I still remember watching that Navarrete fight at Pechanga Arena last season - the moment when the referee had to step in during the eighth round because of that nasty gash above his left eyebrow. It struck me how sometimes in sports, the most promising journeys get interrupted by unexpected challenges. That's exactly what makes Germany's National Under-19 football team's recent championship success so remarkable - they navigated through their own version of those unexpected challenges and came out victorious.
When I first started following youth football seriously about eight years ago, Germany's youth system was already showing signs of something special brewing. The DFB (German Football Association) had been implementing their talent development program since around 2002, and we're now seeing the fruits of that long-term vision. What impressed me most about this U19 team wasn't just their technical ability - which was exceptional - but their mental resilience. They reminded me of that Navarrete fight in reverse; instead of being stopped by setbacks, they pushed through them with incredible determination.
The qualification phase itself was a masterclass in strategic player management. Coach Frank Kramer - who I've admired since his time with FC Augsburg's youth setup - rotated his squad through 18 different starting lineups across 10 qualifying matches. They scored 34 goals while conceding only 7, maintaining an average possession rate of 62% that would make most senior teams envious. What really stood out to me was their second-half performance statistics - they scored 68% of their goals after halftime, showing this incredible capacity to adapt and improve as matches progressed.
I've always believed that the true test of a team's character comes when they face adversity, and Germany's U19 squad faced theirs during the group stage of the final tournament. They went down 2-0 against Portugal in their opening match, and I'll admit I had my doubts. But the way they fought back to draw 2-2, then went on to win their next two group matches 3-1 and 4-0 respectively, demonstrated this remarkable growth mindset that you don't often see in young players.
The semifinal against France was where I think this team truly cemented their legacy. France had beaten them in their last three encounters at youth level, and when they went ahead in the 28th minute, you could see the German players' shoulders slump. But then something clicked - it was like watching Navarrete in those middle rounds when he finds his rhythm and starts landing those combinations. Germany equalized just before halftime, then dominated the second half with two more goals, controlling 71% of possession and completing 89% of their passes in the final 45 minutes.
In the championship final against England, we saw tactical maturity that belied their age. Kramer implemented this fascinating 4-3-3 formation that fluidly shifted to 3-4-3 in attack, something I haven't seen executed this well at youth level since Spain's famous 2019 U19 squad. The winning goal came in the 83rd minute from Youssoufa Moukoko - who finished the tournament with 7 goals - after this beautiful 18-pass build-up that sliced through England's defense like butter.
What really sets this German generation apart, in my opinion, is their versatility. Unlike previous German teams that were often criticized for being too rigid, these players showed an incredible ability to adapt to different game situations. They could play possession football when leading, switch to devastating counter-attacks when needed, and perhaps most impressively - they maintained defensive discipline while committing numbers forward.
The infrastructure behind this success deserves recognition too. Having visited the DFB's youth academy in Frankfurt last year, I was struck by their holistic approach to development. They're not just creating footballers - they're developing complete athletes and individuals. The players receive nutritional guidance, media training, and even career planning support. This comprehensive approach is clearly paying dividends, with 14 of the 23-player squad already featuring in Bundesliga matchday squads this season.
Looking at the bigger picture, this victory represents more than just another youth trophy for Germany. It signals the successful culmination of their youth development reforms that began after their disappointing Euro 2000 campaign. The DFB invested approximately €120 million into youth development infrastructure between 2002 and 2022, and we're now seeing the results. What excites me most is that this isn't a one-off generation - the pipeline behind them looks equally promising.
As I reflect on Germany's journey to this youth championship, it reminds me why I fell in love with football development in the first place. It's not just about winning trophies - it's about the process, the growth, and watching these young players develop into the stars of tomorrow. This German team showed us that with the right structure, coaching, and mentality, even the toughest challenges can be overcome. They didn't just win a tournament - they demonstrated a blueprint for sustainable success that other nations would do well to study.
People in Motion (PiM) is our employee advocacy and improvement program. These cross-functional groups are comprised of employees, with an executive sponsor, who contribute ideas and drive action towards focused areas of improvement across the employee experience. The groups include: Kyruus Kontext & Business Readiness; Community, Connectivity, & Engagement; System, Tools, & Productivity; IDEA [Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility].
As a remote-first company, we are invested in employees creating a work setup that allows them to do their best work. In addition to a laptop, we also provide you with $750 to get the additional equipment you need and add an ongoing amount of $1,200 to your salary to cover remote work costs.
We value ownership at Kyruus Health, not only in the work you do but in the shared financial success from our growth. Employees will have the opportunity to grow their equity ownership throughout their tenure.
We care about creating the time you need to bond for any team members at Kyruus Health growing their families. We offer 8 weeks of fully paid leave to all parents. Birthing parents are also eligible for additional time and coverage through our Short-Term Disability plan.
We encourage all employees to save for retirement through our 401(K) plan. Employees have the option to begin contributing to their accounts on their first day of employment and we offer an employer match of up to $1,500 per calendar year for all employees who enroll.
We offer employees a lifestyle stipend of $2,000 per year to help them be well. This is designed for Kyruus Health to offset the cost for items, experiences, or home expenses that enhance team members’ well-being
We want to provide employees and families with health insurance offerings to support them getting the care they need. Our health, dental, and vision plans are desiged to allow employees the opportunity to choose options that work best for themselves and their families.
We are committed to flexibility and empowering employees to do work that matters in a way that works for them. Our unlimited PTO policy is anchored on that flexibility – encouraging employees to take time off for what’s important to them, in addition to the many company holidays we celebrate. To highlight our commitment to a healthy work-life balance, we provide a specific stipend each quarter for employees to use on a recharge day.
