The next generation of German footballers matched their senior counterparts with another trophy win for the World Cup winners at the Under-19 European Championships.
Hertha Berlin midfielder Hany Mukhtar scored the only goal in the final as the Germans saw off Portugal 1-0 in Budapest.
It comes at the end of a summer of success which saw the senior side lift the World Cup in Brazil after beating Argentina – and the rest of the world’s nations will be looking over worried about the next generation of successful Germans coming through.
Mukhtar’s winner came after 39 minutes as he converted the latest in a string of German opportunities by knocking the ball in off his shin in a scrap with his marker in the area.
Goalkeeper Oliver Schnitzler matched Manuel Neuer’s World Cup heroics in the second half to keep a clean sheet and crowd the young Mannschaft side kings of Europe at their level.
They beat Austria, Ukraine and Bulgaria while drawing with Serbia on their way to the final.
Winning goal: Goalscorer Hany Mukhtar celebrates his first half strike that gave Germany the title
Lucky break: Mukhtar converted past the Portuguese goalkeeper via his shin in the 37th minute
And the youngsters even took praise from the senior side’s manager Joachim Low after the game.
‘Many congratulations to everyone who who was part of this success,’ he wrote on the German FA’s website. ‘The team had a terrific tournament – the European Championship showed that German football can look forward to new great talent.’
Outnumbered but not outfought: Julian Brandt gets between three Portuguese defenders in Budapest
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Source: Dailymail