Germany team guide
Friday, May 1, 2015
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Champions for the second time in Hugnary 12 months ago, Marcus Sorg is back with the 2014/15 squad, who came through a tough elite round to qualify again.
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Blessed with talent in every department, title holders Germany boast several youngsters who play regularly in the country's top two divisions, including VfB Stuttgart striker Timo Werner and FC Schalke 04 forward Leroy Sané, who scored away to Real Madrid CF on his UEFA Champions League debut this season. The elite round provided a stiff test, however. "The team had tough situations to handle in all three matches," said coach Marcus Sorg. "We conceded a last-minute equaliser against Slovakia, were 2-1 down against the Republic of Ireland and knew we had to score plenty of goals against the Czech Republic." Germany delivered, winning their last game 6-0 to leave the coach proud: "We are a real unit; everyone takes responsibility."
Qualifying round: Kazakhstan 6-0, Latvia 3-0, Austria 1-5 (Group 2 runnerx-up)
Elite round: Slovakia 1-1, Republic of Ireland 3-2, Czech Republic 6-0 (Group 2 winners)
Key players: Jonathan Tah (defender, Fortuna Düsseldorf), Nadiem Amiri (midfielder, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim), Timo Werner (forward, VfB Stuttgart), Leroy Sané (forward, FC Schalke 04)
Coach: Marcus Sorg
Date of birth: 24/12/1965
A graduate in industrial engineering who played in the lower leagues, Sorg coached SC Freiburg in the Bundesliga in 2011, but has since specialised in youth coaching. He joined the German Football Association (DFB) in 2013 after a year in charge of FC Bayern München's Under-17 squad and won the European U19 title in his first campaign.
Team records
Qualifying top scorers
Lucas Cueto, Timo Werner: 4
UEFA European Under-19 Championship best
Winners: 2008, 2014
Honours in UEFA youth competitions
UEFA European Under-18 Championship
Winners: 1981 (West Germany), 1985 (East Germany)
Runners-up: 1994, 1998
UEFA European Under-17 Championship
Winners: 2009
Runners-up: 2011, 2012, 2015
UEFA European Under-16 Championship
Winners: 1984 (West Germany), 1992
Runners-up: 1982 (West Germany), 1989 (East Germany)
International Youth Tournament (U18)
Winners: 1965, 1970 (both East Germany)
Runners-up: 1954 (West Germany), 1969, 1973 (both East Germany)
Other honours:
FIFA U-20 World Cup
Winners: 1981 (West Germany)
FIFA U-17 World Cup
Third place: 2007, 2011
Fourth place: 1997
