Vagnoman and Fein on show for Germany under-21s

HSV youngster Josha Vagnoman has passed a number of significant milestones in the past few weeks, becoming one of the first names on the team sheet and scoring his first goal for the first team during the 4-0 home success over Erzgebirge Aue. The next milestone in the 18-year-old’s fledgling career came on Thursday evening (10th October), as German under-21 coach placed him in the starting line-up against Spain in Cordoba, having given the Hamburg native his first call-up a few weeks previously. The right-back wasn’t the only man currently on Hamburg’s books to make an appearance for Kuntz’s side, with Adrian Fein once again making a strong impression in central midfield, playing alongside Vagnoman until the 18-year-old was substituted in the 72nd minute. Manu Garcia of Sporting Gijon and Nico Schlotterbeck of SC Freiburg scored the only goals of the game so that the friendly ended as a 1-1 draw.

Vagnoman’s long-time friend Jonas David was also in action for his country on Thursday evening, a lot closer to home in Norderstedt. The 19-year-old was unable to prevent a 4-3 loss to the Polish under-20 side, alongside HSV teammates Manuel Wintzheimer and Aaron Opoku, who are currently on loan at VfL Bochum and Hansa Rostock respectively. Wintzheimer, wearing the captain’s armband, made a particularly strong impression, converting a first half penalty to tie the game up before doubling his account to put his side 2-1 ahead. David was able to complete the full 90 minutes, whilst Wintzheimer and Opoku were substituted in the 62nd minute.