Ambrosius and Wintzheimer called up to German under-21s

Stephan Ambrosius (21) and Manuel Wintzheimer (21) have been rewarded for their strong start to the season with a call-up to Stefan Kuntz’s German under-21 squad. Five of the original squad members weren’t available to join up with the team for various reasons, meaning that a number of players were added to the squad, including the HSV duo. Kuntz’s charges have their next two games in European qualification ahead of them, away to Euro hosts Moldova in Chisinau on Friday, before a home tie against Bosnia & Herzegovina in Fürth next Tuesday (13th October).

For Ambrosius it’s the first call-up to a national side and a confirmation of the impressive development he has undertaken over the past few years. The 21-year-old, who could play for both Germany or Ghana, has been at HSV since he was 15, but had only played three competitive games for the first team before this season, once each in the Bundesliga, 2. Bundesliga and DFB Pokal. A strong pre-season saw the defender move himself into contention with coach Daniel Thioune, and has started both league games so far after missing the cup tie in Dresden through injury. 

Wintzheimer on the other hand has been involved in all of Germany’s youth sides, yet this is his first call-up to Kuntz’s under-21 set-up. The 21-year-old played twelve times for the under-20 team, scoring three goals after joining HSV from Bayern Munich under-19s in the summer of 2018. The first two games of the 2. Bundesliga season resulted in a goal and two assists, all in last Monday’s game in Paderborn.