Germany U21 head coach Antonio Di Salvo has made another late adjustment to his squad ahead of Tuesday’s decisive European Championship qualifier against Georgia, with Nnamdi Collins replacing the ill Linus Gechter.

The Eintracht Frankfurt defender becomes the latest player to join an increasingly reshuffled Germany squad ahead of the final match of the qualification campaign in Bielefeld.

Germany know that victory over Georgia will guarantee first place in Group F and direct qualification for next summer’s European Championship in Albania and Serbia. Di Salvo’s side enter the final matchday level on points with Greece after eight victories and one defeat from their opening nine qualifiers.

The changes since Di Salvo named his original squad for the final three qualifiers have nevertheless been considerable.

Collins replaces Gechter in latest Germany U21 change

Gechter will miss the Georgia fixture after coming down with a flu-like infection. Collins has consequently been drafted into the squad and provides Di Salvo with another experienced defensive option for a match Germany would rather not leave to complicated qualification calculations.

The 22-year-old had originally missed out on the squad through injury himself. His recovery now comes at a useful moment for a Germany defense already missing Augsburg center back Noahkai Banks. Banks suffered a lateral ligament injury in his right knee during the closing stages of Germany’s 4-1 victory away at Malta and subsequently returned to his club.

That withdrawal, combined with Tom Bischof’s promotion to Jürgen Klopp’s senior Germany squad, prompted two earlier changes. Cajetan Lenz and Tim Drexler were added to Di Salvo’s squad over the weekend, with Hoffenheim midfielder Lenz replacing Bischof and RB Salzburg defender Drexler coming in for Banks.

Collins now becomes the third late addition.

Ben Farhat still awaiting clearance

There also remains uncertainty surrounding new SC Freiburg signing Louey Ben Farhat. The Karlsruher SC attacker is still waiting for permission to represent Germany at U21 level as FIFA continues to examine documentation submitted by the Tunisian federation.

Di Salvo expressed hope on Monday that the necessary clearance might still arrive in time for Tuesday’s fixture. Ben Farhat was one of seven first-time U21 selections in Di Salvo’s original squad and remains in line for his debut should the administrative process be completed.

Germany can secure Euro ticket with victory

Those victories moved Germany onto 24 points from nine matches. Greece remain level with the DFB youngsters and face Northern Ireland simultaneously on Tuesday. Germany hold the advantage from the direct meetings between the two sides after responding to a 3-2 defeat in the first fixture with a 2-0 victory in the return match.

A win against fourth-placed Georgia removes every remaining permutation: Germany would qualify directly for the European Championship.

Record Germany U21 crowd expected in Bielefeld

Germany should at least have significant support behind them. Some 17,166 tickets had already been sold by Monday morning, ensuring the largest crowd for a Germany U21 home match in more than 20 years. The last larger attendance came in October 2006, when 20,800 spectators watched Germany face England in Leverkusen.

The all-time record was set in 1982. An official crowd of 28,000 spectators watched the U21s take on Spain in Augsburg. The DFB is still hoping that Tuesday’s attendance at the Bielefelder Alm might pass 20,000.

After nine qualifiers, several senior-team promotions, another succession of injuries and three late additions to the squad, Germany’s objective for the final night remains refreshingly straightforward.

Beat Georgia and book the ticket to Euro 2027.