Germany’s under-21 team paid their respects to the 97 at the Hillsborough memorial in Sheffield ahead of their match against England on Tuesday.
Images posted on their official social media channels show the young side honoring the memorial with a commemorative Union Jack wreath and a bouquet of flowers.
With their match against England taking place at Bramall Lane, the home of Sheffield United, Antonio Di Salvo’s team took the opportunity earlier in the day to visit the Hillsborough memorial.
After laying the wreath, the players had a photo by the memorial, in what was a valuable opportunity for them to learn about the horrifying events of the tragedy, as well as the ongoing fight for justice for the 97 supporters who lost their lives.
🕯️ IN MEMORY OF THE 97 🕯️
Vor ihrem Länderspiel am Dienstag gegen England hat unsere #U21-Nationalmannschaft heute das Hillsborough Memorial in Sheffield besucht und der Opfer der Hillsborough-Katastrophe von 1989 gedacht.
YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE. pic.twitter.com/94Ilssuldo
— DFB-Junioren (@DFB_Junioren) September 25, 2022
The images were shared on the official Twitter account of Germany’s youth teams, along with the messages “IN MEMORY OF THE 97” and “YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE.”
Harvey Elliott played in the friendly later that evening, while Tyler Morton, another Liverpool midfielder, was an unused substitute.
England won 3-1 thanks to goals by Arsenal’s Folarin Balogun, Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher, and Manchester City’s Cole Palmer.
Last year, after Andrew Devine died 32 years after the disaster, the number of Hillsborough supporters identified as unlawfully killed rose to 97.
It’s a day that will never be forgotten, and it’s heartening to see Germany’s coaching staff recognize the importance of explaining the horrific events to their young players while also paying their respects.
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