Newsletter Nr 4 – March 2009 Fine-tuning – for teams and for organisers oaches of the eight teams competing in Sweden are away from the arenas – to name just a few of the details Cnow fine-tuning their strategies for the 2009 UEFA where we are fine-tuning our planning, along with UEFA European Under-21 Championship, the highlight of the and the host cities. For many of these services, we depend European football year. on the efforts of dedicated volunteers. You can read more Photo: Bildbyrån Meanwhile, a number in this newsletter about how you can become a part of of players are hop- our team of volunteers. ing to use the spring For us in Sweden, the arrival of spring not only means months to break into warmer and brighter days. The month of April is always their respective na- very special here, for that is when the domestic football tional sides for the season begins. This year with two added attractions in the tournament. For us shape of beautiful new arenas in Malmö and Göteborg. in the Local Orga- The first action there will be matches in Allsvenskan, Swe- nising Committee, den’s top flight. And when we get to June, the grounds in things aren’t very Malmö and Göteborg – along with Örjans vall in Halmstad different. and Olympia in Helsingborg – will be ready to host the Organising an biggest international football tournament in Europe this event like this year. Tickets for the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Cham- means laying the pionship are on sale at very attractive prices – so make foundations at sure to get yours. See you in Sweden in June! an early stage and making sure we progress ac- cording to our plans. It is not - only a matter England were defeated inside 90 min of scheduling utes for the first time in 29 games as fifteen football Ecuador won on 10 February. matches. Teams Björn Ahlberg Karl-Erik Nilsson need accom- Chairman, Org. Committee Tournament director modation, media require a professional working environ- Swedish FA Swedish FA ment, and fans are delighted if there are activities even The results of the latest friendly matches The eight teams qualified for the 2009 UEFA European Un- SCHEDULED FRieNDLies beFORE THE FINAL TOURNAMENT der–21 Championship are busily preparing for June. These Sweden Spain are the results of the latest friendly matches played on 10 27 March v Finland (neutral) 31 March v Sweden (home) and 11 February: 31 March v Spain (away) Germany 5 June v Poland (Malmö) 27 March v Netherlands (home) Italy 1–1 Sweden (1–0 Acquafresca, 1–1 Wernbloom) 9 June v Estonia (Falkenberg) 31 March v Belarus (home) Cyprus 0–2 Serbia (0–1 Milinkovic, 0–2 Smiljanic) Belarus England 31 March v Germany (away) Spain 1–1 Norway (1–0 Mata, 1–1 Forren) 27 March, v Norway (away) 5 June v Finland (away) 31 March v France (home) Republic of Ireland 1–1 Germany (0–1 Wagner, 1–1 Spillane) Italy Finland England 2–3 Ecuador (1–0 Johnson, 2–0 Campbell, 2–1 31 March v Netherlands (away) 27 March v Sweden (neutral) Guerrón, 2–2 Palacios, 2–3 Caicedo) 9 June v Denmark (away) 5 June v Belarus (home) Serbia 28 March v Ukraine (home) 1 April v Romania (home) Join our team of volunteers! ny major sport- this, played at four different Aing event relies venues, will be the drivers. on the work of dedi- 15–29 juni 2009 To transport teams, material cated volunteers. Göteborg • Halmstad • Helsingborg • Malmö and officials throughout the For example, the southwest of Sweden in June, Beijing Olympics in approximately 140 drivers will 2008 enlisted the VILL DU VARA MED be needed. help of 100,000 peo- Volunteers will get a kit ple. “But we’ll settle PÅ ÅRETS STÖRSTA consisting of clothes, ac- for 800”, says Karl-Erik creditation and food when Nilsson, tournament SPORTEVENEMANG? working, plus a certificate director for the 2009 for taking part in organising UEFA European Un- the event. Most important der-21 Championship. though, will be the experi- “The volunteers are in ence of having taken part for a once-in-a-lifetime in Swedish and European Ola Toivonen, Sverige experience”, adds Nils- Zoran Tosić, Serbien football history. Theo Walcott, England Giuseppe Rossi, Italien son. Marcus Berg, Sverige Take your chance to join us All volunteers are now – by applying through important ambas- www.frivillig.se. sadors for the tourna- NU SÖKER VI VOLONTÄRER ment. At the matches, some of the volunteer TILL UEFA U21-EM 2009! duties will be to handle Hjälp oss att visa upp Sverige VIP areas, logistics, från sin allra bästa sida! media, security and Anmäl Dig på: to help out as parking Volunteers are most www.frivillig.se attendants and check- welcome to apply for ing accreditations. One a place in the organi- ALLT DU BEHÖVER VETA OM UEFA U21-EM 2009: important group of vol- www.uefa.com sation. unteers at an event like www.svenskfotboll.se/u21em2009 Christian – one of seven Team Liaison Officers ut of the hundreds of volunteers peninsula, and he believes he will be able to ease cultural differ- Oneeded for an event like this, seven ences before they risk becoming a source of irritation. “My dad were selected already in the autumn. The is Italian, so I have one foot in each camp”, says Gentile. “As a boy Team Liaison Officers have been assigned I lived for a year and a half in Italy. That means I’m comfortable one visiting team each. For Christian Gen- with using the language.” tile from Stockholm, that team is Italy. He’s sure to enjoy summer weeks filled with fantastic football, Christian Gentile. “Basically my job is to be a helping hand but that is not all that Christian Gentile expects of his involve- between the Swedish Football Association ment: “I’m looking forward to getting an absolute insider’s view and the Italian team”, says 25-year old Gentile. “If they have re- of a huge event like this, and to see leadership at the highest quests, I’ll try to help them. It could range from finding a place to level – both from the part of the Swedish FA and the Italian team”, repair shoes to finding a hairdresser.” says Gentile, who normally works for the youth section of Stock- Christian Gentile has family roots of his own on the Appenine holm club Djurgården. head of the 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Champi- Torbjörn Nilsson remembers 2004 Aonship in Germany, Sweden had one clear objective – to qualify for the Olympics later in the year. That would require a top-three finish at the Under-21s, which Sweden narrowly missed out on. Still, the Swedish Under-21 coach that year remembers the 2004 tournament fondly. “It was a fun tournament from which I have several happy memo- ries”, says Torbjörn Nilsson. When Sweden was a penalty shoot-out Johan Elmander and Torbjörn Nilsson at the 2004 from the final ... UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Germany. During the pre- Nilsson was grateful for: “Revenge is the greatest motiva- tournament friendlies, tional factor, and Johan really wanted to prove that he was Sweden didn’t look good enough. The way he played, we didn’t need a second like they would make forward. He did enough running for two”, says Torbjörn much of an impres- Nilsson. sion at the finals. Elmander scored twice and provided an assist in “During the autumn Sweden’s opening match against Portugal. That win was and especially the followed by another three points against hosts Germany. Photos: Bildbyrån Photos: spring, we were look- Sweden also won the last group match, 3-1 against Swit- ing for the right team”, zerland, to finish as group winners with full points. Next explains Nilsson. “It’s up was Serbia and Montenegro in the semi-final. “Our important to have the game didn’t work at all”, remembers Torbjörn Nilsson. “It right types of players still bothers me. We should have taken the game to them The Swedes had much to cel- and players who can further up the pitch, and we should have switched to 4-4-2 ebrate early in the competition, function together to surprise them.” but their momentum faded in during a tournament. Despite taking the lead, Sweden conceded a late the end. Competition was equaliser and were subsequently knocked out after a pen- tougher for certain alty shoot-out. Instead of playing the final, what remained positions than for others. For example, we had lots of for Sweden was the bronze medal match against Portugal. wingers.” A win would seal an Olympic spot. That was not to be, as The Swedish wingers Stefan Ishizaki, Alexander Farner- the Portuguese prevailed in extra time. “We found it hard ud, Tobias Hysén, Johan Andersson and Babis Stefanidis to refocus after the semi-final disappointment”, explains were – and still are – high-class players. In fact, the whole Torbjörn Nilsson. “We couldn’t keep sharp in extra time, 2004 squad has done well since. All of them play in the top and it was obvious that some players were tired.” divisions of Sweden, Denmark, Norway, England, Germany, Asked whether he intends to watch this summer’s tour- Austria and the Netherlands. Also eligible were players nament in Sweden, Nilsson is quick to respond: “Definitely like Kim Källström, Andreas Isaksson and Zlatan Ibrahi- I will. I’ve checked that the matches don’t clash with ours”, movic – but they were with the senior side at Euro 2004 in says Nilsson, who now coaches Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC Portugal.