Mitchell Weiser Header Sees Germany Past Spain in Euro U21 Championship Final

A stunning header from Mitchell Weiser saw Germany to a 1-0 win over Spain in the final of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship on Friday at the Stadio Cracovia in Krakow, Poland. 

Germany took a deserved lead in the 39th minute when Weiser guided a superb looping header into the top corner from a narrow angle.

After a passive first period, Spain improved after the break and pinned their opponents back for long spells. But the spark they showcased so frequently earlier in the tournament was absent, as Germany were able to shut out La Roja’s array of attacking talent.

It’s the second time Germany have won this competition; the likes of Manuel Neuer, Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil steered the team to victory in 2009.

Following a dominant start to the match from Spain, it was Germany who had the best early opening. Max Meyer was just inches away from putting his side ahead, as he saw his bullet header from the edge of the area clatter off the post.

It was the trigger for some smart attacking play from Germany, with Serge Gnabry particularly dangerous; he tested Kepa Arrizabalaga a couple of times with sharp efforts.

As noted by football journalist Patrick Boyland, for much of the first half this prodigious Spain team was being bossed:

Spain did go close with a header from a raiding Hector Bellerin, but they were looking uncharacteristically toothless in the final third. Subsequently, Germany were becoming increasingly emboldened.

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Six minutes before the break they got the lead they deserved. Jeremy Toljan marched down the right flank and whipped in a cross to the near post. Weiser did well to get to the ball and then somehow steered a glancing header into the top corner over a stranded Kepa.

Sports journalist Jack Lang was full of praise for the finish from the Hertha Berlin man:

As they trudged off at half time, the vibrancy looked to have been sucked out of the star-studded Spain side, with Germany in total control.

Unsurprisingly, there was a reaction from Spain after the break, with Saul, the leading scorer in the tournament, driving them forward from midfield. The Atletico Madrid man prompted Julian Pollersbeck into a fine save with a rasping shot from distance.

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As noted by journalist Seb Stafford-Bloor, with Germany seeming to retreat from their first-half pressing, they were playing a dangerous game:

Even so, they remained a threat on the counter-attack, with Gnabry surging into the box into the left channel and stabbing a shot at Kepa. Saul also flung himself in front of a goal-bound shot from Meyer at the end of another break.

Indeed, Spain were far from secure as they pushed forward in search of an equaliser and manager Albert Celades introduced Inaki Williams in search of some attacking inspiration in the final stages.

Red shirts edged further and further forward as the clock ticked down. Yet as sports journalist David Cartlidge noted, Germany were robust in their defensive work:

While there were some hairy moments for the German defence, they were able to prevent Spain from creating any clear openings. La Roja were limited to efforts from distance, with Saul seeing a last-minute shot blocked from the edge of the box. 

With their chances slipping away, there was little care in Spain’s buildup play, with the delivery from Gerard Deulofeu and Marco Asensio from wide areas especially wayward. In the end, Germany were deserved and unexpectedly comfortable winners.