Fortuna Defender Jamil Siebert Makes Dream Euro Debut – Germany Advances to Quarterfinals

It was a night to remember for Jamil Siebert. After sitting out the entire first match, the Düsseldorf-born defender finally realized one of his biggest dreams on Sunday evening. He made his European Championship debut during Germany’s 4–2 victory over the Czech Republic in the Under-21 Euros. Now, fans are wondering—could he make the starting lineup on Wednesday?

Siebert’s debut came in the closing minute of the game when German U21 coach Antonio Di Salvo brought him on as a substitute for Paul Nebel. It may have been just a few minutes on the pitch, but for the 23-year-old center-back from Fortuna Düsseldorf, it meant the world. In Germany’s opener, a 3–0 win over Slovenia, Siebert had remained on the bench for the full 90 minutes.

Germany’s rising star Nick Woltemade once again stole the spotlight. His outstanding performance helped the U21 squad secure a spot in the quarterfinals ahead of schedule. With this confident win, Di Salvo’s team has firmly positioned itself as a title contender. Germany now faces reigning champions England in a high-stakes match on Wednesday evening, with only the top spot in Group C on the line. There’s growing speculation that Siebert might see more playing time—or even start.

Woltemade continued his incredible run in the tournament by heading in his fourth goal in just two games, scoring in the 54th minute. Hannover 96’s Nicolo Tresoldi opened the scoring in the 34th minute, followed by a well-taken goal by Mainz midfielder Paul Nebel in the 41st. Team captain Eric Martel, who plays for 1. FC Köln, made it 4–0 in the 59th minute.

The match took place in Dunajska Streda, Slovakia, and marked the first time since 2019 that Germany’s U21 team has opened a Euro tournament with two straight wins. However, the closing stages brought a few nervous moments. First, Bright Arrey-Mbi scored an own goal in the 61st minute, then Czech player Karel Spacil struck in the 66th, reigniting hope among the 6,000 Czech fans in the stands.

The game also saw its share of unusual moments. A pigeon that had been resting on the pitch had to be gently carried off during a stoppage in play. Later, Woltemade lost a loose-fitting shoe, which flew across the field and struck the referee in the chest from five meters away—adding a bizarre twist to an otherwise thrilling match.

With spirits high and momentum on their side, Germany’s U21s look ahead to Wednesday’s clash, where Jamil Siebert may have the chance to add more minutes—and memories—to his European Championship journey.