U21 European Championship: Beljo and Čolina lose opening game
Engels and Belgium draw
First Team
22.06.2023, 11:30
With Dion Beljo, David Čolina (both Croatia), Arne Engels (Berlgium) and Maximilian Bauer (Germany), FC Augsburg have a total of four players at the U21 European Championship in Georgia and Romania, which started on Wednesday. For one FCA duo, the start didn’t go as well as planned.
In the opening game of Group B, Croatia U21s were beaten 2-0 by Ukraine, and Both Beljo, who had previously been in the squad for the senior national team, and Čolina couldn’t prevent defeat and were substituted off in the second half. Oleksiy Kaschuk (19’) and Denylo Sikan (48’) scored Ukraine’s goals. Croatia therefore need to pick up points in their second group match on Saturday (20: 45 CEST), otherwise they face elimination from the group stage.
Arne Engels had a somewhat better start to the tournament, although he only watched the goalless draw between Belgium and the Netherlands from the bench. Both teams missed a lot of chances to score, but the draw keeps them in the race for the top two places, which would be enough for a place in the quarter-finals. On Saturday (18:00 CEST), Engels and Belgium will face the hosts Georgia, who surprisingly defeated Portugal U21s 2-0.
Germany U21s begin against Israel
On Thursday evening, the Germany U21 national team will begin their campaign, with Antonio Di Salvo’s side facing Israel (18:00 CEST). FCA player Maximilian Bauer is in the squad and hoping to make his seventh appearance for Germany. The match will take place at the Ramas-Schengelia stadium in Kutaisi.
