As a data-driven sports analyst, I dug into Germany's puzzling football paradox: their U21 teams have clinched two titles and one runner-up in the last eight European Championships, yet the senior squad struggles with limited star power. This article breaks down the numbers behind Germany's elite youth development system and investigates where the transition pipeline might be leaking. Spoiler: it's not about talent scarcity – we're tracking a systemic development gap.