Matriciani and Krauß lose to Czech Republic with Germany U21

Head coach Antonio Di Salvo named two Schalke players in the starting XI for the game in Batumi, Georgia, with Henning Matriciani playing the whole 90 minutes and Tom Krauß playing the first half.

The game was a balanced one and Czech Republic broke the deadlock just after the half-an-hour mark through a goal from Vaclav Sejk (33’).

Matriciani sets up the opener

Head coach Antonio Di Salvo replaced Krauß at the break after the midfielder had been booked. Germany crowned a spell of dominance with the equaliser in the 70th minute, with Matriciani finding Angelo Stiller on the edge of the area with a fine ball, the midfielder then able to find the bottom corner.

The Czech side came back to take all three points, however. Martin Vitik reacted quickest after a corner kick caused a bit of havoc in the area and managed to get the ball over the line and make it 2-1 in the 87th minute, succumbing Germany to defeat.

Germany U21s will play their final group game against England on Wednesday (28/06, kick-off: 18:00 CEST).