Germany U21 head coach Antonio Di Salvo just dropped two unexpected names into his squad, Cajetan Lenz and Tim Drexler, right before their make-or-break European Championship qualifier against Georgia on Tuesday. Talk about cutting it close! These late call-ups are coming at a massive moment, with Germany fighting for direct passage to next summer’s European Championship in Albania and Serbia, currently tied with Greece on 24 points at the top of Group F.
Lenz Steps Up for a Remixed Midfield
Hoffenheim midfielder Cajetan Lenz, just 20 years old, got the call to move up from Germany’s U20 setup to provide some crucial depth in defensive midfield. This kid is getting a shot because Tom Bischof, who had been starting in the U21’s 4-0 and 4-1 wins over Latvia and Malta, made the jump to Jürgen Klopp’s senior Germany squad. It is a wild ride for Bischof, moving between the two highest international levels. For Lenz, this is another chance to show out. He got his first U21 nomination about six months ago but just warmed the bench twice without getting on the field. Since then, he made a summer move from Bochum to Hoffenheim and has kept developing. Di Salvo already had to rework his U21 midfield tactics this window, focusing on aggressive full-backs, narrow attackers, and Nicolo Tresoldi as the go-to guy up front. Even with those big wins, Di Salvo was still a bit salty about some parts of the Malta performance. Lenz is stepping into a situation where the coach might need to shake up that midfield balance all over again.
Drexler Back to Bolster the Defense
Meanwhile, RB Salzburg centre-back Tim Drexler, 21, is getting recalled to fill a gap in the defense, and it’s a big one. Augsburg defender Noahkai Banks was forced to withdraw after suffering a lateral ligament injury in his right knee during that 4-1 victory over Malta. Banks is back in Augsburg and sidelined for who knows how long. Drexler, on the other hand, is a much more familiar face for Di Salvo, already boasting one U21 cap. He debuted last autumn while on loan at 1. FC Nürnberg from Hoffenheim and has since been making moves with RB Salzburg. His return is huge because Banks’ injury is just another hit to a defensive unit that has seen a lot of changes in personnel already. Drexler’s experience could be exactly what this squad needs for their most important fixture yet.
This Tuesday’s game against Georgia isn’t just another match; it’s everything. A win puts Di Salvo’s squad in a strong position to lock up that direct spot in the European Championship. With Lenz getting his big shot and Drexler back to shore things up, this team has to bring it. You know I’ll be glued to my screen, pulling for these guys to get it done!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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