate and self-scout. Even though the result was not what we wanted we still had several good elements that we are building on. Our goal for the team remains the same – to create experiences, camaraderie, and develop our players. I believe the match against Germany will be a physical battle where we need to have the right mindset from the start.”
Watch the game live. Germany @ Denmark, May 11, 16:00 CET (4 pm, 10 am EDT)
Germany head coach Philipp Stursberg held a two-day camp in Münster at Easter to cast an eye over approximately 80 players who were in contention to make the final roster. Many of the squad that finished fifth in 2023 remain eligible to play in 2024, while others have played their way into the focus of the coaches having been scouted at Germany’s youth national tournament.
“This year, we have the privilege of competing against some of the continent’s finest talent, with the potential to continue this journey into the following year’s games,” said coach Stursberg. “When we face Denmark on the field, we confront a team known for their tenacity and hard playstyle. We hold immense respect for the effort they bring to each match, reflecting the resilience and determination ingrained in their footballing culture.
“Our team has seasoned players like Tyler Foster and Lamin Camara, alongside fresh talent like Keith Tanwani and Eric Kortus. This diversity allows us to integrate players from various birth years into our process early on, ensuring continuity and depth within our youth national squad.
“Additionally, we’re fortunate to have experienced coordinators guiding our team. Marcel Fritsche, our defensive coordinator, brings over a decade of invaluable experience to the team. Max Unflath, our special teams coordinator, impressed last year in his debut with the national team. Joining them is Falk Kunert, our new offensive coordinator, who brings a fresh perspective and energy to our coaching staff. Together, they form a dynamic team dedicated to our success on and off the field.”
Reigning champions Austria will enter the championships at the next stage and will play a round-robin tournament against the teams that win Group A (Finland, France or Italy) and Group B (Germany, Denmark or Sweden). Austria will be ranked #1. The #2 team will be the highest ranked nation from 2023 that qualifies as Group winners. The #3 team will be the lower ranked nation from the current cycle that advances. The overall winners will be crowned IFAF U19 European Champions.