Tah, who suffered a dead leg in the final group match against Austria and wasn't able to train fully, was fit again in time for the semi-finals. The former Leverkusen player Benjamin Henrichs missed out due to a one-match ban. The Germany coach Stefan Kuntz replaced him at right back with Lukas Klostermann. Nadiem Amiri started up front in place of Marco Richter.
The Germany team started by pressing forward into the opposition box at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara. Rumania focused on their defensive game with counter-attacks and set pieces while Germany looked good up front. It turned into a lively game with Germany having more of possession while Rumania always looked capable of posing a threat. On 21 minutes, Amiri broke through the middle in a counter-attack with the Hoffenheim player scoring with a low drive from 17 yards out to make it 1-0. Rumania had more possession after going behind and looked to find a solution on the pitch. Tah and Co. were lucky when George Pușcaș hit the post on 24 minutes a minute later Rumania found the back of the net from the penalty kick (25'). Rumania were were inspired and Germany looked right after a second drinks break on the half-hour mark. Rumania then hit back again just before the half-time whistle as they turned the game round: Tah endeavoured to stop Andrei Ivan on the edge of the box but his cross found Pușcaș in the middle and he was able to nod Rumania into a 2-1 lead.
Tah was shown the yellow card two minutes after the restart: After losing the ball in midfield the captain held onto the double goalscorer to frustrate a counter-attack. Germany fought their way back into the game as the Kuntz half-time talk appeared to do the trick. Germany then won a penalty on 50 minutes. Luca Waldschmidt tucked the penalty away into the right corner – 2-2. Germany were on top in the second half but were unable to take the lead. Rumania were no longer capable of the counter-attacking style of the first half. In temperatures of almost 40 degrees, Waldschmidt was able to prevent the game going into extra time. The Freiburg player hit a free kick through the wall to make it 3-2. Germany finally wrapped up proceedings in added time: Rumania's Alex Pascanu was shown a red card for pulling the shirt of substitute Lukas Nmecha and Amiri converted the spot kick to make it 4-2.
The final on Sunday night at 20.45 CET as against winner of the second semi-final between Spain and France.
A Werkself pro is in the final of a continental championship and two others are aiming for the semi-finals. Chile with Charles Aránguiz play Colombia on Saturday 29 June (01.00 CET). Leon Bailey and Jamaica are looking to go through to the last four in the Gold Cup – late on Saturday night (23.30 CET) the Reggae Boyz play Panama. Bayer 04 U19 player Marc Lamti is in the second group match for Tunisia at the Africa Cup.
A first win in the preseason: In the last friendly before the start of a two-week break in training, the Bayer 04 Women beat top-flight Dutch side Ajax 1-0. In the match played over three 30-minute thirds Vanessa Fudalla scored the goal for the Werkself. In the previous two friendlies this summer, the team led by head coach Roberto Pätzold lost 2-0 two Bundesliga rivals TSG Hoffenheim and drew 1-1 with the Dutch team PEC Zwolle.
Show moreAlejo Sarco has joined the Werkself training camp in Brazil. The 19-year-old striker, signed from Argentinian club Vélez Sarsfield in January, talks to bayer04.de about his first six months in Germany, help from Exequiel Palacios and his targets up to the end of the year.
Show moreThe friendly against the CR Flamengo U20 team on Friday, 18 July (kick-off: 14:30/19:30 CEST) represents the sporting highlight of the current Bayer 04 Brazil Tour. Ahead of the clash at the Estádio da Gávea against the highly successful youth team, there was a media event with the two Bayer 04 managing directors Fernando Carro and Simon Rolfes plus head coach Erik ten Hag. The trio talked about the forthcoming opponents, first impressions of Brazil and the reasons for holding the training camp in the land of the five-time World Cup winners. Here are the key statements.
Show moreDay three of the Bayer 04 Brazil Tour. Today, Thursday 17 July, sees the two new signings Jarell Quansah and Christian Kofane join the squad in training. Plus the former Werkself players Paulo Sergio and Rodrigo Chagas visit the Bayer AG Football School. In the afternoon there is a big media event ahead of the friendly against the Flamengo U20s. As usual, Bayer04.de keeps you up-to-date with on-the-spot reports. The blog for day three of the Bayer 04 Brazil Tour (timings given in local time).
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