Germany's ‘Big Nick' Woltemade brings nicknames and goals to main stage
If there was any doubting Nick Woltemade's star quality, a brilliant hat-trick in Germany's opening match of the European Under-21 Championship against Slovenia showed the beanpole striker with numerous nicknames is the real deal. Known variously as Woltemessi, the Tower of Stuttgart, Goaltemade or just plain old Big Nick, he has been the standout player of the first two rounds of matches in Slovakia, having helped to book his side's place in the quarter-finals with another goal in their win over the Czech Republic on Sunday.
With England up next as Germany attempt to seal top spot in Group B and avoid a meeting with the favourites, Spain, in the last eight, the coach, Antonio Di Salvo, has a decision to make. Such has been Woltemade's success this season that he was also called up by Julian Nagelsmann for the senior squad's Nations League games and made his debut against Portugal in the semi-final less than a fortnight ago.
'Honestly, I just want to rest,' Woltemade said after the 4-2 victory over the Czech Republic, in which he contributed two assists as well. 'It's been a tough schedule and I've played a lot of minutes in a short time.'
Di Salvo, a former Bayern Munich forward who was an assistant to Stefan Kuntz with the under-21s before taking over when Kuntz left to manage Turkey's seniors in 2021, is expected to rotate when they face Lee Carsley's side in Nitra on Wednesday evening. Yet after Germany failed to get past the group stage in Georgia two years ago for the first time since 2013 as England went on to win the tournament, he is under pressure to deliver the country's fourth title at this level. 'I don't need to say more about how important Nick is to us,' Di Salvo said. 'He changes our game.'
A shade under two metres tall, Woltemade has played for Germany at various youth levels but it was not until his move to Stuttgart from his hometown side Werder Bremen that he announced himself on the big stage. Despite becoming Bremen's youngest player at 17, he had struggled for game time owing to Niclas Füllkrug's blistering form before a loan at third-division SV Elversberg transformed his fortunes. He earned a move to Stuttgart to replace Serhou Guirassy when the prolific Guinea striker departed for Borussia Dortmund last summer, and scored the opening goal in the DFB Pokal final victory in May – his fifth in that cup run – to add to his 12 in the Bundesliga.
A hat-trick against Spain, who drew 1-1 with Italy to win their group on Tuesday night, in an under-21s warm-up game in March put Woltemade firmly on the radar, with reports of interest from around Europe including from Chelsea, Everton and West Ham.
The 23-year-old born on Valentine's Day is eligible to play at the tournament because he was 21 at the start of qualifying – one of 73 players at the start of the finals who are two years older than the age limit. England are the only squad not to contain a 23-year-old, although Middlesbrough's midfielder Hayden Hackney will reach that age on 26 June, two days before the final.
That is an indication of England's approach, with Carsley – who has extended his contract until the next tournament in 2027 – having assembled a much more inexperienced squad than the one which triumphed two years ago. If he had followed Germany's example with Woltemade, seven members of Thomas Tuchel's latest selection could have been on double international duty this summer. Adam Wharton, another senior international, was ruled out as he recovers from concussion sustained in the FA Cup final.
Newcastle's Tino Livramento, who excelled in the opening win over the Czech Republic, is the only player to have also been capped at senior level and England's squad contains two teenagers, who have featured in the first two games: Tottenham's Archie Gray and Ethan Nwaneri of Arsenal.
Sign up to Football Daily
Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football
after newsletter promotion
Carsley will make changes against Germany, citing 'age and the amount they've played', with a point required to ensure a place in the knockout stages. If Germany are without Woltemade from the start, England – who have lost only twice to Germany at this age group and won 2-0 in the group stages two years ago – will know that Di Salvo's side boast plenty of other firepower.
Nicolò Tresoldi, who scored the opener against the Czech Republic and described Woltemade as 'the perfect strike partner', has just joined Club Brugge, and Brighton's Brajan Gruda and Paul Nebel of Mainz provide creativity.
At the other end, Freiburg's goalkeeper Noah Atubolu has made 20 appearances at the age group and has been tipped as a potential long-term successor to Manuel Neuer. 'We want to win every game,' said Germany's captain, Eric Martel, 'especially against England, because, as they say in Germany, it's 'the classic'.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
32 minutes ago
- The Sun
I fear the worst for my dear pal Michael Schumacher – if only we could know more about how he is
MICHAEL Schumacher's former pal says he fears the worst over the F1 legend's condition. Details surrounding the star's health have been kept under lock and key since he suffered a near-fatal ski accident in 2013. 4 4 4 Ex- Red Bull boss Richard Hopkins - who enjoyed regular coffee breaks with Schumacher in the early 1990s - said the lack of information for more than a decade stokes his fears about his condition. Hopkins, Head of Operations at Red Bull from 2013 to 2015, met Schumacher he was a mechanic at McLaren and the F1 great was at Benetton. He watched as Schumacher's career skyrocketed until he retired in 2012 with a joint record seven world titles. But the following year, Schumacher - now 56 - suffered a devastating head injury while skiing on Alpine slopes in France. Protective wife Corinna has not revealed any details about his condition and he has not been seen in public since. And Hopkins says the longer time goes on without an update, the more he fears about the true nature of his health. He told The Sun: "It's a shame and I wish we all knew a bit more. I get it and I understand it, it's very private to them. "But the danger of course is that we all make assumptions of how he is, and probably none of our assumptions are accurate. "We create an assumption that is probably worse and darker than his condition probably is, and then a lot of us look on the bright side and hope it's a lot better than it actually is. "I saw the recent story about him signing a crash helmet, and there's an MS on it. We'd all love to believe he got a pen out the draw and signed it but there was probably some assistance along the way. "I wish we had a better idea, not just me, all of us in motor racing. It's sad because even the 'keep fighting Michael' message has kind of been forgotten. 'But it's life and we all move on. It's very sad that we just don't know and we don't hear from him. It's sad that he doesn't attend races or make public appearances. 'He was an amazing guy, extraordinary character and amazingly successful." Close pal Flavio Briatore, who led Schumacher to his first two titles at Benetton, recently offered a heartbreaking insight into his health. He appeared to confirm Schumacher, who joined Ferrari after Benetton where he won five titles, was bed-bound. What do we know about Schumacher since his accident? MICHAEL Schumacher's life changed forever on December 29, 2013, when a skiing accident left the seven-time F1 champion with a severe brain injury. Since then, his family has protected his privacy, with only a select few remaining in contact with the racing legend. December 29, 2013 - The skiing accident: Schumacher suffers a life-threatening head injury while skiing off-piste in Méribel, France. He falls and hits his head on a rock, causing severe brain trauma despite wearing a helmet. He is airlifted to a hospital in Grenoble, where he undergoes two emergency surgeries. Doctors place him in a medically induced coma to reduce swelling in his brain. January 2014 - Schumacher fights for his life: Schumacher remains in a coma. Doctors describe his condition as 'critical but stable'. His family, led by wife Corinna, remains at his bedside. The world's F1 community rallies behind him, with fans holding vigils outside the hospital. June 2014 - Schumacher brought out of his coma: After nearly six months, Schumacher is brought out of his coma. His family confirms he is no longer in a coma but gives no further health details. He is transferred from Grenoble to a rehabilitation facility in Lausanne, Switzerland. September 2014 - Back home: Schumacher is moved to his family home near Lake Geneva. Corinna announces he will continue his recovery at home, with a dedicated medical team. 2015–2018 - Mystery surrounding his health: Reports suggest Schumacher is receiving round-the-clock medical care at home, costing £50,000 per week. Jean Todt reveals he still visits Schumacher and that they watch F1 races together. May 2017 - German magazine sued by Schumacher's family: The magazine Bunte has to pay Michael Schumacher €50,000 (£42,000) in damages after claiming in 2015 that Schumacher would walk again. The Hamburg regional court determined that the statement was false and infringed upon Schumacher's right to privacy. September 2019 - Schumacher secretly transferred to Paris: French media reports that Schumacher is taken to Paris for stem cell therapy at the Georges-Pompidou Hospital. The procedure is led by renowned surgeon Dr. Philippe Menasché. Details of the treatment remain undisclosed. December 2019 - Manager issues rare statement: Schumacher's longtime manager Sabine Kehm says his condition will remain private. She dismisses speculation and false reports about his health. September 2021 - Netflix documentary 'Schumacher' released: A new Netflix documentary, Schumacher, provides rare insights into his life. Corinna speaks publicly about his condition for the first time, saying: 'Michael is here. Different, but he's here, and that gives us strength.' December 2023 - 10 years since the accident: Schumacher turns 55. The anniversary of his accident is marked by tributes from the F1 world. Jean Todt confirms he still sees Schumacher regularly and describes his visits as 'full of affection'. September 2024 - Daughter Gina's wedding: Gina Schumacher, 27, marries longtime boyfriend Iain Bethke at the family's £27million Majorca villa. Reports claim Schumacher attends the wedding, but close friend Johnny Herbert later calls it 'A1 fake news'. Guests are reportedly required to hand over their phones to prevent leaks. March 2025 - Schumacher becomes a grandfather: Daughter Gina announces arrival of first child with husband Iain Bethke. The pair tied the knot in September 2024. Gina revealed the birth on Instagram and wrote: "Welcome to the world, Millie. Born on March 29th, our hearts are fuller than ever." Briatore told Corriere della Sera: 'If I close my eyes, I see him smiling after a victory. 'I prefer to remember him like that rather than him just lying on a bed.' Hopkins said he used to bump into Corinna but hasn't seen her, or anyone else close to him, since the crash. He added: 'I just haven't crossed paths with them. 'The circle of people close to Michael is very small, Jean Todt, Corrina, Mick, and a few others who spend time with him. 'Everything about Michael's situation is kept private, and those who are close to him, including his nursing team, are bound by an absolute circle of trust. 'I did meet Corinna a couple of times, if only just to say hi and everything else. My interactions with Michael weren't shared with Corinna. 'But even if I did bump into her now, and I asked how Michael was, she would probably just say he's fine. I didn't know her well enough for her to share information with me." What happened to Michael Schumacher? MICHAEL Schumacher's life was hanging by a thread 12 years ago as medics tried desperately to keep him alive after a tragic skiing crash that left him with horrific brain injuries. The F1 legend was given the best possible treatment as he was put into a medically induced coma, had his body temperature lowered and underwent hours of tricky operations on his brain. Back in 2013, the retired seven-time world champion, and his then 14-year-old son set off on the Combe de Saulire ski run in the exclusive French resort of Meribel. Footage from his helmet camera revealed he was not travelling at excessive speed when his skis struck a rock hidden beneath the snow. He catapulted forward 11.5ft and crashed into a boulder head first that split his helmet into two and left him needing to be airlifted to hospital for two life-saving operations. At one point his family were told to brace themselves for the worst case scenario as the situation was much worse than originally believed. At the time, medics said Schumacher was likely to stay in an induced coma for at least 48 hours as his body and mind recovered. But the coma ended up lasting 250 days - more than eight months. After he woke up in June 2014, he was discharged from hospital and sent to his home in Lake Geneva to get further treatment. Since then his wife Corinna and his inner circle of friends have expertly avoided almost anything leaking out about his health status. Only small amounts of information have been released including reports that Schumacher was in a wheelchair but can react to things around him. In 2019, it was said that Schumacher was set to undergo breakthrough stem cell therapy in a bid to regenerate and rebuild his nervous system. Renowned France cardiologist Dr Philippe Menasche, who had operated on him previously, was set to carry out the treatment that would see cells from his heart go to his brain. Following the treatment at the Georges Pompidou Hospital in Paris, he was said to be "conscious", although few other details were given about his state. He added: 'If he could be at a race today, I wonder if he would be? I wonder if he would love it today, rocking up at a race track, everyone would love him being there. "But I don't think he would, actually. I think he'd spend more time on other interests, spending more time on a bloody horse than a race track now!" Schumacher retired in 2006 but made a brief comeback for Mercedes from 2010 to 2012. He is widely considered among the best to ever race in the sport. Only small hints have been released about his health since the accident. Briatore's ex-wife, Elisabetta Gregoraci, previously said he doesn't speak but communicates with his eyes. Corinna has also previously said he is now 'different, but here'.
The Independent
34 minutes ago
- The Independent
Lando Norris fastest again in final practice for Austrian Grand Prix
Lando Norris laid down a marker ahead of qualifying by finishing fastest in final practice for the Austrian Grand Prix. Norris, who set the quickest time at the Red Bull Ring on Friday, was again the fastest man in the concluding running before qualifying. Norris' best effort was enough to see off McLaren team-mate and championship rival Oscar Piastri, who holds a 22-point lead in the standings, by 0.118 seconds. Max Verstappen finished third for Red Bull, two tenths behind Norris, and a place clear of Charles Leclerc. Lewis Hamilton was fifth in the other Ferrari, 0.466 sec off the leading pace. George Russell, a winner last time out in Canada, took sixth spot. Qualifying for Sunday's 11th round of the season gets under way at 1600 local time (1500 BST).
BBC News
40 minutes ago
- BBC News
James set to return for England against Jamaica
Chelsea forward Lauren James is available to play against Jamaica in a boost to England's Euro 2025 preparations - her first match since April after recovering from a hamstring 23-year-old has not featured for club or country in three months so is expected to come on as a substitute in England's final friendly on Sunday at 17:00 Wiegman's side begin the defence of their European title in Switzerland on 5 July when they face France in their group opener."We have to manage the minutes. She's doing really well, but of course she hasn't played games yet. But she's in a good place," said Wiegman when asked if James could feature at the King Power Stadium. "She will likely come off the bench - we can manage that a bit."She showed up in the training sessions really well. She could cope with loads and recover from loads."Her performance has been really good. She's ready; we're just still growing into minutes. This is the first time in a while that she's coming into a game."She [needs to] get through that. Then we'll take it from there towards the tournament."James was one of the stars of England's route to the 2023 Women's World Cup final, with three goals and three assists in the group stages before being sent off in the last-16 victory over defender Jess Carter said it was "exciting" to see James back in training and is confident she can have an impact in the tournament."The most impressive thing for me is that she has come back as almost a new player," said Carter."She looks so fresh and sharp. She is a pain to play against. Good luck to anyone having to play against her in the tournament."Gotham FC defender Carter is hoping to push into Wiegman's starting XI but says the competition in the squad is "great"."There is not one chance where you can be complacent. You have to be at the highest level every training session, every game, because if you don't, you're probably not going to play," said Carter."That's what we want as players - to have players that can compete in multiple positions and perform at the highest level." Head here to get involved
