Youssoufa Moukoko named in Germany U-21s squad for European Championship group stage
By Tushar Bahl
Youssoufa Moukoko has been named in the Germany U-21s squad for this month’s UEFA European U-21 Championship. The Borussia Dortmund striker is now in line to break another record and could become the youngest player to ever play for the Germany U-21s national team.
Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc confirmed last week that they had held talks with Germany U-21s head coach Stefan Kuntz over a call-up for Moukoko. Now Kuntz has named the highly rated striker in his 25-man squad for the U-21 Euros.
"“With Youssoufa, we have an exceptional talent in Germany who we want to develop cautiously and in line with his performance,” Kuntz said. “In close consultation with Borussia Dortmund, we have therefore decided to nominate him because we think his participation will help both the team and him in his development.”"
Moukoko is enjoying an excellent debut season in professional football with Borussia Dortmund. He made his Bundesliga debut just one day after his 16th birthday, and his Champions League debut less than three weeks later. He became the youngest player to score in the Bundesliga in December, and has found the net three times in just 15 appearances for Borussia Dortmund.
He has previously represented Germany at the U-16s and U-20s level, and is now set to make his U-21s debut this month.
The Germany U-21s squad features a number of talented young players with Bundesliga experience, including Youssoufa Moukoko, Wolfsburg’s Ridle Baku, Schalke’s Malick Thiaw, FC Köln’s Salih Özcan, as well as former Borussia Dortmund centre-back Amos Pieper.
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The 2021 European U-21 Championship will be played in two phases. The group stage will be played this month and knockout rounds are due to be held in the summer. Germany, who finished as the runners up in the 2019 U-21 Euros, will face the Netherlands, Hungary and Romania in the group stage.