First-time ball boy becomes Germany’s unlikely hero in Nations League clash against Italy
Germany defeated Italy in a Nations League clash on Sunday night and the Germans found a new hero: a fifteen-year-old ball boy, Noel Urbaniack.
Germany's Jamal Musiala, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the Nations League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Germany and Italy at the Signal-Iduna Park in Dortmund, Germany, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (AP Photo) Germany defeated Italy in the teams’ Nations League clash on Sunday night and the country found a new hero: a fifteen-year-old ball boy, Noel Urbaniack, who helped Kimmich with quick ball delivery for the their second goal in the match.
The game ended 3-3 on the night but Germany managed to defeat the Italians by a 5-4 overall margin after two legs. Germany will now take on Portugal in the semi-finals of the UEFA Nations Cup in June.
Urbaniack garnered plenty of attention after the game ended, particularly since he had played a key role in embarrassing the Italians during Germany’s second goal. Urbaniack’s moment in the global spotlight came with Germany leading 1-0 in Dortmund. Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma pulled off a save from Tim Kleindienst’s header. With the Germans earning a corner, Donnarumma opted to bicker with his teammates. So caught up was the shot-stopper in his argument that he wandered outside of his six-yard box.
The rest of Italians too seemed to have switched off at that stage, but Urbaniack did not. Urbaniack quickly passed the ball to Joshua Kimmich, who took a low corner which found the unmarked Jamal Musiala. Musiala directed the ball into an empty net. As Sky Sports noted, the goal was allowed because a player cannot be offside at a corner kick.
As much as the players, Urbaniack was credited for his part in the goal. “It is unbelievable. I have never been involved in something like that,” said Urbaniack after the game.
He was given a signed ball after the quarter-final second leg in Dortmund by the Germany team.
Talking about the incident which led to Germany’s second goal, Urbaniack said: “We had brief eye contact. I saw he wanted the ball and I quickly threw it to him. It was my first time as a ball boy.”
(With inputs from Reuters)
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