Republic of Ireland 1
New Zealand 1
Netherlands 1
Nigeria 0
Canada 2
Germany 2 - 0 Republic of Ireland
Ireland U21: Third-placed finish after Germany defeat
Goals from Jani Serra and Levin Oztunali in the first-half secured the three points for the home side who head to the finals in Italy in 2019.
Goalkeeper Liam Bossin, Jamie McGrath, Shaun Donnellan and Ronan Hale all came into the starting line-up for the game against the group-winners Germany.
It was a difficult night for Noel King's side who were mostly forced into defensive positions but could have gone ahead in the 8th minute.
A well-worked move on the left saw McGrath find captain Josh Cullen in a central position and from 25-yards, his low effort was only parried by keeper Moritz Nicolas. Ronan Hale was quickest to react but he was flagged for offside.
Germany controlled most of the possession but were restricted to few chances until the half-hour. The lively Phillip Ochs' corner found Abdelhamid Sabiri six-yards out but his powerful header was somehow saved by Bossin.
Germany took confidence from this opportunity and a minute later, Huddersfield Town forward Sabiri hit the bar with an audacious effort from 30 yards before the home side took the lead with the very next attack.
Marcel Hartel rode two challenges before releasing the ball to Ochs and he saw his low cross tapped home by Jani Serra five yards out.
Ireland responded well and almost equalised in the 35th minute as Jordan Shipley's left-sided set-piece almost found Ryan Sweeney, but Felix Uduokhai somehow headed clear.
It was 2-0 before the break thanks to a moment of brilliance from Levin Oztunali. After patient build-up play, the FSV Mainz attacker turned onto his left-foot just outside the area and found the top corner in the 39th minute.
Ireland were much improved immediately after the break and almost got back into the game ten minutes into the second-half. Danny Kane did well to win a left-sided corner and Shipley's back-post delivery was headed narrowly wide by Corey Whelan.
Hartel put an over-head kick wide in the 63rd minute but in truth, the home side created few chances during the final 30 minutes of the game.
The best chance of the game came in the final minute of the contest and it was for Ireland. Whelan's lofted set-piece found substitute Jimmy Dunne who headed the ball down for Ryan Delaney, but he hit the post from six-yards out.
"Germany are the best team I've seen at Under 21s level. They were excellent during the first-half and we struggled to keep up with them," said U21 Head Coach Noel King.
"However, after the break, I thought we were brilliant and created a few chances of our own. The players were extremely disciplined and worked really hard both on and off the ball, and they can be extremely proud of their performance."
Germany: Moritz Nicolas (GK), Timo Baumgartl (Lukas Klostermann 75), Robin Koch, Levin Oztunali, Abdelhamid Sabiri, Jani Serra (Luca Waldschmidt 57), Maximillian Mittelstadt, Philipp Ochs, Marcel Hartel, Felix Uduokhai, Johannes Eggestein.
Subs: Alexander Nubel (GK), Arne Maier, Nils Korber, Florian Neuhaus, Maximilian Eggestein.
Ireland: Liam Bossin (GK), Danny Kane (Jimmy Dunne 64), Ryan Sweeney, Ryan Delaney, Corey Whelan, Josh Cullen (C), Shaun Donnellan, Liam Kinsella, Jamie McGrath, Jordan Shipley, Ronan Hale (Reece Grego-Cox 75).
Subs: Kieran O'Hara (GK), Harry Charsley, Joe Quigley, Sean McLoughlin, Jake Mulraney.
Attendance: 3,229
Ireland U21: Captain Cullen ready to make step up
The 22-year old is set to claim his 17th cap for Ireland U21s when Noel King's side line up against Germany in Heidenhaim on Tuesday evening, with kick-off at 5.15pm (6.15pm local time).
Cullen has been an ever-present for the side since his debut against Qatar in 2015 and the Charlton Athletic loanee has set his sights on hard work and a senior call-up in the future.
"It's going to be a bit emotional, no doubt about it. It'll be the final time playing with the Under 21s," Cullen admitted.
"I think I can only use that emotion to drive me on in my career and aim towards that senior team.
"I've got to get my head down and keep improving with each week, and after that, try and catch the eye of Martin O'Neill. I've come a long way and international football is huge in my development but now I've got to look to make the next step.
"It's been a huge honour to my captain my country. It's the dream of every young player to captain their country at any level so to do it at Under 21s level is fantastic."
Cullen currently plays for Charlton Athletic in the English League One, having signed a loan deal in the summer transfer window from his parent club West Ham United.
With his grandparents hailing from Leitrim, Cullen says lining up for Ireland has been the proudest moments in his career.
"My grandparents are from Leitrim. Unfortunately, they've passed away now but every time I go out on that field for Ireland, I do it for my family but especially in memory of my grandparents," Cullen said.
"It's been the proudest moments of my career to play for Ireland and it'll be the last time we play together as a group so we want to represent ourselves well for the final time."
Ireland suffered a 6-0 defeat in the same fixture at Tallaght Stadium but the U21 skipper is determined not to see that happen again.
"There are so many different styles of teams at international level and there really isn't any such thing as an easy game. Every game, you've got to try and figure out the opposition and adjust so it's been a massive learning curve," Cullen continued.
"It's going to be tough but the group are determined to end the campaign in the right way so we'll be looking to get a result."
Shaun Donnellan arrived in Germany on Saturday after serving his one-game suspension for the match against Israel. Noel King has a fully fit squad to choose from ahead of the game in Heidenhaim, Germany.
Republic of Ireland U21 squad v Germany
Goalkeepers: Kieran O'Hara (Manchester United, loan Macclesfield Town), Liam Bossin (Nottingham Forest).
Defenders: Danny Kane (Cork City, loan AFC Flyde), Corey Whelan (Liverpool, loan Crewe Alexandra), Ryan Sweeney (Stoke City, loan Mansfield Town), Ryan Delaney (Rochdale), Jimmy Dunne (Burnley, loan Hearts), Sean McLaughlin (Cork City), Shaun Donnellan (Yeovil Town).
Midfielders: Josh Cullen (West Ham United, loan Charlton Athletic), Harry Charsley (Everton), Liam Kinsella (Walsall), Jordan Shipley (Coventry City), Jamie McGrath (Dundalk).
Attackers: Reece Grego-Cox (Crawley Town), Ronan Hale (Birmingham City, loan Derry City), Joe Quigley (Maidstone United), Jake Mulraney (Hearts).
UEFA U21 European Championships Qualifying - Group Five Fixtures
16/10 - Germany v Republic of Ireland, 5.15pm (6.15pm local time), Albstadion, Heidenheim.
Tactical Lineups
Germany
Substitutes
- 1 Alexander Nübel (G)
- 12 Nils Körber (G)
- 3 Lukas Klostermann
- 8 Arne Maier
- 10 Gian-Luca Waldschmidt
- 19 Florian Neuhaus
- 22 Maximilian Eggestein
Coach
Stefan Kuntz
Republic of Ireland
Substitutes
- 1 Kieran O'Hara (G)
- 8 Henry Charsley
- 10 Reece Grego-Cox
- 11 James Dunne
- 12 Joseph Quigley
- 15 Sean Mcloughlin
- 17 Jake Mulraney
Coach
Noel King
Officials
- Referee Karim Abed
- Assistant Referees Cyril Gringore
- UEFA Delegate Eugène Westerink
- Assistant Referee Two Mikael Berchebru
- Fourth Official Florent Batta
- Referee Observer Martin Ingvarsson
Match Statistics
- Germany
- Republic of Ireland
Minute by Minute Commentary