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6.05 Supplement Turkey crowned European Under-17 champions 03 Action 21 Charleroi win the UEFA Futsal Cup 05 England gears up for WOMEN’S EURO 2005 07 Referee mentors and talents 10 No 38 – June 2005 COVER IN THIS ISSUE European Women’s Championship 07 Eleven years after winning the European Harsh winter takes its toll on pitches 08 Under-16 tournament, Turkey triumphed European Under-17 in the European Under-17 Championship Championship 03 Referee mentors and talents 10 in Italy. Kaner Erkin and Deniz Yilmaz HatTrick: the Slovenian example 16 show off the trophy. Charleroi win PHOTO: A. SABATTINI the UEFA Futsal Cup 05 News from member associations 17 Unity inEditorial the midst of diversity At the recent UEFA Congress in Tallinn, the delegates, represent- ing all 52 of UEFA’s member associations, adopted a UEFA strategy which takes the UEFA Statutes one step further and is designed to guide the organisation’s activities during the next decade. One of the top priorities is to safeguard the unity of football. In this respect, the pyramid structure of football has shown that it is effective, uniting as it does the amateur masses and the profes- sional football elite under the same umbrella. Maintaining this structure does not, however, mean that its components have to be rigid. On the contrary, dynamism is a key element, and if one constituent progresses, then the structure as a whole will benefit. So, a thriving professional sector influences not only recruitment but also – thanks to UEFA’s solidarity principle – the financing of grassroots football, and, in reverse, a broad base of amateur players means more new talent for the profes- sional game to choose from. Likewise, if women’s football flourishes, then more women are likely to watch men’s football on television, and the exploits of our continent’s star players could encourage girls to take up football as a sport. In this context, it has been particularly pleasing to witness the sustained development that two relatively new sectors of the game – women’s football and futsal – have been enjoying these last few years. The final round of the European Futsal Championship has already taken place this year, in the Czech Republic, and the overall success of the tournament confirmed the growing popularity of this discipline. We still have the final round of the European Women’s Championship to look forward to. It will take place in June in the homeland of football, England, thereby uniting new blood and tradition. In both women’s football and futsal, the club competitions have also become standard items in the calendar and are helping to establish these disciplines in general, without overshadowing the traditional competitions. Such complementarity and dynamism can only strengthen the position of football as a whole. The popularity of women’s football Lars-Christer Olsson has descended from northern Europe Chief Executive throughout the whole continent. we care about football BILDBYRÅN 02 uefadirect 6.05 European Under-17 Championship Turks take Tuscany A. SABATTINI THERE IS NO NEED TO DISCUSS THE LASTING BENEFITS THAT THE EUROPEAN match. At 2-0 after 80 minutes, Ivan Gudelj’s side appeared to have three UNDER-17 CHAMPIONSHIP OFFERS ITS YOUNG PARTICIPANTS. BUT THE 2005 EDITION, points in the bank, but Ruud Kaiser’s STAGED AT SIX VENUES IN TUSCAN TOWNS AROUND PISA, ALSO OFFERED PERMANENT team pulled off ‘daylight robbery’ by scoring twice during added time. BENEFITS TO SPORT IN THE REGION, THANKS TO THE SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS Such equality inevitably led to INVESTED IN UPGRADING THE FACILITIES TO UEFA STANDARDS. hard-luck stories as four of the contes- tants packed their bags after the group The Italian national and regional during which half the matches were phase. The statistical evidence of three associations – apart from impeccably televised. The elite qualifying round, defeats passes a harsh sentence on organising the event – also encouraged where frequent flyers such as France, the Israelis, who led three times before schools in the area to ‘adopt’ Germany, Portugal and Spain had coming out second best in their games one of the participating teams. been grounded, had already against Croatia and the Netherlands. This not only allowed the pupils underlined a levelling of standards Belarus impressed as a unit but lack of to meet, support and even train and allowed ‘emerging nations’ experience translated into decisive with the young internationals, such as Belarus and Israel to errors. The Swiss, inspired by the crea- but also gave them a classroom spread their wings in Tuscany. tive skills of Ivan Rakitic, were on course pretext to study the country in Parity was further emphasised for the semi-finals until they conceded question. It meant that the event amply when, after the first two match days in three goals – including a penalty and an fulfilled all its objectives in terms of Group A, each of the four teams had own goal – in the last 12 minutes of cultural exchanges between hosts and three points. Croatia were the only team their final match. And England, with visitors and, not least, the participating to finish the group phase unbeaten – some fine attacking players in their teams, who were based on the coast and as top scorers, with 11 goals in ranks, had looked worthy of a place on at Tirrenia. their three matches. They would have the podium until they were defeated The reward for everybody’s taken maximum points but for a stir- by a solitary penalty in the final game efforts was a thrilling tournament, ring Dutch comeback in their opening against Italy. 03 Jim Boyce, Dutch players Chairman of the with Tuscan Youth & Amateur schoolchildren: Football the tournament Committee, was also designed presents to favour cultural the trophy to exchanges. Turkey’s captain, Erkan Ferin. A. SABATTINI UEFA The Italians, with two goals, Their opponents were the equaliser. Kalinic, having sent the including that penalty, were the Turks. Despite squandering chances keeper the wrong way, then shot an lowest scorers of the competition and and losing their opening game against extra-time penalty wide of the post the hosts’ lack of finishing power Italy 1-0, their head coach, Abdullah and, with a minute to play, a far-post was to prove fatal in the semi-final Avci, maintained that he had the best header after a cross from the right against a Dutch side which had gained team in the tournament and that seemed to have clinched a 2-1 win. confidence from the comeback against quality would tell. The other coaches But the goal was flagged offside and, Croatia. Although Ruud Kaiser’s tacitly agreed with him. The Turks with the Croatians stunned, Italy side also struggled to convert good played creative football at high tempo counter-attacked and scored a winner approach play into goals, they and were technically gifted in every through substitute Davide Di Gennaro. reached the final thanks to Melvin position of a line-up that included Italian joy was sharpened by the un- Zaalman’s extra-time header. four youngsters already playing their expected nature of a victory which football at German clubs. With Harun allows them to complete the European Karadas – whose absence was noticed trio at September’s World Champion- during the defeat by the Italians – ship in Peru. Results ably playing a ‘Makelele role’ behind In the final, the Turkish team Group A the creative Nuri Sahin and with Tevfik was egged on by a vociferous follow- Belarus – England 0-4 Köse (the tournament’s top scorer ing led by FC Internazionale midfielder Italy – Turkey 1-0 with six goals) leading the attack, the Emre Belözoglu. The major surprise of Italy – Belarus 0-1 Turks were a pleasure to watch. a superb game was that only two goals Turkey – England 3-2 were scored by two teams who com- England – Italy 0-1 Turkey – Belarus 5-1 Turkey, the Netherlands bined outstanding technique with physi- and Italy qualify for the World cal presence and an attacking voca- Group B Championship tion. Both goalkeepers excelled against Israel – Switzerland 0-3 However, the curtain-raiser a succession of stunning strikes and, Croatia – Netherlands 2-2 Switzerland – Netherlands 0-0 to the Turkey v Netherlands final in as so often happens, the goals, when Israel – Croatia 2-4 Pontedera was a bronze-medal match they finally arrived, had an element of Netherlands – Israel 2-1 in Santa Croce sull’Arno which may scruffiness about them in comparison Switzerland – Croatia 2-5 not have reached such technical pin- with the beauty of other moves. There Semi-finals nacles but outdid the final for high was certainly nothing scrappy about Italy – Netherlands 0-1* drama. The goal-shy Italians had to the through ball by Nuri Sahin early in Croatia – Turkey 1-3 thank defender Lorenzo De Silvestri the second half but Dutch goalkeeper Third place for their 59th-minute opener but, Tim Krul was aghast to see the shot by Italy – Croatia 2-1* within seconds, they allowed Nikola Deniz Yilmaz scrape past him and a Final Kalinic to slot home a sucker-punch defender to roll into the net. Six min- Netherlands – Turkey 0-2 utes later, it was a similar story when * after extra time Tevfik Köse, latching on to a loose ball, saw his effort take an eternity to reach the back of the Dutch net. As the trophy was presented amid scenes of Turkish delight, Abdul- lah Avci put his team’s success down to discipline, motivation and self-belief allied to exceptional talent. His Dutch counterpart, Ruud Kaiser, stressed “the important thing at this level is to learn from mistakes and to encour- age the players to take responsibility for the overall team performance.” The fact that the two finalists also finished the tournament as the leaders of the fair play ranking was a clear indication that they had put two tal- ented squads of youngsters on the Italy score against England from the penalty spot.

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