International
2025-06-12 - Germany U21 vs Slovenia U21
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA Under 21 European Championship Group B
Thursday 12th June 2025 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV
Preview
Prior to the 2023 Under 21 European Championship, Germany U21 had won two of three runnings of the tournament and they would have arrived in Georgia preparing to have another significant run. Instead the team failed when being eliminated in the Group Stage and the second favourites for success in Slovakia will have plenty to prove.
Of course the transition of Under 21 teams means there are plenty of new faces in the squad that will be representing Germany, but that does not mean the pain is completely forgotten. It would still have been an embarrassment for the nation and Germany will be looking to remind people that the talent pool is still considerable, especially after the senior team failed to have an impact in the last two World Cup Finals.
Some of the players that will be representing Germany at this tournament were involved in the Nations League Semi Final earlier in the month and that does suggest there is plenty of positives to come. Winning the Under 21 European Championship may give some of the players involved a chance to represent the senior team in the coming months as Germany begin World Cup Qualifiers and so motivation is considerable.
Germany Qualified ahead of Poland U21 and they were unbeaten in all ten Qualifiers played and won eight of those matches. They have looked strong in the build up to this tournament with wins over the likes of Spain U21 and Denmark U21 and Germany will be expected to make a strong start, although they will have plenty of respect for the opening opponent.
In the Qualifying campaign, Slovenia U21 surprisingly finished above France U21, another strong contender here, and they were unbeaten in the Group following a 0-4 home defeat to the French. They were co-hosts when playing in the 2021 tournament, but Slovenia will be encouraged by earning their spot in Slovakia and they did earn a 1-1 away draw in France.
Recent results have been more difficult for Slovenia having failed to win any of their last 4 games, but 3 of those have been draws and they will certainly feel that any kind of positive result against one of the favourites will offer them a chance of getting out of this Group. It is going to very tough to do that with England U21 and Czechia U21 to come, but Slovenia deserve their place in the Finals and those Qualifying results following the home loss to France will give them belief.
These two nations played out a draw in a friendly game back in 2020, while Germany were able to win the previous meeting eleven years earlier.
Prediction
There is a huge gap between the experiences of these nations at this level, but this current group of Slovenia U21 players will be encouraged by getting the better of France U21 in the Qualifying Group.
However, it feels like Germany U21 are right amongst the very best teams competing in Slovakia this June and they have a lot of experience to call upon.
A strong Qualifying campaign and the motivation to make up for a big underachievement two years ago should ensure a focused Germany performance and one that should see them come away with the three points.
Recent fixtures have underlined the power of Germany at this level and they can score a late goal to put a gloss on the final result, while already feeling like they have taken a serious step towards the Quarter Final of the 2025 Finals.
The Pick :
Germany U21 3-1 Slovenia U21
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Germany - 1.25 Asian Handicap at 1.90 with Bet365
