U19s travel to Hoffenheim for cup match

The hosts, DFB-Pokal winners from 2010, are among the championship favourites in the A-Juniors Bundesliga South/Southwest. The team under coach Tobias Nubbemeyer, who was still successfully managing the U17s of Hombrucher SV six years ago, have started the season with two wins (5-2 in Heidenheim, 4-2 at home to Karlsruhe SC) and two defeats (2-1 losses against Eintracht Frankfurt and 1860 Munich). “Hoffenheim could have won both of those games. They were very unlucky,” said Tullberg after meticulous video analysis. He is particularly impressed by the offensive talents at TSG, including Max Moerstedt, who was part of Germany’s U17 European Championship winning team, and U17 international Joan Tiago Esteban Poller.

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Meanwhile, the Black and Yellows travel to the Kraichgau brimming with confidence. “Hoffenheim will not be happy to have to play against us in the first round. And with all due respect: we have nothing to be afraid of. I am totally convinced by our lads,” said Tullberg. The only competitive match between the two U19 teams to date, the final of the German Championship 2016, saw BVB claim a 5-3 victory. 

Now, BVB are hoping to make it into the next round at the Dietmar-Hopp-Stadion. “We can play great football and have developed a good mentality. We’re hard to beat,” said Tullberg, who will have to make do without the injured William Rashidi, but is otherwise able to draw on the full potential of his squad.

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After the match, the majority of the players will link up with their respective national teams. Midfielder Rafael Lubach was called up to the German U19 national team, who will play two international matches against England (6 September) and Switzerland (12 September), with Leonardo Posadas on standby. U17 European champions Paris Brunner, Kjell Wätjen, Charles Herrmann and Almugera Kabar have been invited to join the U18 national team in Frankfurt in preparation for the U17 World Cup from 10 November to 2 December. Tyler Meiser, like fellow U17 player Nick Cherny, is in the squad of DFB coach Michael Prus for the four-nation U17 tournament from 4 to 13 September in Hennef and Bonn.

But for now, the focus is fully on Hoffenheim. “We are all looking forward to what will certainly be a spectacular game,” said Mike Tullberg. (wiwi)