Germany under-19 captain Ebu Bekir Is left the pitch in tears after injuring his left knee during a 3-2 European Championship qualifying defeat against Portugal.
The 18-year-old Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder limped off in the 27th minute on Friday, November 14, 2026, following a challenge where he blocked a Portuguese shot.
- Under-19 Depth Chart: Elias Arden replaced Is in the 27th minute and figures to step into the holding midfield role if the injury sidelines the captain for upcoming fixtures.
- Qualifying Outlook: The defeat drops Germany to a 1-1 record in the second round of Euro qualifying following an earlier 2-1 win over Sweden.
Is had earlier ignited the German attack by launching a precise through ball that set up Maik Afri Akumu for the opening goal in the 19th minute. But the advantage dissolved before halftime when Duarte Cunha equalized for the hosts.
Jasper Reinhold restored the lead for head coach Hanno Balitsch’s side early in the second half. However, late goals from Portugal turned the match entirely.
Tomás Soares leveled the score from the penalty spot in the 79th minute as the match slipped from the visitors’ grasp. Rafael Quintas then struck in the 88th minute to secure the 3-2 victory for the Portuguese hosts.
| Match Event / Metric | Germany U19 | Portugal U19 |
|---|---|---|
| Opening Round Result | Won vs. Sweden (2-1) | – |
| Goals Scored | 2 | 3 |
| Key Scorers | Afri Akumu, Reinhold | Cunha, Soares, Quintas |
Germany concludes its current qualifying block looking to regroup after the narrow loss in Portugal.
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