Germany do it the hard way

It has been a bumpy ride for Germany's Under-21s but, when it mattered most, Dieter Eilts's side found that little bit extra to qualify for the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship at France's expense.

Höwedes winner
With the team staring elimination in the face, a 90th-minute goal from Benedikt Höwedes at the Stade Saint-Symphorien gave Germany a 1-0 victory on the night and a 2-1 aggregate triumph in their play-off – an outcome that left France kicking their heels following a succession of missed chances. "The goal epitomised our performance, as it didn't come from a clear-cut chance," said goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who kept Germany in the tie with a string of saves. "But we all did our work and deserve to be in Sweden."

Pushed to the limit
The play-off summed up the qualifying campaign as the road to Sweden was seldom a straight one for Germany, who surprisingly have never won a title at U21 level. Blessed with a rich generation of players, many of whom are already catching the eye in the Bundesliga, coach Eilts was almost expected to gain qualification. However, his side were pushed to the limit, first by Israel in qualifying Group 9, then by France over 180 minutes. Perhaps they have finally learned to win in the least forgiving circumstances.

Neuer stars
Under Eilts, the U21s have 29 victories, eleven draws and nine defeats, yet all too often the decisive matches have gone wrong. Germany were knocked out in the group stage at the 2006 finals in Portugal and did not reach the finals the following year after losing to England in the play-off. On Wednesday, though, Eilts had the brilliant Neuer to thank as the FC Schalke 04 keeper made up for the first-leg error that led to France's goal by keeping the hosts at bay in Metz with a sequence of stops.

'Fantastic saves'
"I have to compliment my team on how they battled and how they believed in the win until the very end," Eilts said. "I was convinced it was possible. It was an incredible game by Manu [Neuer]. He made some fantastic saves." Relief, then, for Eilts at the close of a tense campaign which included a defeat by Moldova and a goalless draw with an Israel team whom Germany pipped on goal difference alone. "We are through to the finals, that's the most important thing," said German Football Association sporting director Matthias Sammer, who had called for the side to "significantly improve" and "show their true potential". Germany have the chance to do just that in Sweden.