The Germans strolled through with three wins from three, while the Azzurrini are also unbeaten, and they now vie to meet either Denmark or France in the semis.<\/p>\n
Match preview<\/p>\n
![\"Borussia](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/https:\/\/sportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net\/24\/48\/rocco-reitz_1.jpg\"\/)
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The only team with a perfect record still intact, Germany were totally dominant in Group B, averaging three goals per game en route to finishing first by a five-point margin.<\/p>\n
After putting three past Slovenia and beating the Czechs 4-2, they then saw off England despite changing their entire starting XI last time out.<\/p>\n
Eintracht Frankfurt winger\u00a0Ansgar Knauff<\/a> scored the first and set up the second in a 2-1 win over Lee Carsley\u2019s reigning champions<\/a>, clinching top spot in style.<\/p>\n Having previously posted eight wins from 10 in an unbeaten qualification campaign, confidence is sky-high in the camp as the Germans go toe-to-toe with familiar rivals this weekend.<\/p>\n Antonio Di Salvo<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s side will travel to Dunajska Streda for a knockout contest with Italy, battling it out for a place in next week\u2019s semi-finals.<\/p>\n Now approaching four years in charge of his nation\u2019s Under-21s, Di Salvo may have family links to Sicily, but there will be no room for sentiment on Sunday evening.<\/p>\n While Italy have not matched Germany\u2019s prolific scoring rate, they conceded just once during the group stage and ultimately finished second to Spain on goals scored.<\/p>\n Carmine Nunziata<\/strong><\/a>‘s side posted back-to-back 1-0 wins over Romania and tournament hosts Slovakia to book their place in the last eight with one game remaining, before drawing 1-1 with La Rojita to finish Group A unbeaten.<\/p>\n Italy also\u00a0impressed in qualifying, conceding only four times and staying undefeated, so they may prove a tough nut to crack for the Germans.<\/p>\n Indeed, they have lost just one of their last 13 matches, with new Brighton & Hove Albion signing Diego Coppola<\/strong><\/a> helming a resolute defence.<\/p>\n Now hoping to reach their first European Under-21 semi-final since 2017, the Azzurrini are ultimately intent on winning a record sixth continental title at this age level.<\/p>\n It has been some 21 years since their last triumph, though, and expectation may weigh heavily on the squad\u2019s young shoulders.<\/p>\n Germany Under-21s European Under-21s Championship form:<\/p>\n W W W<\/p>\n Germany Under-21s form (all competitions):<\/p>\n D W W W W W<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Italy Under-21s European Under-21s Championship form:<\/p>\n W W D<\/p>\n Italy Under-21s form (all competitions):\u00a0<\/p>\n D L D W W D<\/p>\n Team News<\/p>\n Germany will recall a number of players rested for the clash with England; key men such as Brighton\u2019s Brajan Gruda<\/strong><\/a> and\u00a0tournament top scorer Nick Woltemade<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0should return.<\/p>\n The latter is likely to support Cagliari-born Nicolo Tresoldi up front, though Ansgar Knauff, Paul Wanner and Nelson Weiper all made their case for selection last time out.<\/p>\n Once again, FC Koln midfielder Eric Martel<\/strong><\/a> captains the side, while Italy are skippered by Olympiacos centre-back Lorenzo Pirola<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n The Azzurrini also rotated their squad for the final group game, so Carmine Nunziata should bring back several regular starters, such as goalkeeper Sebastiano Desplanches, midfielder Cesare Casadei<\/strong><\/a> and Atalanta wide man Matteo Ruggeri.<\/p>\n Rising star Niccolo Pisilli<\/strong><\/a> scored against Spain so will hope to be retained, but he faces stiff competition in attack: his\u00a0Roma teammate Tommaso Baldanzi joins Giuseppe Ambrosino, Fiorentina target Jacopo Fazzini and England-based pair Wilfried Gnonto and Luca Koleosho in the fight for three places.<\/p>\n Germany Under-21s possible starting lineup:<\/strong>\u00a0Atubolu; Collins, Rosenfelder, Arrey-Mbi, Brown; Reitz, Martel; Gruda, Woltemade, Nebel; Tresoldi<\/p>\n Italy Under-21s possible starting lineup:<\/strong>\u00a0Desplanches; Zanotti, Ghilardi, Pirola, Ruggeri; Fabbian, Casadei, Ndour; Baldanzi, Fazzini; Gnonto<\/p>\n We say: Germany Under-21s 1-0 Italy Under-21s The tournament\u2019s top attack meets a solid Italian defence, so an absorbing contest awaits in the fourth quarter-final.<\/p>\n With wins racking up, Germany are riding the crest of a wave, so they should get the job done and book a final-four spot in Slovakia.<\/p>\n For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n![\"Italy's](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/https:\/\/sportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net\/uploads\/2025\/06\/aaa-6851370228a18209312686.jpg\"\/)
<\/p>\n![\"Italy](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/https:\/\/sportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net\/uploads\/2025\/06\/imago1063006126-684f1121597228.webp\"\/)
<\/p>\n![\"SM](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/https:\/\/sportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net\/20\/33\/sm-words-green-background.png\" "\\"SM")
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\u00a0<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/https:\/\/sportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net\/24\/46\/jonathan-oshea.jpg\"\/)
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