U-21 European Championship 2025 Matchday 1, Thursday, 12.06.2025 at 21:00
When the 2025 U21 European Championship kicks off in Slovakia, many fans will be watching the German team’s first preliminary round match!
The DFB team has a decisive match right at the start of the tournament. After an intensive preparation phase and with some up-and-coming talents in the squad, the Germans want to leave no room for doubt:
The goal is to win the group – and the foundation for this should be laid against the Eastern Europeans. Anyone looking at Germany vs. Slovenia betting tips will quickly realize that there is indeed a lot to suggest that the German team will get off to a successful start.
Germany’s U21 team has looked stable and well-rehearsed in the run-up to the tournament. The central axis in particular appears mature, confident on the ball and hungry for success.
The odds offered by many betting providers with a German license clearly reflect this favorite status. But be careful: especially in a first game, there is always the potential for surprises.
It is therefore important not to rely solely on names, but to consider the form, tactics, and dynamics of both teams. If you act smart, you can do more than just cheer on your team – you can also benefit from a correct Germany vs. Slovenia prediction.
In this context, it is worth keeping an eye out for a sports betting bonus. Many providers offer particularly attractive bonuses at the start of the tournament – ideal for anyone who wants to maximize their stake right from the start.
Let’s take a look at the squad first! The German U21 squad for the European Championship opener against Slovenia features some exciting names – and some notable absences.
The team is led by captain Eric Martel, who has just celebrated promotion to the Bundesliga with Cologne. In goal is Noah Atubolu, an experienced backup who is now playing in his second U21 tournament after a strong season with SC Freiburg.
However, the focus is particularly on Nick Woltemade. The VfB Stuttgart striker, fresh from the DFB Cup final and playing for the senior national team for the first time, is considered a promising talent in attack and is expected to lead the team as far as possible.
Alongside him, Paul Wanner, Ansgar Knauff, Brajan Gruda, and Merlin Röhl are other promising talents in the squad who could cause a stir on the international stage.
However, coach Antonio Di Salvo will still have to do without a number of key players!
Due to the Club World Cup, numerous players from Bayern, Dortmund, and Salzburg have not been released, including Jonas Urbig, Maximilian Beier, Karim Adeyemi, Tom Bischof, Leandro Morgalla, and Hendry Blank.
Youssoufa Moukoko, the top scorer in qualifying, is also out due to a lack of playing time. Despite these gaps, the squad offers many options and is ready to take the first step toward the title.
Despite some notable absences, the German U21 team is going into its opening game against Slovenia with a lot of confidence.
After their embarrassing exit from the preliminary round of the 2023 European Championship, the team went unbeaten in 15 games, confidently secured their place in the European Championship and recently made a real statement with a strong 3-1 win over Spain.
Captain Eric Martel leads a team that is particularly impressive in terms of its play and has a real hope for the future in striker Nick Woltemade.
You should never underestimate an opponent, but at first glance there are no personnel or results-related reasons to fear the Slovenians.
After all, there are hardly any players in the squad who have regular playing experience in higher leagues.
Although players such as Luka Topalovic (Inter), Relja Obric (Atalanta), and Lovro Golic (Roma) are considered extremely talented, they are all only 19 years old and have yet to play in this age group.
Although Slovenia have not won any of their last four international matches (3 draws, 1 defeat), coach Andrej Razdrh’s team have been in stable form overall recently.
They have lost only one of their last ten matches (4 wins, 5 draws) – a run that gives cause for hope.
Particularly noteworthy: in qualifying, the Slovenians surprisingly came out on top of their group ahead of France (5 wins, 2 draws, 1 defeat).
Nevertheless, in their last European Championship appearance in 2021 – when they qualified automatically as hosts – Slovenia only managed one draw and two defeats.
Ahead of this year’s tournament, they are once again considered outsiders in a strong Group B alongside Germany, the Czech Republic, and England.
Incidentally, in their last meeting with the DFB youth team in 2020, Slovenia held the favorites to a respectable draw.
Even though the roles seem clearly defined in my Germany vs. Slovenia prediction, I expect some resistance from the Eastern Europeans this time around, which could result in a 3-1 or even 3-2 win for the DFB team.
With a view to the wide range of offers at Oddset online, I have considered both player bets and classic 1X2 bets for a possible Germany vs. Slovenia prediction.
I particularly like the bet “Nick Woltemade to score” at 1.80 – after all, the promising German youngster recently came close to scoring against France in the Nations League.
The odds for the Stuttgart player to score at any time are currently around 1.80 – a realistic scenario given his role in the center of the attack.
Personally, I would also want to take advantage of the provider’s “price boost” – which is nothing more than an attractive odds boost on selected bets.
The best offer in this category at the moment is a Germany win and more than 3.5 goals, with attractive odds of 2.85. Ideal if you’re betting on a high-scoring start for the DFB team.
My conclusion: Germany is the clear favorite going into the opening game against Slovenia. With Bundesliga experience, a well-rehearsed squad, and plenty of individual quality, Antonio Di Salvo’s team should control the game.
Slovenia has talent, but the DFB selection has too much class to be surprised here. Everything points to a successful start to the tournament.
My Germany Slovenia tip: GER win & over 3.5 goals
