TOURNAMENT REVIEW CONTENTS

04 UEFA President’s message 05 PZPN President’s message

TECHNICAL REPORT

08 The road to Krakow 16 The final 20 The winning coach 22 Technical topics 30 Goalscoring analysis 36 Talking points 40 Player of the tournament 41 Team of the tournament 42 Scores and tables 44 Team profiles

EVENT REPORT

58 Welcome hosts 64 Commercial programme 72 Media rights 74 UEFA TV production 76 Communications 78 Countdown to 2019 79 Roll of honour UEFA PRESIDENT’S PZPN PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE MESSAGE

TOP BUILDING ON QUALITY PAST SUCCESS The final epitomised the Inspired by UEFA EURO 2012, tournament as a whole – excellence Poland was proud to take centre on and off the pitch stage once again

As we stood under the rain in Krakow presenting It was great to have such of tomorrow, we actually saw them shine in the present medals to Germany and Spain after a final of enormous a well-organised Under-21 – the likes of and Dani Ceballos really quality and intensity, it was a moment to reflect on a final tournament here in caught the eye. In the final reckoning it was teamwork tournament that had provided so many positives. Poland – we showed both that prevailed, and Germany lifted the trophy. Congratulations were due, not only to the gold and UEFA and a watching In a sense, the tournament also represented a link with silver medallists, but also to all the other teams who had worldwide audience that we UEFA EURO 2012 and its legacy. The fantastic atmosphere travelled to Poland for the first 12-nation Under-21 final can successfully host these and spirit of that tournament was felt here again in June. tournament with a will to win and an attacking vocation. events. We were able to Even though the Polish team were unable to get beyond the The result was an event rich in goals and entertainment repeat the organisational group stage, it was by no means a lost cause – some of these for the many thousands of fans who made the journey success of UEFA EURO Poland players already have senior international experience to Poland to support their teams. These fans mingled 2012, which Poland co- and I am confident about their long-term career prospects. happily with their hosts at stadiums, in cities and even hosted with Ukraine. Once Overall, then, I will look back on this championship on the beaches of the country’s north coast. more we proved we are as a very enjoyable and well-organised event, which Special and heartfelt thanks are due to the Polish Football more than capable – that ran smoothly in every possible way. Association – the PZPN – and to its president Zbigniew and grassroots activities that will doubtless leave a lasting whatever UEFA asks of us, we can deliver. It was also really Boniek for offering the teams and the fans such a magnificent legacy from a highly successful and memorable tournament. pleasing to see both the local Polish fans and supporters scenario. The cooperation between UEFA and the PZPN was from other nations create such a special atmosphere, Polish Football Association President superb. The result was an impeccably organised event that Aleksander Čeferin amid plenty of capacity crowds in the stadiums. took football into a wide area of the country, backed by social UEFA President Not only did we have the pleasure of viewing the stars

4 Poland 2017 Tournament review 5 TECHNICAL REPORT

FYR Macedonia looked at home on their first final tournament appearance TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

Germany defender keeps a close eye on Italy’s

THE ROAD TO KRAKOW There are different ways to reach a final, and while Spain left nothing to chance, Germany were delighted to ride their luck at times

More teams, more thrills and spills, more disappointments. Whereas the top two teams in each group of the previous eight-nation format progressed to the semi-finals, whittling the dozen contestants in Poland down to four semi-finalists was a process conducive to hard-luck stories. Luck, the dictionary definition tells us, is “success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one’s own actions”. And, as they made their way home after the group stage, many of the coaches must have been scratching their heads and wondering if alternative courses of action could have changed their fortunes.

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Patryk Lipski (10) put Poland ahead against Slovakia after only 53 seconds GROUP A

Hosts Poland and holders Sweden fall at the first hurdle to a more overt 1-4-4-2 to mirror the Sweden formation and, within six minutes, Fortune certainly seemed to smile on an end-to-end combination initiated the hosts when, after 53 seconds of the by the keeper allowed Łukasz Moneta opening game, right-winger Przemysław POLAND’S to drill in a cut-back from the right. Frankowski fed overlapping full-back Sweden, however, capitalised on a neat Tomasz Kędziora, whose cross was START SEEMED combination through the middle and a met by a thumping near-post header TOO GOOD corner on the left to hit back twice before by Patryk Lipski, ending a powerful run half-time. They defended the advantage after linking the build-up in the centre- TO BE TRUE – right through until added-time before circle. The start seemed too good to be AND IT WAS conceding a penalty that true – and it was. Poland coach Marcin converted to earn the hosts 2-2 a draw. Dorna might have wished otherwise, but It was a goal of crucial importance, as his team instinctively took a step back it kept Poland mathematically alive. and handed the initiative to Slovakia, This was because, on the opening whose controlling Stanislav day, Sweden and England had battled Lobotka lived up to his job description out a goalless draw. The latter made as the leader in a 1-4-1-4-1 attacking a dominant start, set up in 1-4-4-1-1 shape. Slovakia hit back with goals from England midfielder formation but the defending champions, Lewis Baker and substitute Pavol relentlessly pressing ball-carriers and Šafranko and their 2-1 win signified defending in depth, gradually wore an initial setback for the hosts. them down. With both teams defending The second chapter followed a similar narrowly, space was at a premium. script. Dorna switched from 1-4-2-3-1 And, when the stalemate seemed destined to be broken, England keeper Jordan Pickford, diving to his right, raised a providential arm to beat out a spot-kick that Linus Wahlqvist had driven towards the centre of the net. England coach Aidy Boothroyd switched to a midfield diamond for the next game against Slovakia only to see his team concede from a corner. However, a short corner and a counterattack down the left earned three points and converted England v Poland into a must-win match for both sides. Sticking to the diamond, England converted domination into a 3-0 win against the hosts, while in the other match, Slovakia surprisingly eliminated Sweden by the same score. Coach Håkan Ericson, in his last game on the Under-21 bench, was “shocked when I realised after Martin Chrien ten minutes that we didn’t have any heads Slovakia in front against strength, especially in midfield”. The Sweden defending champions were out.

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GROUP B Portugal coach Rui Jorge GROUP C In-form Spain prove too hot to handle A 2-2 draw between Italy take top spot, but Germany survive (in red) and The 2015 silver-medallists Portugal FYR Macedonia Portugal’s near miss also set clear targets for was not enough for suffered a similar fate to Sweden in either side the contenders who brought the curtain down Group B. Rui Jorge’s side switched from on the group phase 24 hours later. Italy had to their traditional 1-4-3-3 to 1-4-4-2 and beat Germany. Not necessarily by a hatful, but then 1-4-5-1 structures after taking the anything less would leave them at the mercy of lead against Serbia. Bruno Fernandes’s the Czech Republic’s result against Denmark. late goal gave them a 2-0 win and It was an unexpected denouement to a Group C seemingly put them on track ahead of that had kicked off in seemingly orderly fashion. the group’s watershed fixture against Germany, basing their game on a potent midfield Spain. Portugal matched the Spaniards triangle and two highly adventurous full-backs, were in many aspects of play, but fell behind good value for a 2-0 win over the Czech Republic, to a brilliant solo goal by Saúl Ñíguez whose net result was a single on-target attempt in and a fast counter finished by Sandro the 90 minutes. Denmark harvested the same total Ramírez at the near post. The margin (and lost by the same score) against Italy, pitting a narrowed after a stunning long-range compact 1-4-4-2 against ’s 1-4-3-3. volley by Bruma pulled Portugal to within The Czechs, however, threw a cat among one with 13 minutes to play, but as they the pigeons on the second matchday against pressed for an equaliser, substitute Italy. Vítězslav Lavička shrewdly manipulated Denmark’s Kenneth Iñaki Williams ran from his own half Zohore struck twice his team structure three times in response to to complete a solo counterattack and against the Czech situations during a game in which powerful a 3-1 win. After Spain’s 5-0 victory Republic (right); Michal long-range finishing proved decisive. Their 3-1 Trávník celebrates the over FYR Macedonia on the opening Czech Republic’s opener victory, coupled with another comfortable 3-0 day – which included a hat-trick from against Italy (below) win for Stefan Kuntz’s Germany against Denmark, Marco Asensio – it also confirmed their signified elimination for the Danes. It also fuelled place in the semi-finals. FYR Macedonia speculation about a potential three-way tie on bounced back from that heavy defeat six points that prompted onlookers to apply a by drawing 2-2 with Serbia – a result magnifying glass to the tournament regulations. that spelt elimination for both teams. But the outcome proved to be as unexpected The scenario invited Spain coach as the scenario. Denmark coach Albert Celades to change his entire inserted Kenneth Zohore as the main striker in his starting XI for the final game, in which 1-4-4-2 formation, and the Danes struck on two a single goal from Denis Suárez was successful counterattacks to go 1-0 and 2-1 ahead. enough to beat a Serbia team reduced Although the Czechs twice equalised, they failed to to ten just before the break. In the get within reach of their target of a four-goal win. meantime, Rui Jorge could afford no such While making their last throws of the dice, they were luxuries. Portugal took on FYR Macedonia caught twice more, allowing Zohore to complete a with the crystal-clear objectives of creditable tally of two goals and one assist and for scoring a hatful of goals and hoping for Denmark to achieve the consolation of third place. the best in the race for the best-runner- While Frederiksen was drafting in a striker, up status that would earn a semi-final Germany Di Biagio drafted one out. Target man Andrea place. The hatful, in this case, meant at squeezed through Petagna was left on the bench in a 1-4-1-4-1 in second place least the three that would allow them structure featuring the pace and skills of Federico to equal Slovakia’s goal difference of +3. Bernardeschi as the attacking spearhead. Disturbing Although eliminated, Blagoja Milevski’s THE CZECHS’ LOSS TO DENMARK German build-ups with collective high pressing gave uninhibited team refused to throw in the them control of the game – and the only goal, when towel, even when 2-0 and 3-1 behind. OFFERED GERMANY THE a high ball-win on the left wing allowed Bernardeschi Bruma’s third goal of the tournament, CONSOLATION PRIZE AS BEST to slide ball past Julian Pollersbeck in a one-on- and second of the game, made it 4-2 one situation. Germany failed to find a response at 90+1, but when the referee called RUNNER-UP – or even a shot on target. The Czechs’ loss to a halt at 90+7, the 2015 finalists had Denmark, however, offered the consolation prize as fallen a goal short of their target. best runner-up thanks to a goal difference of +4.

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Maximilian Philipp holds off his SEMI-FINALS England markers SPAIN 3-1 ITALY 53 minutes and, when Gagliardini’s Italy goalkeeper efforts earned him a second yellow card feels the pain of defeat Di Biagio reinstated Petagna as the five minutes later, ‘game over’ seemed percussive element in the Italy attack likely to appear on the giant screen. but maintained his high-pressing However, a deflected shot by Federico approach in a bid to disrupt Spain’s Bernardeschi allowed the ten men to elaborate combination play, leaving equalise. With coach Albert Celades Julian Pollersbeck saves ’s penalty to to protect an urging his team to react to the damaging win the shootout for Germany ample area in front of his side’s back psychological blow, Saúl produced a four. Spain’s exceptional technique long-range shot to tranquilise twitching allowed them to emerge from the nerves and, when a breathtaking Italian minefield unscathed and, counter along the left allowed Saúl to gradually, Marcos Llorente, Saúl Ñíguez apply a firm, one-touch finish to the and Dani Ceballos began to weave cut-back, the contest was over with a spider’s web. The latter delivered a quarter of an hour to spare. Spain a neat pass for Saúl to score after were to meet Germany in the final.

Saúl Ñíguez claims the match ball after his matchwinning hat-trick

ENGLAND 2-2 GERMANY allowed an unmarked to head in a lofted cut-back by right-back Jeremy (aet; Germany win 4-3 on penalties) Toljan. England equalised through after a partially-cleared Germany rush to congratulate goalkeeper Julian Pollersbeck Germany’s prize for finishing as the corner and gave them best runner-up was a semi-final against the lead just after the break, only for England in which Boothroyd’s team substitute Felix Platte to restore parity enjoyed 60% of the ball and a series with an unstoppable near-post header of scoring opportunities during the from another corner. Both coaches opening 20 minutes. But, with a potent availed themselves of the experimental midfield and full-backs ready to run fourth substitution during extra-time, round the edges of the England diamond, but failed to modify the 2-2 scoreline, Germany turned the tide with a sequence allowing Germany, after overturning the Marco Asensio and of assaults on the right-hand angle of ball-possession tally to 65-35 in their Roberto Gagliardini the England penalty area. One of them favour, to clinch a penalty shoot-out win. compete for the ball

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rolling in the way the pundits might have predicted, with the red-shirted Spaniards easing it fluently across the surface and using the dribbling skills of and Marco Asensio to test the German full-backs. This lasted five minutes. Then, little by little, Germany rolled up their sleeves and set to work on erasing GERMANY the script. Or rather, imposing their own. The first warning shot was, to be pedantic, a header, left-back crossing for ’s SPRING head to send the ball smacking against Kepa Arrizabalaga’s right-hand post. Spain attempted to reply in kind, with right-back Héctor Bellerín ending an SPANISH underlapping run by heading wide. But it was along that flank that one of the key strategic battles was to be disputed, with Meyer constantly drifting SURPRISE left from his central midfield role to create overloads in the area around Bellerín and oblige Deulofeu to drop Physical application, discipline and deep to search for numerical equality. courage – and ’s Elsewhere, similar scenarios were being created by Stefan Kuntz’s goal – ensured it was Germany astute game plan. It required physical singing in the rain in Krakow application, discipline and courage of convictions – qualities rarely lacking in German teams and certainly not here in Krakow as the first half unfolded. Kuntz watched approvingly, not needing to fine- tune a smoothly running machine, only unfolding his arms to applaud individual It was the 21st game in the 21st actions. The solid platform on which his competition for Under-21s. Citing the structure was built was a high defensive association of the magic number with line, wavering around 40 metres from creative spirits, experts in numerology the German goal. Goalkeeper Julian might easily have predicted a victory Pollersbeck unhesitatingly advanced for Spanish improvisation over German to sweep the area behind his back four order. But the final played on a warm, and was rewarded by being constantly humid evening in Krakow confirmed brought into play as a passer of the ball. that football and numbers do not One of his preferential targets was always travel comfortably together. ‘Maxi’ Arnold, always prepared to The form book certainly attached drop deep to receive and perform a the label of favourite to Albert Celades’ valuable linking role with the front five, team. They had won all their games en who relentlessly applied aggressive route to the final; Germany had won high pressure on Spain’s construction only two of their four fixtures. But both workers. Their screening midfielder, received vociferous encouragement Marcos Llorente, struggled to cope from the travelling supporters among with the shower of arrows fired into his the 14,059 spectators who filled territory, with the result that Saúl Ñíguez Germany celebrate their triumph the stadium with noise and colour. felt compelled to man the defences When the French referee signalled alongside him, while Dani Ceballos, on for the ball to start rolling, it started the Spanish left, felt equally obliged

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to double back as a counterfoil to the running of Mitchell Weiser and full- GERMANY’S WIN WAS NOT ABOUT back . In the central zone, EXCEPTIONAL INDIVIDUALS, BUT A REALLY striker , drafted in for the injured Davie Selke, toiled manfully GOOD COLLECTIVE TEAM PERFORMANCE as the first line of the high defence. Pushed deeper and deeper, the Spanish formation struggled to offer any semblance to the team that had stamped their possession-play hallmark MATCH on their previous games. Italy had also based their game plan on obliging Spain STATISTICS to play long, yet Celades’ team had found second-ball solutions. Against Germany, they defended so deep that GERMANY 1-0 SPAIN there was no support for striker Sandro Germany celebrate 30 June 2017 Ramírez, who found himself ploughing Mitchell Weiser's (17) goal Krakow Stadium, Krakow a lonely furrow. Forward passes were efficiently intercepted – and back came goal Germany again. As if not recognising 1-0 Weiser 40 his own team, Celades watched aghast, germany shuffling ideas to identify the key Spain goal. The final throw of the dice was to Pollersbeck; Toljan, Stark, messages for his half-time team talk. goalkeeper withdraw the exhausted Llorente from Kempf, Gerhardt; Haberer Kepa But, before he could reload his Arrizabalaga the screening role and to send on Borja (Kohr 82); Weiser, Meyer, weapons in the dressing-room, one looks on Mayoral as a second striker. Kuntz, by Arnold, Gnabry (Amiri 81); Philipp (Öztunali 87) of the German arrows had found its as Mitchell contrast, waited until the final minutes Weiser’s goal mark. During the period of sustained flies in before replacing three of his front five spain pressure, Toljan found space high on without disturbing the hard core of a Arrizabalaga; Bellerín, Meré, the right to deliver a lofted cross. Way team that, after Spain’s purple patch at Vallejo, Jonny (Gayà 51); before the near post, Weiser got across the beginning of the half, had regained Ñíguez, Llorente (Mayoral 83), Ceballos; Asensio, Ramírez centre-back Jesús Vallejo to duck under its composure, compactness and speed (Williams 71), Deulofeu the ball and then raise his head to of transition after losses of possession. connect. Arrizabalaga watched aghast When the final whistle sounded, the refferee as the ball looped high across the goal heavens opened. But when Kuntz walked Benoît Bastien (FRA) and into the far corner of the net. one of a dozen earned by Celades’ on to the pitch with a hand on his head, attendance It was just reward for the German team but fruitlessly executed, as if to it was not to protect against the rain. 14,059 endeavour, concentration and positional illustrate Spain’s readiness to threaten The gesture signalled disbelief that his intelligence that had effectively but inability to deliver telling blows debut tournament had ended in victory. 1 GOALS 0 prevented Spain from playing their during a sustained spell of domination A victory that, in the opinion of UEFA game. As they trooped off the field at and promising combination play. technical observer Mixu Paatelainen, 41 POSSESSION % 59 half-time, the Spanish players were Germany conceded ground but had been “due to their success in 18 TOTAL ATTEMPTS 13 well aware that they had failed to find maintained their positional order, preventing Spain from playing. In terms ways of expressing themselves and defended the key areas of their territory of football, it probably wasn’t their best 4 ON TARGET 1 that they were emerging second-best and produced speedy counterattacks performance. But they were efficient 10 OFF TARGET 6 from the individual duels in midfield. – one of which provoked an error in and the defensive structure won them The cast was the same when the control by Spain centre-back Jorge the game.” agreed: “The 1 BLOCKED 6 curtain rose on the second act, but Meré and offered left-winger Serge coach designed a perfect structure. The 1 WOODWORK 0 the Spanish actors began to deliver Gnabry a golden opportunity to double win was not about exceptional individuals their lines with greater conviction. the lead. His tame finish, however, was but about a really good collective team 4 CORNERS 12

Ceballos threatened to thread his way comfortably dealt with by Arrizabalaga. performance and, in particular, winning 4 YELLOW CARDS 3 from midfield to the edge of the box; By this time, Celades had replaced Jonny all those duels in midfield.” The Germany Asensio and Deulofeu began to deliver Otto with the more adventurous left- Héctor Bellerín gets reacquainted coach who, during the pre-match press 375 PASSES 567 from the wings; and Ñíguez finally back José Gayà and, midway through with former Arsenal team-mate conference, had sung “Mister Sandman, 83% PASSING ACCURACY 86% appeared in a more advanced central the half, made another straight swap bring me a dream” might have been position to snap in a left-footed shot by sending on striker Iñaki Williams to forgiven for singing in the rain and 16 FOULS COMMITTED 12 that Pollersbeck was relieved to turn replace Sandro, who had been denied thanking the sandman for having round the post for a corner. It was opportunities to receive with his face to delivered as efficiently as his players.

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observer in Poland: “He has a good relationship with the senior team. He likes working with young players and he realises the importance of bringing them together to attain high levels of team performance.” His modus operandi in Poland was to encourage rather than chastise, to be ready with a smile rather than a frown. His body language as he patrolled LEADING technical areas exuded composure and reassurance. His style was to follow the game attentively, to be alert, focused and concentrated – and to offer advice FROM and instructions without being strident. “I was happy with the performances in the first two games and, against Denmark, they implemented a lot of the THE FRONT things we’d had in mind before the game. But at half-time, there was still room for improvement and we did well in making Man-management and team-building skills those adjustments in the second half.” more than made up for Stefan Kuntz’s After the defeat by Italy, he remarked: “There were a lot of things I didn’t like lack of coaching experience – especially the risky build-up play. That match also underlined that football is not only about technique and tactics – there are also mental challenges to meet.” These are the issues he addressed during the preparations for the sudden- death confrontations with England and Spain. “We stressed that we had In the dressing-room, after the tactically Well, not quite. As one of the to be at the top of our game physically thorny group game against Italy, relatively few strikers to move into and technically,” he said. “But we also Stefan Kuntz told his players they had coaching, he was backed by first-hand had to keep cool heads and remain just gained experience that money experience as a player, notably at EURO loyal to our playing philosophy.” couldn’t buy. Despite the defeat that ‘96 – a tournament where he learned Apart from designing a game plan had consigned Germany to second that man-management of a squad has a based on spiking the wheels of the place, he congratulated his team and prime importance and that players who Spanish ball-playing machine, he reassured them that they deserved to might not have been regular starters underlined the importance of the team be in the semi-finals. After the penalty may be called upon to play a final. spirit he had been at pains to create shoot-out win that earned a place in This was in the baggage he took and promote. “I knew that every player the final, he reflected that, if England to Poland at the head of a squad wanted to win the cup for his team- had sent them home, it would not have hurriedly reshaped after the inclusion mate,” he recalled. “It was not easy made him better or worse as a coach. of nine eligible players in Germany’s to disrupt Spain’s build-up play and it The balance and maturity seemed FIFA Confederations Cup squad. His required a lot of courage. But they did at odds with a track record of just selection had also been influenced by it with a high level of team spirit. There three qualifying games in charge club form, alignment with the German was happiness in the dressing-room of the team after several years in Football Association’s player profiles afterwards and that makes a coach’s administrative, rather than coaching and personalities amenable to team- job worthwhile. The joy was more than roles within the game. New at the job, building – ahead of pure technical the joy as a player because, apart from he had evidently travelled to Poland to and tactical qualities. As remarked feeling happy about yourself, you feel embark on his first major tournament. by Thomas Schaaf, a UEFA technical happy for a lot of other people as well.”

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being critical, but one of the realities England switched from a 1-4-2-3-1 Italy coach Luigi Di Biagio APPROACHING addresses his players we have to face is that the international structure to 1-4-4-2 with a midfield THE SUMMIT game is another level compared to diamond – and this illustrated the the national league.” After ruminating tactical flexibility that provided one of on Portugal’s elimination, Rui Jorge the salient features of the tournament. There was still much to learn – said: “I was disappointed by the even at this level outcome but not by our performances. My players deserved more for the “The technical and tactical levels of passion they put into their game. I PLAN B AND this tournament are coming, in all was asked whether, if I could go back, PLAN C aspects, closer and closer to the level I would have been more conservative of the A tournaments. Most of the against Spain. But, well, we are players compete in the best leagues not like that.” In other words, even Teams were quick to adapt as in Europe and the overall standard is though the U21 tournament cannot the situation demanded very high.” The comment by Serbia be regarded as a development event, coach Nenad Lalatović highlighted its educational value is undeniable. After UEFA EURO 2016, Wales manager the status of a final tournament that UEFA’s technical observer Mixu Chris Coleman said “the best Plan B featured a significant percentage of Paatelainen said: “I felt that the 12- is to execute Plan A efficiently”. But, players capped at senior level and team format encouraged attacking in Poland, most teams were equipped served to prepare the U21s for the play, whereas at UEFA EURO 2016 we to execute a Plan A and a Plan B with demands endemic to a major, high- saw what happened when even third equal degrees of efficiency. “For me,” profile international tournament. place in the group was enough to see said UEFA technical observer Peter Much the same applied to the you through.” The result was a free- Rudbæk, “the tournament was all about coaches. Portugal’s Rui Jorge, scoring tournament where the only flexibility rather than what you might Sweden’s Håkan Ericson and Italy’s goalless draw was the opening game call ‘one-concept’ football. There was Luigi Di Biagio were the only three between England and the defending flexibility match to match; and there who had patrolled technical areas in champions, Sweden. “We set ourselves was flexibility during matches. I saw the Czech Republic two years earlier. a target of four points from our first the game between Italy and Czech Apart from preparing for contests two games,” England manager Aidy Republic where both teams changed against top-level opponents, the Boothroyd said. “We didn’t adopt a their structure three times. I would coaches also had to address the man- defensive approach. On the other say that maybe Spain and Sweden management issues associated with hand, it was important not to lose.” were the only teams to stick to the long spells in a major-tournament For the second game against Slovakia, same playing system throughout.” context. There were also non- footballing aspects to consider, such as media activities that, although they may be of a sporadic nature in the Håkan Ericson led daily domestic life of an U21 squad, Sweden to the 2015 title gain intensity when reporters are permanently adjacent to the team in an international tournament. Although the event in Poland represented an approximation to the summit levels of the senior game, the TECHNICAL coaches stressed educational values. Denmark coach Niels Frederiksen was left to reflect on a four-year unbeaten run in qualifying but shortfalls in TOPICS performances against elite opposition. After the semi-final against Spain, From tactical flexibility and the high press to debating Di Biagio mused: “We have players who the value of possession, UEFA’s technical observers have appeared in . But take Saúl, for example, who has played 20 or 30 tackled a variety of issues in Poland games in the UEFA Champions League, or Gerard Deulofeu, who has played in Spain, England and Italy. This is not

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Boothroyd remarked that “with the national teams, you have limited time Portugal’s attack-minded BUILDING FROM to practise in different styles. But what full-back João Cancelo THE BACK the coach can do is to look carefully at the formations used at the players’ clubs and adapt according to what they Centre-backs often cut out the are familiar with. We picked a squad middle man that had attacking balance so that we could attack in a variety of ways, using The full-backs’ role in building from the a variety of systems.” Sweden coach back was, in most cases, a question of Ericson agreed that time was short taking advanced positions on the flanks. at the final tournament. However, he The most standard procedure was for had trained with a Plan B during the centre-backs to split, opening a central preparation period and the players area for a screening midfielder to drop had also been invited to work on a deep to receive. In some cases, the ‘what to do in this situation’ document centre-back provided a simple pass to based on eight different scenarios. the deep midfielder – who then either The structural mutations made it played through the middle or opened difficult to play the numbers game. play with a view to exploiting the But, to summarise default settings, relationships between full-backs and four teams operated in 1-4-2-3-1 wingers or wide . In other formation; four in 1-4-4-2; two in cases, the centre-backs distributed a clear 1-4-1-4-1 structure; and directly, without the middle man, to the two Iberian contestants in their the wide areas. In four sides, a centre- traditional 1-4-3-3. None of the teams back was the team’s main passer of the Calum operated with three at the back. Chambers led ball: Italy’s , England’s But, even when structures remained England with , Serbia’s Miloš unchanged, coaches used different most passes Veljković and Poland’s players to vary playing patterns. all delivered more passes than any of Di Biagio, for instance, withdrew diamond allowed England to pressurise norm rather than the exception. Serbia, their team-mates. Germany’s Marc- target striker from the Slovakia Stanislav for example, switched from 1-4-1-4-1 Oliver Kempf was only marginally his starting line-up against Germany, Lobotka, while the twin strikers not to 1-4-4-2 against Spain and for the last behind the deep midfielder Max Arnold replacing him with the more mercurial only drew the attention of the centre- 20-odd minutes against Portugal. And in his team’s distribution pattern. Federico Bernardeschi, whose pace backs but also encouraged the full- then changed to 1-4-2-3-1 early in the In teams operating with twin and movement constantly asked backs to devote more time to defensive second half against FYR Macedonia. The screening midfielders, coaches questions of the German centre-backs. covering than to attacking forays. Czech Republic were equipped to play sought to achieve balance with one Boothroyd’s switch to the midfield Flexible structures provided the 1-4-2-3-1 or 1-4-5-1 or 1-4-1-3-2 … of them generally assuming greater responsibility in terms of pushing forward to link middle-to-front play and offer support to the main attackers. Germany full-back Jeremy PUSHING ON Toljan (left) impressed in Denmark sent Lasse Christensen attack as much as defence of the ‘underlapping’ run through to head his team into a 1-0 lead. forward while Christian Nørgaard Attacking full-backs were a the inside channel in addition to the Slovakia left-back Róbert Mazáň, for held the zone; for England, Nathaniel tournament trademark more traditional overlapping runs example, emerged as his side’s main Chalobah sat behind the two box-to- along the touchline. As Dany Ryser passer of the ball with an average box midfielders; Italy relied heavily “The full-backs were especially remarked: “We did not just see the of 67 passes per game. Portugal on Roberto Gagliardini to patrol attack-minded,” said UEFA technical full-backs running up the line and right-back João Cancelo averaged a wide area behind the front five; observer Stefan Majewski, “and this hitting high crosses. More and more 54; Toljan and Héctor Bellerín, Poland were prepared to launch Karol was an attractive feature because moves take them right into what we opponents in the final, were among Linetty into an attacking role; Rúben they often left open spaces that might call the ‘cut-back areas’ between the right-backs whose participation in Neves was the covering element for offered opponents good chances to the two vertical lines of the penalty team play could be measured by 40 Portugal; Lobotka performed that counterattack.” The final between area.” A prime example was provided or so passes per game. In terms of function for Slovakia. And so on. As Germany and Spain underlined the during the Germany v England semi- positional play, they also played key Thomas Schaaf remarked: “There importance of the full-back role in final, when Jeremy Toljan reached roles by occupying advanced areas were some very impressive examples team mechanisms, with Albert Celades’ the byline and delivered the lofted and allowing the wide players to move of efficient rotation among the team also demonstrating the value cut-back that allowed Davie Selke inside and offer support to the strikers. midfielders during the build-up phase.”

24 Poland 2017 Tournament review 25 TECHNICAL TOPICS

MOST TEAMS WERE PREPARED TO GO HIGH WITH THEIR FIRST LINE OF DEFENCE

Spain goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga KEEPER’S BALL PASSING TIME Goalkeepers were pressed into playing the Teams based their games on short combination play “When we discuss ‘high pressing’, we need to draw a distinction between the As the preceding paragraphs suggest, instant reactions to loss of possession teams generally focused on playing and the sort of high pressing we through the thirds. “Almost all the saw when the ball was with the teams set out to play a passing game,” opposing team’s goalkeeper,” said said Rudbæk. “As it happened,” Mixu Paatelainen. “Many teams were Paatelainen added, “quite a few teams prepared to take up high positions, to fielded a tall striker. But, in general, I encourage the keeper to play long – or, would say that there was very limited if he made a pass to a wide area, to use of direct supply to the target immediately go in and press hard.” man.” Tournament statistics indicate In Poland, the marked tendency that just over one-quarter of the was for opponents to cut off short goals were scored by main strikers. or medium passing options with Italy’s Lorenzo This provided a contrast to UEFA Pellegrini (in white) the evident aim of forcing the EURO 2016 where one of the salient puts the Czechs keeper to play long and assume a features had been a tendency towards under pressure greater risk of loss of possession. more direct attacking via long back-to- The ploy emphasised the front supply to the strikers, followed by requirement for the goalkeeper to be second-ball follow-up. Serbia provided equipped to play with his feet – and to an exception to the general rule by refine decision making in terms of ball frequently playing long to the striker would pick out the high pressing by Italy distribution. In Poland, the top teams during their opening game against as a prime example.” Di Biagio’s side were unafraid to use the goalkeeper as Portugal, but reverted to combination posed serious problems to Germany a passing option when building from play in their remaining two fixtures. and Spain by pressing with five players the back. Spain’s Kepa Arrizabalaga “In the games that I saw,” in advanced areas and, even if ball- averaged around 40 passes per game; Paatelainen remarked, “the fact that winning was not successful, effectively Julian Pollersbeck, his opposite number there was so little direct supply to disrupted the opposition’s build-up during the final, averaged 38. Among the striker meant that the screening pattern. Indeed, it was regaining the the other semi-finalists, England’s players were generally not under ball in Germany’s right-back area Jordan Pickford made 34 passes on pressure to stay so far back. The that immediately put Bernardeschi average, Italy’s Gianluigi Donnarumma, emphasis on short combination into a one-on-one situation against 28. Attempts to oblige them to play play through the thirds clarified the the goalkeeper and allowed him to long bore fruit in the sense that, in situation for many of the teams in score the goal that sent Italy to the three of the four cases, one in four terms of their pressing strategies. top of the group. “At the same time,” passes was intercepted by an opponent. We saw a lot of teams prepared to Ryser added, “the Italian team was Pollersbeck, following the trail blazed press hard from midfield rather than also very competent at what I call in Germany by , played withdraw into the defensive block.” ‘rest defence’. They had three or four significant periods of each match in Rudbæk concurred, saying: “We saw balancing players who were ready to sweeping positions outside his penalty a majority of teams prepared to go high anticipate the next step in those ‘what area – and the success rate in his with their first line of defence – and I if we lose the ball now?’ situations.” passing was significantly higher at 82%.

26 Poland 2017 Tournament review 27 TECHNICAL TOPICS

country passes accuracy examples would include Italy’s winner armoury with two goals against FYR though one of them (Italy’s equaliser THE PASSING against Germany (pressing in the Macedonia (regains and solo runs by against the Czechs) was a reflex action Spain 611 89% Germany right-back area), Spain’s Marco Asensio) and the third against to a rebound. It was one of only five GAMES Germany 508 88% Slovakia 463 87% fourth against FYR Macedonia, Portugal, when substitute Iñaki Williams open-play goals to be scored with Portugal 461 83% Portugal’s second against Serbia or the set off on a solo run from within his the head, with Germany supplying A high number of passes is no Czech Republic’s opener against Italy. own half. England’s second against two of them. Germany underlined AVERAGE Sweden 444 84% guarantee of success On the other hand, the majority of Poland was slightly more elaborate: the value of aerial ability by scoring COMPLETED Serbia 415 80% Italy 407 81% the more traditional counters adopted Jacob Murphy and Lewis Baker all three of their semi-final and final PASSES The finalists were the teams who made England 406 84% the form of a regain and a pass to starting the solo run by Demarai Gray goals with the head. Of the seven the highest number of passes per Denmark 397 83% release a player on a high-speed solo that ended with a tap-in by Murphy. headed goals from set plays, one game during the tournament in Poland Poland 384 84% run. Spain, despite their reputation for Denmark’s opening two goals against was the far-post header by Serbia’s and, at the same time, registered the FYR Macedonia 341 83% patient possession play, underlined the Czech Republic stemmed from Uroš Djurdjević from a free-kick on highest averages of ball possession. Czech Republic 335 75% the value of counterattacking in their individual breaks by Rasmus Nissen the right. The other six, curiously, Coincidence? Curiously, the Spain and Mads Pedersen that were similarly were from corners on the left. and Germany senior teams had also rounded off from close range. The The high success rate from corners, topped the chart at UEFA EURO 2016 won by the team that enjoyed a greater number of successful counters based as mentioned in the goalscoring section with averages of 641 and 639 passes share of ball possession. In Poland, on long solo runs highlighted the of this report, focused attention on the per game. On the other hand, the that trend petered out. Four of the 21 importance of working on off-the-ball diverse methods of defending them. average among the top eight teams in matches were drawn and, of the other movement triggered by ball regains. Portugal were among the minority who the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League 17, 12 were won by the team who had preferred zonal marking, along with was 548 passes per match – and all dominated possession. The wins for Germany, who split their players in but one of the national teams at the the team with a lesser share of the USING THE 4-3-2 lines with one player protecting tournament in Poland fell below that ball were for Slovakia (v Poland), Czech the near post. Denmark also deployed mean – even though the totals of Republic (v Italy), Portugal (v Serbia), HEAD two players at the posts, with the rest Germany and England were somewhat Italy (v Germany) and Germany (v Spain setting up three lines of defence at inflated by the half-hour of extra- in the final). The Czech Republic and approximately five, ten and 15 metres Germany scored five of the time they disputed in the semi-final. FYR Macedonia were alone in having from the line. Most set themselves up tournament’s 12 headed goals At the U21 final tournament in less of the ball in each of their games. in a mix of zonal and individual marking, 2015, Sweden had provoked debate Spain and Germany were the only two such as the Italian preference for four One of the topics to emerge from on the pros and cons of direct play to consistently enjoy the lion’s share of marking individually and six covering recent seasons in UEFA’s age-limit by taking the title with an average of possession until they met in the final. zones. As those numbers indicate, tournaments had been a lack of only 330 passes per game. In Poland, they were among the many teams headed goals, prompting questions Ericson’s team upgraded that figure who defended corners with all players about the coaching of aerial abilities by a massive 35% – only to bow out in back and, in consequence, limited at development levels. In Poland, 12 the group stage. “I think that Sweden’s COUNTER- chances of mounting a counterattack of the 65 goals (18%) were headers, statistics are a bit misleading,” Rudbæk PUNCHING while the opponents’ centre-backs, in commented, “because they tended to all probability, were out of position. go for possession play in the midfield England, with two on the posts areas, to let their game breathe a Creating danger from high and the others marking, were alone bit.” Sweden’s upturn sent the Czech ball-regains in leaving two players up, while Republic to the foot of the table – Poland also left a potential target their passing accuracy also leaving Although possession-based upfield while they were defending. them well short of the opposition. combination moves were the most It was one of the few conservative The comment underlined the fact fertile source of goals, 22% of the aspects in a tournament dominated that sheer quantity is not everything. open-play goals could be attributed by attacking vocations. Paatelainen acted as spokesman for to counterattacking. The percentage, the entire team of UEFA technical however, was a conservative observers by stating: “We didn’t estimation. As the technical observers see much possession play for pointed out, there was room for debate possession’s sake. The tournament about definitions of the counterattack, was excellent in terms of dynamic fuelled by a need to differentiate Denmark’s Marcus possession and positive passing. between the traditional counter Ingvartsen (9) scored from That was a very good factor.” from deep and the high ball-regains close range after a quick Davie Selke celebrates his At UEFA EURO 2016, one of the derived from the high pressing that counter against the Czechs headed goal against England features to raise eyebrows was the fact was one of the main trademarks of that only 15 of the 51 fixtures were the tournament. In the latter category,

28 Poland 2017 Tournament review 29 GOALSCORING ANALYSIS

Saúl Ñíguez was the top scorer with five goals

HITTING THE TARGET The new 12-team format resulted in the most goals per game since 2004

The expansion to a dozen teams Czech Republic, where the paucity 30% of the goals were scored by evidently gave rise to a significant of goals during the group stage strikers, 14 by wingers, 9 by wide increase in the number of goals emerged as a major talking point. midfielders, 17 by midfielders scored at the final tournament. The 65 goals were shared operating more centrally, 5 by The event in Poland nevertheless among 51 players, nine of whom centre-backs and 2 by full- posted the second highest average found the net more than once. backs. The caveat about the since the group stage became part As a general indicator, just under ‘general indicator’ is because of the final tournament in 2000. As there are nuances between

mentioned elsewhere in this YEAR GOALS AVERAGE wingers and wide midfielders and report, UEFA’s technical observers because, to quote an example, 2017 65 3.10 felt that the change of format – 2015 37 2.47 Italy’s Federico Bernardeschi with only the group winners 2013 45 3.00 scored one of his two goals 36 assured of a place in the semi- 2011 2.25 when operating as central 2009 38 2.53 finals, offered an incentive to a 2007 34 2.13 striker against Germany and more attacking approach. Poland 2006 34 2.27 the other from a wide-right 2004 52 3.25 certainly provided a contrast to the 2002 35 2.33 role against Spain. Seven goals previous final tournament in the 2000 40 2.90 were scored by substitutes.

30 Poland 2017 Tournament review 31 GOALSCORING ANALYSIS

theoretical work in the meeting room. HOW THE GOALS Other teams, such as Serbia or WHEN THE GOALS WERE SCORED FYR Macedonia, preferred to work on WERE SCORED four or five options while, on the other hand, Sweden shunned set-play work Corners were the most in Poland, having done their spadework Although the four goals scored during productive set play, while from on the training pitch at home. added time make it legitimate to open play, combination moves argue that 23% of the goals were and solo runs were the most Open-play goals scored after the 75th minute, the final successful route to goal The lack of dividends from dead-ball quarter-hour of normal time was not situations meant that 78.5% of the the most productive segment of the Set-play goals tournament’s goals were scored in 21 matches played. Indeed, the final In Poland, set plays accounted for open play. The greater number of 15 minutes of the first half yielded one 21.5% of the goals. This confirmed a matches allowed greater patterns to more goal, with the period between downward progression in comparison emerge – with combination play and 61 and 75 minutes proving to be with 27% in 2015 and 31% in Israel in solo runs with the ball accounting for the most fertile, providing 20% of 2013. Conspicuous by their absence 45% of the open-play goals. Portugal the tournament total. Cagey starts were goals derived from free-kicks. put together combination moves that were reflected by a low total of half The only success was the free-kick on lasted 25 and 19 seconds respectively a dozen goals during the opening the right and the back-post header in scoring two of their four goals 15 minutes but, later in games, that earned Serbia a 2-2 draw against against FYR Macedonia. Solo runs the relatively even distribution of FYR Macedonia. Efforts by direct free- created goals, even though they were goals could be used to argue that kick specialists went unrewarded. In not necessarily finished by the same fitness levels were uniformly high. 2013, half of the set-play goals had player. For example, Mads Pedersen’s been penalties, but only three were solo run was the origin of Denmark’s converted in 2015 and, despite the second goal against the Czechs, MINS GOALS % increase in the number of matches, though he then squared the ball for 1-15 6 9 only four of five spot-kicks hit the striker Kenneth Zohore to tap in. 16-30 10 15 net in Poland – the save by England’s Similarly, it was the individual run by 31-45 12 18 Jordan Pickford thwarting Sweden in FYR Macedonia midfielder Eljif Elmas 45+ 0 0 the opening game of the tournament. that set up Kire Markoski to score 46-60 9 14 This meant that corners emerged as the second goal against Portugal. the main source of set-play goals. The Curiously – or frustratingly for the 61-75 13 20 2015 tournament had produced a total technical observers – a number of 76-90 11 17 of 147 corners and the success rate the goals blurred the dividing lines 90+ 4 6 CATEGORY ACTION GUIDELINES GOALS worked out at 1 in 37 – very similar to between categories and generated Decimal points account for the missing 1% that season’s UEFA Champions League Corner Direct from or following a corner 9 doubts about how to attribute, for success rate of one goal per 38.42 Free-kick (direct) Direct from a free-kick 0 example, a solo run culminating in a corners. But, in 2017, the two SET long-range shot. The chart, however, Free-kick (indirect) Following a free-kick 1 competitions trod divergent paths. PLAY provides orientation and highlights A success rate of one goal per 51.8 Penalty Spot kick (or follow-up) 4 the lack of successes from diagonal corners in the 2016/17 UEFA Champions Throw-in Following a throw-in 0 deliveries from wide areas into the box

League (and 1:45 at EURO 2016) was TOTAL SET-PLAY GOALS 14 and the difficulties in finding routes followed by contrasting figures in to goals via forward passes through Poland where nine successes in 217 Combination Wall pass or combination move 13 or over compact defensive blocks. attempts signified a 1 in 24.1 ratio. Cross Cross from the wing 8 Instead, 31% of the open-play goals England were involved in four of them Cut-back Pass back from the byline 8 stemmed from crosses and cut- – scoring from two and conceding backs – including crucial goals in Diagonal Diagonal pass into the penalty box 0 copy-and-paste near-post headers OPEN the key knockout matches. Germany Run with the ball Dribble and close-range shot or dribble and pass 10 against Slovakia and Germany. Apart PLAY Jacob Murphy (top centre) right-back Jeremy Toljan, for from this trio – each of them successful Long-range shot Direct shot or shot and rebound 8 celebrates his goal in instance, highlighted the relevance England’s 3-0 win against twice – the Czech Republic, Portugal and Forward pass Through pass or pass over the defence 2 of overlapping and underlapping Poland; Kire Markoski Sweden could attribute goals to corners. runs by providing the lofted cut-back Defensive error Bad back pass or mistake by the keeper 2 (above left) is mobbed after This could be regarded as a poor scoring for FYR Macedonia that allowed Davie Selke to make it 0 return on training-ground time Own goal Goal by the opponent against Portugal 1-0 in the semi-final against England dedicated to set plays – as much TOTAL OPEN-PLAY GOALS 51 and by then providing the cross that Poland midfielder as 40% of sessions in the case of set up Mitchell Weiser’s winning 65 Dawid Kownacki Italy, 25% for Poland, in addition to TOTAL goal in the final against Spain.

32 Poland 2017 Tournament review 33 GOALSCORING ANALYSIS

ATTEMPTS ON GOAL

Portugal striker Bruma featured twice in the tournament’s top ten goals; Germany’s challenges Czech Republic forward (right) TOP TEN GOALS Spanish pair Saúl Ñiguez and Marco Asensio accounted for Italy and Slovakia were alone in four of the tournament’s top getting more of their finishing on target than wide of the mark during ten strikes a tournament that produced 641 goal attempts at an average of 30.5 per game – a significant increase SAÚL ÑÍGUEZ MICHAEL LÜFTNER The 65 goals scored in Poland included on the 26.6 registered in 2015 and SPAIN 5-0 FYR MACEDONIA CZECH REPUBLIC 3-1 ITALY some net-bursting strikes from long 1 6 the 20.3 in 2013. Whereas in 2015, range, five of which found their way into Brilliant overhead kick from Gayà’s Pin-point and powerful low drive from two of the eight contestants had the top ten selected by UEFA’s technical cross from the left put Spain in distance with five minutes to play averaged fewer than 10 attempts observers. Some of them had a massive front in their opening game that sealed the Czechs’ triumph per game (including the champions, impact on the outcome of matches, Sweden), none of the dozen in Poland such as the strike by Michael Lüftner MARCO ASENSIO BRUMA registered single figures. However, SPAIN 5-0 FYR MACEDONIA FYR MACEDONIA 2-4 PORTUGAL that clinched the Czech Republic’s shock 2 7 in the 2017 tournament, 173 were 3-1 win over Italy or the left-footed blocked by opponents and, of the The first of Asensio’s three goals, This time the forward breaks in from drive by Saúl Ñíguez that put Spain 2-1 remainder, 44% were on target. this 25-metre strike left goalkeeper the left, twists past a defender then ahead in the semi-final against the same Igor Aleksovski rooted to the spot curls a shot into the far corner opponents just after Italy had delivered TEAM ATTEMPTS AVERAGE ON TARGET AVERAGE OFF TARGET BLOCKED WOODWORK GOALS a psychologically-damaging blow by MARCO ASENSIO DAVIE SELKE equalising while down to ten men. 3 SPAIN 5-0 FYR MACEDONIA 8 GERMANY 2-2 ENGLAND 113 30 6 48 35 1 8 (AET; GERMANY WIN 4-3 ON PENS) Germany 22.6 Saúl’s overhead kick to open the scoring Asensio runs from his own half, Germany pass their way through Portugal 57 19 18 6 24 15 2 7 against FYR Macedonia was an example cuts inside and coolly finishes England’s defence before Jeremy Toljan Czech Republic 48 16 15 5 18 15 0 5 of consummate skill, as was the long- from the edge of the area cuts the ball back for Selke to head in FYR Macedonia 46 15.33 13 4.33 17 16 1 4 range left-footed volley by Bruma that pulled Portugal back to within a goal Spain 72 14.4 23 4.6 24 25 0 12 NATHAN REDMOND SAÚL ÑÍGUEZ at 2-1 during the group game against SLOVAKIA 1-2 ENGLAND SPAIN 3-1 ITALY England 54 13.5 21 5.25 23 10 0 7 4 9 Spain. The selection also includes the Slovakia 40 13.33 13 4.33 11 16 0 6 two German headers that put Stefan Redmond collects James Ward- Saúl takes one touch and drills past Italy 52 13 24 6 18 10 1 5 Kuntz’s team 1-0 up in the semi-final Prowse’s deep pass on the left, cuts Donnarumma from 25 metres for Denmark 38 12.67 14 4.67 17 7 0 4 against England and provided the into the area and fires in at the far post the second goal of his hat-trick Poland 38 12.67 11 3.67 17 10 1 3 winning goal in the final against Spain. BRUMA MITCHELL WEISER Serbia 32 10.67 12 4 13 7 1 2 5 PORTUGAL 1-3 SPAIN 10 GERMANY 1-0 SPAIN Sweden 31 10.33 10 3.33 14 7 1 2 Perfect timing from the substitute A delicate and perfectly placed Note: attempts striking the woodwork are included in the on-target total if deflected by goalkeeper who volleys in from the edge of the looping header off another Toljan or defender and in the off-target total if the attempt strikes the woodwork directly area after Spain fail to clear a corner cross wins Germany the title

34 Poland 2017 Tournament review 35 ANALYSIS

Slovakia celebrate their victory against Sweden – but it wasn’t enough to take them through as the best runner-up

participants in major championships,” he said after the three matches in TALKING Poland. “My players lacked high-level experience and, with that sort of experience, I think they would be better.” Curiously, the eight finalists from POINTS 2015 all managed to qualify in 2017. But the expansion opened the door to Poland, Slovakia and Spain as The new 12-team format, player well as to FYR Macedonia. Again, availability and tactical flexibility overwhelmingly positive. So how could anybody dare to whisper a preference were all hot topics in Poland for the old eight-team tournament? The answer, of course, can be traced to hang-ups endemic to the 12-team format. What is the best way of getting four semi-finalists from three groups? In Poland, the answer was to include ‘the best runner-up’ alongside the three group-winners. The criteria were clearly set out in the tournament regulations: number of points, goal difference, number of goals scored and so on, right down to the teams’ disciplinary records. So far, so good. The tournament diary, however, reveals that by approximately 22:40 on Thursday 22 June, England had beaten Poland to top Group A. BIGGER And Slovakia had posted a 3-0 win AND BETTER? against Sweden to claim the runner-up position with a goal difference of +3. Poland and Sweden travelled home, Opinion was split on the pros and but Slovakia couldn’t. They would cons of a 12-team tournament have to tread water for 48 hours and head coach Pavel Hapal would need As talking points go, they don’t come to train and prepare for a semi-final much better. Against some undeniable that might or might not materialise. pros, debate can be fuelled by some On the Friday, Portugal kicked legitimate cons. Expanding the final off against already-eliminated tournament to 12 teams could only be a FYR Macedonia with a clear game positive advance on the previous eight- plan. Rui Jorge and his players had nation format. Ask Blagoja Milevski, the the target of winning by at least head coach of FYR Macedonia, debutant three goals. As it happened, they at a men’s final tournament. “I believe fell a goal short. They went home. that, in the future, we can be regular Slovakia stayed in the waiting room.

36 Poland 2017 Tournament review 37 ANALYSIS

THE LATE DECISION ON THE SQUAD LIST AFFECTED GERMANY’S TRAINING SCHEDULES AND TEAM STRATEGY FOR This left Group C subject to all sorts The varied THE TOURNAMENT of permutations among Germany, Italy styles of Andrea Petagna and Czech Republic with the top two (pictured) places at stake. On the Saturday, Italy and Federico had to beat Germany. But the required Bernardeschi gave Italy options margin of victory depended on the in attack Czechs. And so on. With Italy 1-0 ahead, news of how the Czech balloon was being punctured by Denmark was relayed to the benches. Reassured by a status quo that signified semi-final places for both Italy and Germany, the closing minutes were dedicated, amid whistling from the spectators, to some anodyne possession play. Slovakia gloomily packed their bags. Being drawn in Group A had obliged Slovakia to start their final game without a target whereas the teams in the other two groups, playing on later dates, knew exactly what they had to do. Is that fair? Stefan Kuntz managed Was it coincidence that the last group to his depleted resources brilliantly kick off provided the ‘best runner-up’? Another angle was that the structure, as one of the coaches put it, “held a knife to our throats”. “The groups were so tough that you wanted to field your MISSING in Russia. Kuntz acknowledged that best players all the time,” said another. the late decision on the squad list had “And the high level of intensity meant IN ACTION affected his training schedules and the that they were running risks of fatigue, team strategy for the tournament. He whereas you had players unused on might, for example, have preferred the bench.” On the other hand, UEFA’s With player availability different to operate with two strikers rather technical observers argued that the from team to team, how level was than one striker plus two wingers. format may have influenced the sharp the playing field? Other coaches also remarked that, increase in the number of goals. “When in terms of squad selection, the playing two teams qualify from four,” said Mixu Stefan Kuntz also voiced another field was not exactly level – but for Paatelainen, “there’s a temptation to be source of concern among the coaches different reasons. Nenad Lalatović and more cautious. But if you know you’ve in Poland. No fewer than nine players Marcin Dorna, head coaches of Serbia got to win the group to guarantee STICK OR TWIST? whose dates of birth made them eligible and Poland respectively, pointed to one a place in the semi-finals, you have for his squad were away on senior country where all players had been strong motives for playing to win.” team duty at the FIFA Confederations released for the U21s, but where clubs Bearing all this in mind, it may during the final tournament coach needs to decide how Cup. England coach Aidy Boothroyd had blocked the release of Serbian How much should a coach be easier to understand the degree rather than basing judgements much to change in order to found himself in a similar situation and Polish players. This is a relatively adapt his team and tactics of discomfort among the coaches. on performances during the counter the opposition without in that, in agreement with the senior widespread issue bearing in mind that, to the opposition? Germany’s Stefan Kuntz, eventually qualifying rounds – a perspective running the risk of destroying team coach and the FA technical even without the release problems, to graduate from ‘best runner-up’ to endorsed by the number the team’s own style.” One director, some eligible players had the squads in Poland averaged half-a- champion, expressed a widely-held view Tactical flexibility is a useful of enforced squad changes of the coaches succinctly been selected for FIFA World Cup dozen players enrolled at clubs outside among his colleagues. “The 12-team weapon in the coaches’ armoury. mentioned opposite. But how commented: “We looked at qualifying duties, while other players their native countries. What’s more, the format is not the optimal solution,” In Poland, scouting was thorough far do you bend to the qualities our opponents, but only to see who might have been selected had reason behind refusals to release players he said. “Eight or 16 teams would be and meticulous, with the coaches of the opposition? As one of the how best we could play our only just returned home after winning was that the days in June “were not much better.” Do you agree? Would it be stressing the importance of UEFA technical observers at the own football.” How easy is it to the FIFA U-20 World Cup in the Korea FIFA dates”. As the U21 tournament in desirable – or feasible – to manipulate watching future opponents tournament remarked: “The achieve that balance? Republic. Similarly, Rui Jorge travelled Poland was being staged concurrently the fixture list so that the final group to Poland without three players who with the official FIFA Confederations games could be played at the same time? had been selected for the senior squad Cup in Russia, is this logical?

38 Poland 2017 Tournament review 39 ANALYSIS

Dani Ceballos TEAM OF THE TOURNAMENT on the ball and with his trophy as the player of the tournament For only the second time at ‘starting list’ of 11 players rather of 33 and then 22 that they had the final tournament of the than a full 23-man squad. Meeting drawn up while the competition UEFA U21 competition, UEFA’s after the final, their daunting task was unfolding. The result was an technical observers were given was to eliminate outstanding all-star select XI that could be the challenging brief of selecting a performers from the ‘short’ lists fielded in a 1-4-4-2 formation.

FEDERICO MARCO ASENSIO BERNARDESCHI forward forward PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT

Dani Ceballos MAX MEYER Spain offensive midfield

At the UEFA European Under-19 Championship finals in 2015, Dani Ceballos was selected for the UEFA Team of the Tournament, alongside fellow midfielder Marco Asensio and DANI CEBALLOS SAÚL ÑÍGUEZ left midfield right midfield central defender Jesús Vallejo. All three played important roles in Poland and, coincidentally, all three have joined Real Madrid since lifting the U19 trophy in Greece. Ceballos, born with Andalusian love of the ball in his blood MAXIMILIAN ARNOLD defensive midfield and educated at the Balompié academy in Seville, travelled to Poland on the back of 30 Liga appearances MAKING in the 2016/17 season. He took the JEREMY TOLJAN top award at the U21 tournament YANNICK GERHARDT right-back as a prime example of a footballer left-back THEIR MARK with outstanding individual qualities dedicated to the collective needs of his NIKLAS STARK Dani Ceballos was named player of team. Operating mostly through the MILAN ŠKRINIAR centre-back centre-back the tournament, but his ten team- inside-left channel of the Spanish team, he used his technical skills to twist and mates in the all-star XI also showed turn away from aggressive pressure and plenty of promise for the future to link attacking play through midfield and into the final third with outstanding control, vision, creativity and ability to JULIAN POLLERSBECK goalkeeper see and deliver the telling through pass.

40 Poland 2017 Tournament review 41 RESULTS AND STANDINGS

Portugal 1-3 Spain Gdynia, 20 June Denmark 0-2 Italy Krakow, 18 June Czech Republic 2-4 Denmark Tychy, 24 June Spain 3-1 Italy Krakow, 27 June Goals 0-1 Ñíguez 21, 0-2 Ramírez 65, 1-2 Bruma Goals 0-1 Pellegrini 54, 0-2 Petagna 86 Goals 0-1 Andersen 23, 1-1 Schick 27, Goals 1-0 Ñíguez 53, 1-1 Bernardeschi 62, SCORES AND TABLES 77, 1-3 Williams 90+3 Denmark Højbjerg; Holst, Banggaard, Maxsø, 1-2 Zohore 35, 2-2 Chorý 54, 2-3 Zohore 73, 2-1 Ñíguez 65, 3-1 Ñíguez 74 Portugal Varela; Cancelo, Ié, Semedo, Rodrigues; Rasmussen; Hjulsager, Nørgaard, Christensen, 2-4 Ingvartsen 90+1 Spain Arrizabalaga; Bellerín, Meré, Vallejo, Jonny; Carvalho (Paciência 66), Neves, Sanches (Horta Børsting (Duelund 79); Andersen (Hansen 80), Czech Republic Zima; Havel, Lüftner, Simič, Llorente; Ceballos (Oyarzabal 88), Ñíguez; Deulofeu The games, goals and line-ups from Poland 73); Guedes, Fernandes, Podence (Bruma 57) Ingvartsen (Zohore 72) Holzer (Havlík 78); Souček, Hašek (Chorý 46); (Suárez 82), Ramírez (Williams 78), Asensio Spain Arrizabalaga; Bellerín, Meré, Vallejo, Jonny; Italy Donnarumma; Conti, Rugani, Caldara, Černý, Trávník, Jankto (Juliš 64); Schick Italy Donnarumma; Calabria, Caldara, Rugani, Llorente; Deulofeu (Suárez 82), Ñíguez, Ceballos, Barreca; Pellegrini, Gagliardini, Benassi (Grassi Denmark Højbjerg; Nissen, Maxsø, Banggaard, Barreca; Benassi (Garritano 87), Gagliardini (58 so), England 3-0 Poland Kielce, 22 June Asensio (Merino 90); Ramírez (Williams 75) 73); Berardi (Chiesa 67), Petagna (Cerri 88), Pedersen (Blåberg 74); Hjulsager (Ingvartsen Pellegrini, Chiesa (Locatelli 61); Petagna (Cerri 72), Goals 1-0 Gray 6, 2-0 Murphy 69, 3-0 Baker 82 (P) Yellow cards Neves 4, Fernandes 70, Paciência 75, Bernardeschi 65), Christensen (Nielsen 57), Nørgaard, Jensen; Bernardeschi Group A England Pickford; Holgate, Chambers, Semedo 79 (POR); Ceballos 57 (ESP) Yellow cards Nørgaard 26, Holst 83 (DEN) Zohore, Andersen Yellow cards Benassi 45+1, Gagliardini 50, 58, Mawson, Chilwell; Ward­-Prowse (Abraham 72), Referee Stieler ARs Foltyn, Seidel Referee Kružliak ARs Somolani, Hancko Yellow cards Černý 79, Simič 82, Souček 88 Calabria 56, Cerri 77 (ITA) P W D L F A PTS Chalobah (Hughes 39), Swift, Baker, Redmond Man of the match Vallejo (ESP) Man of the match Pellegrini (ITA) (CZE); Ingvartsen 69 (DEN) Red card Gagliardini 58 (ITA) (Murphy 46); Gray Referee Madden ARs McGeachie, Mather Referee Vinčić ARs Klančnik, Kovacic England 3 2 1 0 5 1 7 Poland Wrąbel; Kędziora, Bednarek (82 so), Man of the match Andersen (DEN) Man of the match Ñíguez (ESP) Germany 2-0 Czech Republic Tychy, 18 June Slovakia 3 2 0 1 6 3 6 Jach, Jaroszyński; Frankowski, Linetty, Murawski, Serbia 2-2 FYR Macedonia Bydgoszcz, 20 June Goals 1-0 Meyer 44, 2-0 Gnabry 50 Moneta (Lipski 46); Kownacki (Stępiński 73); Piątek Goals 1-0 Gačinović 24, 1-1 Bardi 64 (P), 1-2 3 0 2 1 2 5 2 Germany Pollersbeck; Toljan, Stark, Kempf, Sweden (Niezgoda 64) Gjorgjev 83, 2-2 Djurdjević 90 Italy 1-0 Germany Krakow, 24 June Gerhardt; Dahoud (Jung 66), Arnold (Haberer 86); 3 0 1 2 3 7 1 Yellow cards Mawson 65 (ENG); Bednarek 79, 82 Serbia Milinković-­Savić; Gajić (Filipović 46), Goal 1-0 Bernardeschi 31 FINAL Poland Weiser (Philipp 76), Meyer, Gnabry; Selke (POL) Red card Bednarek 82 (POL) Jovanović, Veljković, Antonov (Ožegović 77); Italy Donnarumma; Conti, Caldara, Rugani, Czech Republic Zima; Sáček (Chorý 81), Lüftner, Referee Lechner ARs Heidenreich, Kolbitsch Živković, Grujić (Ristić 52), Maksimović, Gačinović; Barreca; Chiesa (Petagna 78), Gagliardini, Germany 1-0 Spain Krakow, 30 June Poland 1-2 Slovakia Lublin, 16 June Simič, Havel; Souček; Černý (Hašek 72), Trávník, Man of the match Gray (ENG) Djurdjević, Plavšić Pellegrini, Benassi; Berardi (Locatelli 86), Goal 1-0 Weiser 40 Goals 1-0 Lipski 1, 1-1 Valjent 20, 1-2 Šafranko 78 Ševčík (Barák 56), Jankto; Schick FYR Macedonia Aleksovski; Murati, Zajkov, Bernardeschi Germany Pollersbeck; Toljan, Stark, Kempf, Poland Wrąbel; Kędziora, Bednarek, Jach, Yellow cards Trávnik 83, Jankto 89 (CZE) Velkoski, Demiri; Nikolov, Bardi; Radeski Germany Pollersbeck; Toljan, Stark, Kempf, Gerhardt; Haberer (Kohr 82); Weiser, Meyer, Jaroszyński; Dawidowicz, Linetty; Frankowski, Referee Manzano ARs Rodriguez, Sevilla Slovakia 3-0 Sweden Lublin, 22 June (Pivkovski 86), Babunski (Elmas 58), Markoski Gerhardt; Dahoud (Jung 72), Arnold; Weiser Arnold, Gnabry (Amiri 81); Philipp (Öztunali 87) Lipski (Niezgoda 82), Kapustka (Moneta 59); Man of the match Max Meyer (GER) Goals 1-0 Chrien 5, 2-0 Mihalík 22, 3-0 Šatka 73 (46); Avramovski (Gjorgjev 46) (Amiri 76), Meyer (Philipp 67), Gnabry; Selke Spain Arrizabalaga; Bellerín, Meré, Vallejo, Jonny Stępiński (Piątek 84) Slovakia Chovan; Šatka, Niňaj, Škriniar, Mazáň; Yellow cards Grujić 23, Plavšić 85, Jovanović 85, Yellow cards Berardi 32, Chiesa 34, Bernardeschi (Gayà 51); Ñíguez, Llorente (Mayoral 83), Ceballos; Slovakia Chovan; Valjent, Niňaj, Škriniar, Mazáň; Lobotka; Rusnák, Bero (Bénes 85), Chrien, Mihalík Veljković 90+4, Milinković­-Savić 90+5, Pankov 38, Conti 45+1 (ITA); Kempf 25, Arnold 32, Asensio, Ramírez (Williams 71), Deulofeu Lobotka; Rusnák, Bero (Bénes 90+2), Chrien, Czech Republic 3-1 Italy Tychy, 21 June (Haraslín 90); Zreľák (Šafranko 69) 90+5* (SRB); Markoski 14, Elmas 60 (MKD) Red Gerhardt 84 (GER) Yellow cards Arnold 47, Haberer 50, Stark 52, Mihalík (Haraslín 82); Zreľák (Šafranko 73) Goals 1-0 Trávník 24, 1-1 Berardi 70, 2-1 Havlík 79, Sweden Cajtoft; Wahlqvist, Larsson, Brorsson, card Pankov 90+5* (SRB) Referee Vinčić ARs Klančnik, Kovacic Meyer 78 (GER); Ñíguez 43, Llorente 54, Yellow cards Škriniar 71, Šafranko 81 (SVK) 3-1 Lüftner 85 Binaku; Mrabti, Hallberg (Tankovic 46), Olsson Referee Madden ARs McGeachie, Mather Man of the match Bernardeschi (ITA) Vallejo 89 (ESP) Referee Gözübüyük ARs Van Dongen, Van Zuilen Czech Republic Zima; Havel, Lüftner, Simič, Holzer; (Asoro 72), Fransson; Strandberg, Cibicki *Not on field of play Referee Bastien ARs Zakrani, Haquette Man of the match Lobotka (SVK) Hubínek (Chorý 77); Hašek (Havlík 66), Trávník, (Eliasson 46) Man of the match Gaćinović (SRB) Man of the match Weiser (GER) Yellow cards Mrabti 56, Wahlqvist 86 (SWE) Souček, Jankto; Schick (Sáček 83) Referee Manzano ARs Rodriguez, Sevilla Italy Donnarumma; Conti, Ferrari, Rugani, Calabria; Sweden 0-0 England Kielce, 16 June Man of the match Lobotka (SVK) Grassi (Chiesa 54), Cataldi (Cerri 83), Pellegrini; SEMI-FINALS Sweden Cajtoft; Wahlqvist, Larsson, Dagerstål, FYR Macedonia 2-4 Portugal Gdynia, 23 June Berardi, Petagna, Bernardeschi (Gagliardini 75) Lundqvist; Tibbling (Tankovic 85), Hallberg, Goals 0-1 Ié 2, 0-2 Bruma 22, 1-2 Bardi 40, 1-3 Yellow cards Hubínek 18, Havlík 76 (CZE); Berardi England 2-2 Germany Tychy, 27 June TOP SCORERS Fransson (Mrabti 73); Olsson; Cibicki, Engvall Podence 57, 2-3 Markoski 80, 2-4 Bruma 90+1 29, Cataldi 34, Conti 73, Cerri 87 (ITA) (Germany win 4-3 on penalties) (Strandberg 59) Group B FYR Macedonia Siskovski; Popzlatanov, Zajkov, Referee Bastien ARs Zakrani, Haquette Goals 0-1 Selke 35, 1-1 Gray 41, 2-1 Abraham 50, SAÚL ÑÍGUEZ England Pickford; Holgate, Mawson, Chambers, Bejtulai, Murati; Babunski (Markoski 74), Bardi, Man of the match Souček (CZE) 2-2 Platte 70 5 spain Chilwell; Ward­-Prowse, Baker, Chalobah, Murphy P W D L F A PTS Nikolov; Gjorgjev, Radeski (Musliu 28), Angelov Penalty shoot-out 0-1 Arnold, 1-1 Baker, (Gray 70); Redmond, Abraham (Elmas 57) 1-1 Gerhardt (saved), 1-1 Abraham (saved), 1-2 1 assist | 360 minutes played Referee Stieler ARs Foltyn, Seidel Spain 3 3 0 0 9 1 9 Portugal Varela, Cancelo, Ié, Figueiredo, Rebocho Germany 3-0 Denmark Krakow, 21 June Philipp, 2-2 Chilwell, 2-3 Meyer, 3-3 Ward-Prowse, (Rodrigues 18); Neves, Sanches (Horta 55); Man of the match Chalobah (ENG) Portugal 3 2 0 1 7 5 6 Goals 1-0 Selke 53, 2-0 Kempf 73, 3-0 Amiri 79 3-4 Amiri, 3-4 Redmond (saved) Medeiros, Podence (Jota 69, 90+2 so), Bruma; Germany Pollersbeck; Toljan, Stark, Kempf, England Pickford; Holgate (Iorfa 106), Chambers, Paciência MARCO ASENSIO Serbia 3 0 1 2 2 5 1 Gerhardt; Dahoud, Arnold (Amiri 65); Weiser Mawson, Chilwell; Ward­-Prowse, Hughes (Swift spain Poland 2-2 Sweden Lublin, 19 June Yellow cards Babunski 49, Musliu 63, (Jung 66), Meyer, Gnabry (Öztunali 80); Selke 86), Chalobah (Murphy 66), Gray (Redmond 73); 3 FYR Macedonia 3 0 1 2 4 11 1 Goals 1-0 Moneta 6, 1-1 Strandberg 36, 1-2 Siskovski 88, Bardi 90+5 (MKD); Paciência 86, Denmark Højbjerg; Holst, Maxsø, Banggaard, Baker, Abraham 1 assist | 351 minutes played Larsson 41, 2-2 Kownacki 90+1 (P) Figueiredo 90+7 (POR) Red card Jota 90+2 (POR) Blåberg (Pedersen 62); Hjulsager (Jensen 80), Germany Pollersbeck; Toljan, Jung (Kehrer 80), Referee Kružliak ARs Somolani, Hancko Poland Wrąbel; Kędziora, Bednarek, Jach, Portugal 2-0 Serbia Bydgoszcz, 17 June Christensen, Nørgaard, Nielsen (Zohore 56); Kempf, Gerhardt; Haberer (Kohr 102); Philipp, Man of the match Bruma (POR) Jaroszyński; Linetty, Dawidowicz (Piątek 88); Goals 1-0 Guedes 37, 2-0 Fernandes 88 Duelund, Ingvartsen Meyer, Arnold, Gnabry (Amiri 87); Selke (Platte 63) Frankowski, Kownacki, Moneta (Lipski 74); Varela; Cancelo, Ié, Semedo, Rodrigues; Yellow cards Jung 76, Toljan 84, Stark 90+2 (GER); Yellow cards Hughes 11, Chilwell 59, Holgate 84 BRUMA Portugal portugal Stępiński (Niezgoda 58) Carvalho (Sanches 59), Neves, Fernandes; Christensen 13, Duelund 46, Banggaard 63 (DEN) (ENG); Selke 19, Gnabry 81, Kempf 108, Arnold 113 3 Sweden Cajtoft; Wahlqvist, Larsson, Dagerstål, Referee Gözübüyük ARs Van Dongen, Van Zuilen Referee Mažeika ARs Šimkus, Kazlauskas Guedes, Podence (Medeiros 68), Jota (Bruma 46) Serbia 0-1 Spain Bydgoszcz, 23 June 0 assists | 167 minutes played Lundqvist; Tibbling (Tankovic 61), Hallberg, Serbia Milinković-­Savić; Gajić, Jovanović, Goal 0-1 Suárez 38 Man of the match Toljan (GER) Man of the match Pollersbeck (GER) Fransson (Mrabti 87); Olsson; Cibicki, Strandberg Veljković, Antonov; Živković, Grujić (Radonjić 68), Serbia Manojlović; Filipović, Jovanović, Veljković, (Engvall 69) Maksimović, Gačinović; Djurdjević (Ožegović 74), Antonov; Lukić (Plavšić 87), Maksimović, Gačinović; Yellow cards Kownacki 46, Niezgoda 65, Čavrić (Plavšić 46) Radonjić (Ristić 71), Djurdjević (41 so), Živković Bednarek 71, Linetty 86 (POL); Olsson 19, Yellow cards Semedo 19, Bruma 78, Fernandes Spain Pau; Odriozola, González, Merino, Gayà; Soler, Strandberg 24, Cibicki 29, Hallberg 89, Dagerstål 81 (POR); Grujić 4, Gačinović 51, Antonov 55, Hernández, Suárez; Williams, Mayoral, Oyarzabal Match officials 90, Wahlqvist 90+5 (SWE) Gajić 70 (SRB) Yellow cards Djurdjević 21, 41, Jovanović 40 (SRB); Referee Vinčić ARs Klančnik, Kovacic Referee Bastien ARs Zakrani, Haquette Merino 90 (ESP) Red card Djurdjević 41 (SRB) Referees Ángel Nevado Rodríguez (ESP) Tomaž Klančnik (SVN) Dennis Higler (NED) Man of the match Olsson (SWE) Man of the match Fernandes (POR) Referee Mažeika ARs Šimkus, Kazlauskas Harald Lechner (AUT) Diego Barbero Sevilla (ESP) Andraž Kovacic (SVN) Jeroen Manschot (NED) Man of the match Suárez (ESP) Jesús Gil Manzano (ESP) Hicham Zakrani (FRA) Andrew Dallas (SCO) Slovakia 1-2 England Kielce, 19 June Spain 5-0 FYR Macedonia Gdynia, 17 June Benoît Bastien (FRA) Frédéric Haquette (FRA) Additional assistant referees Donald Robertson (SCO) Goals 1-0 Chrien 23, 1-1 Mawson 50, Goals 1-0 Ñiguez 10, 2-0 Asensio 16, 3-0 (GER) Rafael Foltyn (GER) Alexander Harkam (AUT) Peter Královič (SVK) 1-2 Redmond 61 Deulofeu 35 (P), 4-0 Asensio 54, 5-0 Asensio 72 Group C Gediminas Mažeika (LTU) Jan Seidel (GER) Julian Weinberger (AUT) Filip Glova (SVK) Slovakia Chovan; Valjent, Niňaj, Škriniar, Mazáň; Spain Arrizabalaga; Bellerín, Meré, Vallejo, Gayà; Serdar Gözübüyük (NED) Vytautas Šimkus (LTU) Carlos Del Cerro (ESP) Rade Obrenović (SVN) Lobotka; Rusnák, Bero, Chrien (Bénes 66), Mihalík Llorente; Deulofeu (Ceballos 63), Suárez, Ñíguez, (SCO) Vytenis Kazlauskas (LTU) Roberto Ponis (SVN) P W D L F A PTS Juan Martínez Munuera (ESP) (Haraslín 73); Zreľák (Šafranko 65) Asensio (Oyarzabal 81); Ramírez (Williams 74) Ivan Kružliak (SVK) Bas van Dongen (NED) Benoît Millot (FRA) England Pickford; Holgate (Murphy 46), Chambers, FYR Macedonia Aleksovski; Bejtulai, Zajkov, 3 2 0 1 4 3 6 Slavko Vinčič (SVN) Joost van Zuilen (NED) Jérôme Miguelgorry (FRA) Fourth officials Mawson, Chilwell; Ward­-Prowse, Chalobah; Swift Velkoski, Demiri; Nikolov, Bardi; Radeski, Italy David McGeachie (SCO) (GER) Roy Hassan (ISR) (Gray 79), Baker, Redmond; Abraham (Woodrow 88) Babunski (Kostadinov 76), Markoski (Gjorgjev 46); 3 2 0 1 5 1 6 Germany Alastair Mather (SCO) Benjamin Brand (GER) Marcin Borkowski (POL) Yellow cards Bero 13, Mazáň 65 (SVK); Ward­ Angelov (Elmas 46) Assistant referees Prowse 27, Murphy 86, Baker 90+4 (ENG) Yellow card Meré 2 (ESP) Denmark 3 1 0 2 4 7 3 Andreas Heidenreich (AUT) Tomaš Somolani (SVK) Donatas Rumšas (LTU) Michał Obukowicz (POL) Maximilian Kolbitsch (AUT) Branislav Hancko (SVK) Robertas Valikonis (LTU) Igor Demeshko (RUS) Referee Mažeika ARs Šimkus, Kazlauskas Referee Lechner ARs Heidenreich, Kolbitsch Czech Republic 3 1 0 2 5 7 3 Man of the match Redmond (ENG) Man of the match Asensio (ESP)

42 Poland 2017 Tournament review 43 TEAM PROFILES

CZECH REPUBLIC DENMARK GROUP C ITALY (6pts), GERMANY (6), DENMARK (3), CZECH REPUBLIC (3) GROUP C ITALY (6pts), GERMANY (6), DENMARK (3), CZECH REPUBLIC (3)

COACH COACH

VÍTĚZSLAV NIELS LAVIČKA FREDERIKSEN

born: 30/04/63 born: 05/11/70 nationality: Czech nationality: Danish

STATISTICS STATISTICS

players goals players goals 18 used 5 scored 19 used 4 scored

335 Max: 415 v Denmark 397 Max: 415 v Italy ave. passes ave. passes attempted Min: 292 v Germany attempted Min: 386 v Czech Republic

75% Max: 80% v Denmark 83% Max: 88% v Germany passing passing accuracy Min: 77% v Germany accuracy Min: 80% v Italy, Czech Republic

Max: 49% v Denmark Max: 51% v Czech Republic 43% 46% possession possession Min: 39% v Germany Min: 44% v Italy

CZECH ATTACK Runs with DENMARK ATTACK Player TEAM SHAPES the ball TEAM SHAPES movement Player SQUAD movement SQUAD BORN G A GER ITA DEN CLUB 14 BORN G A ITA GER CZE CLUB 9 10 10 L0-2 W3-1 L2-4 L0-2 L0-3 W4-2 11 17 20 7 14 GOALKEEPERS 5 GOALKEEPERS 6 8

1 Luděk Vejmola 03/11/94 FK Mladá Boleslav 21 19 1 Jeppe Højbjerg 30/04/95 90 90 90 Esbjerg fB 5 2 2 6 4 3 16 Lukáš Zima 09/01/94 90 90 90 Genoa CFC 16 Thomas Hagelskjær 04/02/95 AGF Aarhus 16 1 23 Patrik Macej 11/06/94 MFK Zemplín Michalovce 22 Daniel Iversen 19/07/97 Leicester City FC DEFENDERS ATTACK: Under pressure, build by central DEFENDERS ATTACK: Full-backs up; 8 supporting attacks midfielder to striker; 10 linking midfield with with 6 in holding role; 10 dropping short to CZECH DEFENDING DENMARK DEFENDING 2 Stefan Simič 20/01/95 90 90 90 R. Excel Mouscron attack; 17, 11 solo runs into middle 2 Frederik Holst 24/09/94 90 90 Brøndby IF receive; 9 playing in depth 6 Michael Lüftner 14/03/94 1 90 90 90 SK Slavia Praha 3 Andreas Maxsø 18/03/94 90 90 90 FC Nordsjælland

15 Patrizio Stronati 17/11/94 FK Mladá Boleslav 4 Patrick Banggaard Jensen 04/04/94 90 90 90 SV Darmstadt 98 9 10 14 19 Milan Havel 07/08/94 90 90 90 Bohemians Praha 1905 5 Jakob Blåbjerg 11/01/95 62↓ 16↑ Aalborg BK 10 11 17 21 Daniel Holzer 18/08/95 90 78↓ AC Sparta Praha 20 5 12 Rasmus Nissen Kristensen 11/07/97 90 FC Midtjylland 7 14 6 8

22 Filip Kaša 01/01/94 MŠK Žilina 21 19 13 Joachim Andersen 31/05/96 FC Twente 2 6 5 2 4 3 MIDFIELDERS 15 Mads Pedersen 01/09/96 1 28↑ 74↓ FC Nordsjælland 16 1 3 Marek Havlík 08/07/95 1 24↑ 12↑ 1. FC Slovácko 20 Jacob Rasmussen 28/05/97 90 FC Schalke 04 4 Michal Sáček 19/09/96 81↓ 7↑ AC Sparta Praha DEFENCE: Two close lines of four; MIDFIELDERS DEFENCE: 10 dropping off to defend 5 Tomáš Souček 27/02/95 90 90 90 SK Slavia Praha 10 supplementing 14 as first line against 6 Christian Nørgaard 10/03/94 90 90 90 Brøndby IF against opposition’s deep midfielder attacks through the middle 8 Antonín Barák 03/12/94 34↑ SK Slavia Praha 7 Andrew Hjulsager 15/01/95 90 80↓ 65↓ RC Celta de Vigo 10 Michal Trávník 17/05/94 1 90 90 90 FK Jablonec 8 Lasse Vigen Christensen 15/08/94 90 90 57↓ Fulham FC KEY FEATURES 11 19/01/96 1 90 90 64 14 29/04/94 56 33 Odense BK ↓ KEY FEATURES Casper Nielsen ↓ ↑ ■■ 1-4-4-2 with quick transitions to compact 12 Michal Hubínek 10/11/94 77↓ Bohemians Praha 1905 17 Mathias Jensen 01/01/96 10↑ 90 FC Nordsjælland 1-4-4-1-1 defending ■■ Variations on 1-4-2-3-1; late switch to 1-3-4-1-2 ■■ Emphasis on building from back with one central 13 Jakub Nečas 26/01/95 FK Mladá Boleslav v Denmark 18 Emiliano Marcondes Hansen 09/03/95 10 FC Nordsjælland ↑ midfielder back ■■ Tactical flexibility; three changes of structure during 17 Václav Černý 17/10/97 1 72↓ 90 AFC Ajax 19 Frederik Børsting 13/02/95 79↓ Aalborg BK ■■ The other pushing forward to open play to wings, match v Italy 18 Petr Ševčík 04/05/94 56↓ FC Slovan Liberec 23 Mikkel Duelund Poulsen 29/06/97 11↑ 90 FC Midtjylland support attacks ■■ Frequent use of direct supply to front by screening ■■ Second striker Andersen dropping off to receive – and 20 Martin Hašek 03/10/95 18↑ 66↓ 45↓ Bohemians Praha 1905 midfielder Souček FORWARDS to defend ■■ Powerful, hard-working midfield; aggressive ■■ Right-back Holst overlapping; less adventurous wing- FORWARDS pressure; second ball 9 Marcus Ingvartsen 04/01/96 1 72↓ 90 25↑ FC Nordsjælland play on left 7 Lukáš Juliš 02/12/94 26↑ AC Sparta Praha ■■ Combinations on wings with overlapping full-backs, 10 Lucas Andersen 13/09/94 1 80↓ 90 Grasshopper Club Zürich ■■ Strong midfield pressing; quick pass to Andersen or wide players cutting in 9 Tomáš Chorý 26/01/95 1 1 9↑ 13↑ 45↑ SK Sigma Olomouc 11 Kenneth Zohore 31/01/94 2 2 18↑ 44↑ 90 Cardiff City AFC wide players after ball-win ■■ Spells of high pressing; direct attacking, long-range 14 24/01/96 1 1 90 83 90 UC Sampdoria ■■ Well-organised, compact unit; rational attacking with Patrik Schick ↓ shooting after ball win 21 Kasper Junker 05/03/94 AGF Aarhus four players balancing Numbers in match columns represent minutes played; G = goals; A = assists; ■■ Well-organised unit with strong work ethic, discipline, Numbers in match columns represent minutes played; G = goals; A = assists; ↑ = brought on; ↓ = taken off; S = suspended; so = sent off team spirit ↑ = brought on; ↓ = taken off; S = suspended; so = sent off

44 Poland 2017 Tournament review 45 TEAM PROFILES

ENGLAND FYR MACEDONIA GROUP A ENGLAND (7pts), SLOVAKIA (6), SWEDEN (2), POLAND (1) GROUP B SPAIN (9pts), PORTUGAL (6), SERBIA (1), FYR MACEDONIA (1)

COACH COACH

AIDY BLAGOJA BOOTHROYD MILEVSKI

born: 08/02/71 born: 25/03/71 nationality: English nationality: Macedonian

STATISTICS STATISTICS

players goals players goals 16 used 7 scored 20 used 4 scored

406 Max: 449 v Slovakia 341 Max: 403 v Spain ave. passes ave. passes attempted Min: 337 v Germany attempted Min: 301 v Serbia

84% Max: 86% v Slovakia, Poland 83% Max: 88% v Spain passing passing accuracy Min: 78% v Germany accuracy Min: 78% v Serbia

Max: 53% v Poland Max: 48% v Serbia 48% 43% possession possession Min: 35% v Germany Min: 40% v Portugal

ENGLAND ATTACK Player FYR MACEDONIA ATTACK Player TEAM SHAPES movement TEAM SHAPES movement SQUAD SQUAD 18 BORN G A SWE SVK POL GER CLUB 11 7 BORN G A ESP SRB POR CLUB 15 D0-0 W2-1 W3-0 D2-2* L0-5 D2-2 L2-4 17 9 10 10 8 7 8 GOALKEEPERS 4 GOALKEEPERS

1 Jordan Pickford 07/03/94 90 90 90 120 Sunderland AFC 3 2 1 Igor Aleksovski 24/02/95 90 90 FK Vardar 19 15 23 5 14 5 13 Angus Gunn 22/01/96 Manchester City FC 12 Damjan Siskovski 18/03/95 90 FK Rabotnicki 1 1 21 Jonathan Mitchell 24/11/94 Derby County FC 13 Filip Ilic 26/01/97 FK Metalurg Skopje DEFENDERS ATTACK: Full-backs up at every DEFENDERS ATTACK: Full-backs up; 18 drifting wide, opportunity; midfield diamond; 7, 11 9 cutting in. Systematic counters; 7 more 2 Mason Holgate 22/10/96 90 45↓ 90 106↓ Everton FC ENGLAND DEFENDING FYR MACEDONIA DEFENDING making runs behind defence 3 Jovan Popzlatanov 06/07/96 90 FK Pelister offensive; solo runs, long-range shots 3 Ben Chilwell 21/12/96 1 90 90 90 120 Leicester City FC 4 13/11/94 62↑ FK Renova 5 Calum Chambers 20/01/95 90 90 90 120 Arsenal FC 5 10/02/95 90 90 90 R. Charleroi SC 18 6 Jack Stephens 27/01/94 Southampton FC 11 7 15 6 Aleksa Amanovic 24/10/96 FK Javor 12 Matt Targett 18/09/95 Southampton FC 10 17 9 10 8 14 21/06/95 90 90 FK Vardar 7 8 16 20/09/95 Arsenal FC 4 15 07/01/94 90 90 KF Shkëndija 3 2 19 15 17 Kortney Hause 16/07/95 Wolverhampton Wanderers 23 5 14 5 19 Besir Demiri 01/08/94 90 90 KF Shkëndija 18 Dominic Iorfa 24/06/95 14↑ Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 1 21 Mevlan Murati 05/03/94 90 90 KF Shkëndija 23 Alfie Mawson 19/01/94 1 90 90 90 120 Swansea City AFC MIDFIELDERS DEFENCE: Transitions with strikers MIDFIELDERS DEFENCE: Compact lines, either deep or dropping level with 15 to form first line from midfield; 10 players behind ball 4 Nathaniel Chalobah 12/12/94 90 90 39↓ 66↓ Chelsea FC 2 Eljif Elmas 27/09/99 1 45↑ 32↑ 33↑ FK Rabotnicki of defence 7 Demarai Gray 28/06/96 2 1 20↑ 11↑ 90 73↓ Leicester City FC 7 Enis Bardi 02/07/95 2 90 90 90 Újpest FC 8 James Ward-Prowse 01/11/94 1 90 90 72↓ 120 Southampton FC 8 28/07/94 90 90 90 FK Vardar KEY FEATURES 10 David Babunski 01/03/94 76↓ 58↓ 74↓ Yokohama Marinos 10 Lewis Baker 25/04/95 1 90 90 90 120 Chelsea FC KEY FEATURES ■■ 1-4-2-3-1 with fast transitions to midfield or deep

■■ 11 20/02/95 45 NK Olimpija Ljubljana 1-4-4-1-1 defending 11 Nathan Redmond 06/03/94 1 90 90 45↓ 47↑ Southampton FC 1-4-2-3-1 or 1-4-4-2 with midfield diamond with ↓ Chalobah as single screen ■■ 20 04/03/96 14↑ FC ViOn Zlaté Moravce Emphasis on combination play; some good individual 15 John Swift 23/06/95 79↓ 90 34↑ Reading FC technique ■■ Controlled possession play; elaborate build-ups; skill 19 Will Hughes 17/04/95 1 51↑ 86↓ Derby County FC in tight situations FORWARDS ■■ Screening midfielder Nikolov dropping deep to initiate attacking play 20 Jack Grealish 10/09/95 Aston Villa FC ■■ Quick transitions to compact 1-4-1-4-1 or 1-4-3-3 9 10/02/95 1 90 86↓ 28↓ KF Shkëndija defending ■■ Aggressive pressure on ball-carrier; direct FORWARDS 16 Petar Petkovski 03/01/97 FK Vardar counterattacking after ball-win ■■ Varied attacking options with one striker or two; 9 Tammy Abraham 02/10/97 1 90 88↓ 18↑ 120 Chelsea FC overlapping full-backs 17 Kire Markoski 20/05/95 1 45↓ 90 16↑ FK Rabotnicki ■■ Strong running with the ball and long-range shooting, often by Bardi 14 Jacob Murphy 24/02/95 1 70↓ 45↑ 45↑ 54↑ Norwich City FC ■■ Keeper playing short, even under pressure, or 18 Viktor Angelov 27/03/94 45↓ 57↓ Újpest FC opening to high full-backs ■■ Fluid positional interchanging among middle-to-front 22 Cauley Woodrow 02/12/94 2↑ Fulham FC 22 Nikola Gjorgjev 22/08/97 1 45↑ 45↑ 90 Grasshopper Club Zürich players ■■ Excellent middle-to-front linking play, passes behind 23 Filip Pivkovski 31/01/94 4↑ Landskrona BoIS ■■ * After extra time; Germany won 4-3 on penalties defence Hardworking team; positive attitude; mental resilience (behind in every game) Numbers in match columns represent minutes played; G = goals; A = assists; ■■ Immediate press after ball-loss; high press only at Numbers in match columns represent minutes played; G = goals; A = assists; ↑ = brought on; ↓ = taken off; S = suspended; so = sent off opposition goal-kicks ↑ = brought on; ↓ = taken off; S = suspended; so = sent off

46 Poland 2017 Tournament review 47 TEAM PROFILES

GERMANY ITALY GROUP C ITALY (6pts), GERMANY (6), DENMARK (3), CZECH REPUBLIC (3) GROUP C ITALY (6pts), GERMANY (6), DENMARK (3), CZECH REPUBLIC (3)

COACH COACH

STEFAN LUIGI KUNTZ DI BIAGIO

born: 30/10/62 born: 03/06/71 nationality: German nationality: Italian

STATISTICS STATISTICS

players goals 19 8 scored players goals used 19 used 5 scored

Max: 557* v England 508 407 Max: 506 v Czech Republic ave. passes ave. passes attempted 375 v Spain Min: attempted Min: 285 v Spain

Max: 92% v Denmark 88% 81% Max: 85% v Germany passing passing accuracy 83% v Spain Min: accuracy Min: 78% v Spain

Max: 65% v England 55% Max: 59% v Czech Republic possession 49% 41% v Spain possession Min: Min: 37% v Spain * Pro rata figure based on 90 mins

GERMANY ATTACK Runs with ITALY ATTACK Player TEAM SHAPES the ball TEAM SHAPES movement Player SQUAD movement SQUAD BORN G A CZE DEN ITA ENG ESP CLUB 9 BORN G A DEN CZE GER ESP CLUB 10 11 7 17 W2-0 W3-0 L0-1 D2-2* W1-0 W2-0 L1-3 W1-0 L1-3 20 7 10 6 15 GOALKEEPERS 8 GOALKEEPERS 18 3 12 1 Marvin Schwäbe 25/04/95 TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 3 15 5 2 1 Gianluigi Donnarumma 25/02/99 90 90 90 90 AC Milan 4 13 12 Julian Pollersbeck 16/08/94 90 90 90 120 90 1. FC Kaiserslautern 17 28/06/94 Benevento 12 1 23 Odisseas Vlachodimos 26/04/94 Panathinaikos FC 19 31/05/96 Udinese Calcio ATTACK: One central midfielder deep to build ATTACK: High midfield line with DEFENDERS DEFENDERS ITALY DEFENDING with centre-backs; 7 moving in forward areas; full-backs ready to support front five 2 Jeremy Toljan 08/08/94 3 90 90 90 120 90 TSG 1899 Hoffenheim GERMANY DEFENDING 9 staying central; wingers looking for 1v1 2 06/12/96 90 90 AC Milan 3 Yannick Gerhardt 13/03/94 90 90 90 120 90 VfL Wolfsburg 3 18/03/95 90 90 90 Torino FC 4 Waldemar Anton 20/07/96 4 Daniele Rugani 29/07/94 90 90 90 90 Juventus 10 5 Niklas Stark 14/04/95 90 90 90 90 Hertha BSC 9 7 12 02/03/94 90 90 90 S Atalanta BC 20 7 11 17 Andrea Conti 6 15 6 Gideon Jung 12/09/94 24↑ 24↑ 18↑ 80↓ Hamburger SV 18 13 05/05/94 90 90 90 Atalanta BC 10 8 14 Lukas Klünter 26/05/96 1. FC Köln 3 4 13 12 14 Davide Biraschi 02/07/94 Genoa CFC 15 Marc-Oliver Kempf 28/01/95 1 90 90 90 120 90 SC Freiburg 3 2 15 5 22 Alex Ferrari 01/07/94 90 Hellas-Verona FC 1 16 Thilo Kehrer 21/09/96 40↑ FC Schalke 04 12 23 29/11/97 US Città di Palermo MIDFIELDERS DEFENCE: Transitions by disciplined 7 ready to attack opponents MIDFIELDERS 7 Max Meyer 18/09/95 1 1 90 90 67↓ 120 90 FC Schalke 04 DEFENCE: midfielders; strong pressing by five in central area; wide players sometimes front players 8 Mahmoud Dahoud 01/01/96 66↓ 90 72↓ VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach 5 06/08/94 83↓ Genoa CFC dropping deep to form line of four 10 Maximilian Arnold 27/05/94 2 86↓ 65↓ 90 120 90 VfL Wolfsburg 6 19/06/96 1 1 90 90 90 90 US Sassuolo Calcio 11 Serge Gnabry 14/07/95 1 90 80↓ 90 87↓ 81↓ SV Werder Bremen 8 07/03/95 17↑ 54↓ Atalanta BC KEY FEATURES KEY FEATURES 15 08/09/94 73↓ 90 87↓ Torino FC 17 Mitchell Weiser 21/04/94 1 1 76↓ 66↓ 76↓ 90 Hertha BSC ■■ 1-4-3-3 or 1-4-1-4-1 with Gagliardini as single ■■ 1-4-2-3-1 with fast transitions to compact 1-4-4-1-1 16 11/02/94 3↑ AC Cesena holding midfielder 18 27/10/96 1 25↑ 14↑ 33↑ 9↑ TSG 1899 Hoffenheim defending 18 Roberto Gagliardini 07/04/94 90 15↑ 90 58so FC Internazionale Milano ■■ Attacking options: classic striker Petagna or free- 20 15/03/96 10 3 1. FSV Mainz 05 ■■ Levin Öztunali ↑ ↑ Patient build-up using defensive midfielders and two moving Bernardeschi advanced full-backs 21 08/01/98 4↑ 29↑ AC Milan 21 31/01/94 18↑ 8↑ FC Augsburg ■■ Well-balanced team with fast transitions in both ■■ Freedom of movement in upper midfield; penetrating FORWARDS directions FORWARDS runs behind defence ■■ Dynamic runs by central midfielders and full-backs; ■■ 7 01/08/94 1 67 90 86 S US Sassuolo Calcio 9 Davie Selke 20/01/95 2 1 90 90 90 63↓ RB Leipzig Meyer the middle-to-front link; dangerous runs from ↓ ↓ good-quality crosses below main striker 13 Felix Platte 11/02/96 1 57↑ SV Darmstadt 98 9 16/04/96 2↑ 7↑ 18↑ Pescara Calcio ■■ High collective pressing led to ball-winning in ■■ Dahoud, Arnold box-to-box players, alternating in 10 Federico Bernardeschi 16/02/94 2 90 75 90 90 ACF Fiorentina advanced areas 19 Janik Haberer 02/04/94 4↑ 102↓ 82↓ SC Freiburg supporting attacks ↓ ■■ Strong centre-backs with aerial power; dangerous 22 01/03/94 SC Freiburg ■■ 11 Andrea Petagna 30/06/95 1 88↓ 90 12↑ 72↓ Atalanta BC Maximilian Philipp 14↑ 23↑ 120 87↓ High defensive line; instant collective pressing after set plays loss of possession 20 25/10/97 2 23↑ 36↑ 78↓ 61↓ ACF Fiorentina ■■ * After extra time; Germany won 4-3 on penalties Tactically disciplined, hard-working unit with strong ■■ Strong, athletic players; high-tempo passing aiming team ethic Numbers in match columns represent minutes played; G = goals; A = assists; to dictate pace of game Numbers in match columns represent minutes played; G = goals; A = assists; ↑ = brought on; ↓ = taken off; S = suspended; so = sent off ↑ = brought on; ↓ = taken off; S = suspended; so = sent off

48 Poland 2017 Tournament review 49 TEAM PROFILES

POLAND PORTUGAL GROUP A ENGLAND (7pts), SLOVAKIA (6), SWEDEN (2), POLAND (1) GROUP B SPAIN (9pts), PORTUGAL (6), SERBIA (1), FYR MACEDONIA (1)

COACH COACH

MARCIN RUI DORNA JORGE

born: 17/09/79 born: 27/03/73 nationality: Polish nationality: Portuguese

STATISTICS STATISTICS

players goals players goals 16 used 3 scored 18 used 7 scored

384 Max: 404 v Slovakia 461 Max: 505 v FYR Macedonia ave. passes ave. passes attempted Min: 362 v England attempted Min: 417 v Serbia

84% Max: 89% v England 83% Max: 88% v FYR Macedonia passing passing accuracy Min: 78% v Sweden accuracy Min: 76% v Serbia

Max: 51% v Slovakia Max: 60% v FYR Macedonia 48% 52% possession possession Min: 47% v England, Sweden Min: 47% v Serbia

POLAND ATTACK Player PORTUGAL ATTACK Player TEAM SHAPES movement TEAM SHAPES movement SQUAD SQUAD BORN G A SVK SWE ENG CLUB 14 9 BORN G A SRB ESP MKD CLUB 20 18 7 L1-2 D2-2 L0-3 W2-0 L1-3 W4-2 13 7 11 GOALKEEPERS 17 GOALKEEPERS 10 23 6 1 Bartłomiej Drągowski 19/08/97 ACF Fiorentina 2 4 1 Bruno Varela 04/11/94 90 90 90 Vitória FC 15 6 13 5 3 2 12 Jakub Wrąbel 08/06/96 90 90 90 WKS Śląsk Wrocław 12 Miguel Silva 07/04/95 Vitória SC 12 1 22 Maksymilian Stryjek 18/07/96 Sunderland AFC 22 Joel Pereira 28/06/96 Manchester United FC ATTACK: Full-backs up when possible; ATTACK: High-tempo combinations with DEFENDERS DEFENDERS PORTUGAL DEFENDING 11 more adventurous on right; 7 linking positional interchanging in midfield POLAND BASIC 2 Paweł Jaroszyński 02/10/94 90 90 90 MKS Cracovia Kraków in midfield 2 João Cancelo 27/05/94 90 90 90 Valencia CF 4 Tomasz Kędziora 11/06/94 1 90 90 90 KKS Lech Poznań 3 Edgar Ié 01/05/94 1 90 90 90 CF Os Belenenses 5 Igor Łasicki 26/06/95 SSC Napoli 4 Tobias Figueiredo 02/02/94 90 CD Nacional 7 9 14 20 18 6 Jan Bednarek 12/04/96 90 90 82so KKS Lech Poznań 5 Rúben Semedo 04/04/94 90 90 Sporting Clube de Portugal 10 23 13 11 15 Jarosław Jach 17/02/94 90 90 90 Zagłębie Lubin 7 13 Kevin Rodrigues 05/03/94 1 90 90 72↑ de Fútbol 6 17 13 2 23 Przemysław Szymiński 24/06/94 Wisła Płock 14 Rebocho 23/01/95 18↓ Moreirense FC 5 3 2 4 15 6 MIDFIELDERS 15 Fernando 14/03/97 FC Porto 1 12 3 Krystian Bielik 04/01/98 Arsenal FC MIDFIELDERS DEFENCE: Two lines of four with wingers 7 02/02/95 90 90 90 UC Sampdoria DEFENCE: Quick transitions to deep block, 6 Rúben Neves 13/03/97 90 90 90 FC Porto dropping back to cover full-backs 8 Radosław Murawski 22/04/94 90 GKS looking to counter at speed 7 Daniel Podence 21/10/95 1 68↓ 57↓ 69↓ Moreirense FC 10 Patryk Lipski 12/06/94 1 82↓ 16↑ 45↑ Unattached 8 Francisco Geraldes 18/04/95 Moreirense FC KEY FEATURES 11 Przemysław Frankowski 12/04/95 90 90 90 Jagiellonia Białystok 10 Bruno Fernandes 08/09/94 1 90 90 UC Sampdoria KEY FEATURES ■■ Attack-minded 1-4-3-3; switches to 1-4-4-2 when 13 Łukasz Moneta 13/05/94 1 31↑ 74↓ 45↓ Ruch Chorzów 16 Renato Sanches 18/08/97 1 31↑ 73↓ 55↓ FC Bayern München protecting result ■■ Variations on 1-4-4-2 after initial 1-4-2-3-1 14 Dawid Kownacki 14/03/97 1 1 S 90 73↓ KKS Lech Poznań v Slovakia 17 Francisco Ramos 10/04/95 FC Porto ■■ Possession-based game with high levels of technique in all departments 17 Pawel Dawidowicz 20/05/95 90 88↓ VfL Bochum 1848 ■■ Build-up from centre-backs through central 23 João Carvalho 09/03/97 59↓ 66↓ Vitória FC midfielders to wings ■■ Emphasis on building through thirds with short- 18 Jarosław Niezgoda 15/03/95 8↑ 32↑ 26↑ Legia Warszawa passing combinations ■■ Good penetration on flanks and crossing, especially FORWARDS 19 23/12/96 59↓ Leicester City FC Frankowski on right 9 Gonçalo Paciência 01/08/94 24↑ 90 Rio Ave FC ■■ Strong attacking via wide areas, deep overlapping runs by both full-backs ■■ Quick transitions to deep defending; fast counters 20 Jarosław Kubicki 07/08/95 Zagłębie Lubin 11 Iuri Medeiros 10/07/94 2 22↑ 90 Boavista FC after possession regains ■■ Collective high pressing or quick transitions to 18 29/11/96 1 90 90 Paris Saint-Germain 1-4-1-4-1 defending FORWARDS ■■ Effective overlapping by full-backs a key component Gonçalo Guedes 9 Mariusz Stępiński 12/05/95 84↓ 58↓ 17↑ FC Nantes in attacking play 19 Diogo Jota 04/12/96 45↓ 21↑so FC Porto ■■ Distribution to wings by two wide midfielders with Neves in holding role ■■ Spells of aggressive high pressing; dangerous set 16 Krzysztof Piątek 01/07/95 6↑ 2↑ 64↓ MKS Cracovia Kraków 20 Bruma 24/10/94 3 45↑ 33↑ 90 Galatasaray AŞ plays delivered by Lipski ■■ 1v1 or through-pass solutions in final third; low crosses or cut-backs 21 Adam Buksa 12/07/96 Zagłębie Lubin ■■ Strong team ethic, work-rate, commitment, 21 Ricardo Horta 15/09/94 17↑ 35↑ SC Braga Numbers in match columns represent minutes played; G = goals; A = assists; mental resilience Numbers in match columns represent minutes played; G = goals; A = assists; ↑ = brought on; ↓ = taken off; S = suspended; so = sent off ↑ = brought on; ↓ = taken off; S = suspended; so = sent off

50 Poland 2017 Tournament review 51 TEAM PROFILES

SERBIA SLOVAKIA GROUP B SPAIN (9pts), PORTUGAL (6), SERBIA (1), FYR MACEDONIA (1) GROUP A ENGLAND (7pts), SLOVAKIA (6), SWEDEN (2), POLAND (1)

COACH COACH

NENAD PAVEL LALATOVIĆ HAPAL

born: 22/12/77 born: 27/07/69 nationality: Serbian nationality: Czech

STATISTICS STATISTICS

players goals players goals 18 used 2 scored 15 used 6 scored

415 Max: 481 v Portugal 463 Max: 533 v Sweden ave. passes ave. passes attempted Min: 379 v FYR Macedonia attempted Min: 376 v Poland

80% Max: 84% v Spain 87% Max: 88% v Sweden passing passing accuracy Min: 76% v FYR Macedonia accuracy Min: 76% v England, Poland

Max: 53% v Portugal Max: 55% v Sweden 47% 51% possession possession Min: 37% v Spain Min: 49% v England, Poland

SERBIA ATTACK Player SLOVAKIA ATTACKING Player TEAM SHAPES movement TEAM SHAPES movement SQUAD SQUAD 15 BORN G A POR MKD ESP CLUB 9 BORN G A POL ENG SWE CLUB

L0-2 D2-2 L0-1 W2-1 L1-2 W3-0 7 8 21 10 11 17 GOALKEEPERS 22 16 GOALKEEPERS 8 6 1 Filip Manojlović 25/04/96 90 FK Crvena zvezda 3 2 1 Adrián Chovan 08/10/95 90 90 90 FK AS Trenčín 14 4 5 14 3 2 12 Djordje Nikolić 13/04/97 FC Basel 1893 12 Marek Rodák 13/12/96 Fulham FC 23 1 23 Vanja Milinković-Savić 20/02/97 90 90 KS Lechia Gdańsk 23 Adam Jakubech 02/01/97 FC Spartak Trnava DEFENDERS ATTACK: Preference for right side; DEFENDERS ATTACK: Full-backs up; 6 the playmaker; relationship between 2 and 17. Striker SLOVAKIA DEFENDINGcombinations in midfield SERBIA DEFENDING 2 Milan Gajić 28/01/96 90 45↓ FC Girondins de Bordeaux ready to receive direct pass after ball win 2 Branislav Niňaj 17/05/94 90 90 90 KSC Lokeren OV 3 Nemanja Antonov 06/05/95 90 77↓ 90 Grasshopper Club Zürich 3 Milan Škriniar 11/02/95 90 90 90 UC Sampdoria

4 Nikola Milenković 12/10/97 FK Partizan 4 Martin Valjent 11/12/95 1 90 90 Ternana Calcio 15 5 Miloš Veljković 26/09/95 90 90 90 SV Werder Bremen 9 13 Ľubomír Šatka 02/12/95 1 90 Newcastle United FC 21 22 7 10 8 6 Radovan Pankov 05/08/95 so* S FC Ural Sverdlovsk Oblast 14 Róbert Mazáň 09/02/94 1 90 90 90 MŠK Žilina 6 11 17 16 8 14 4 13 Miroslav Bogosavac 14/10/96 FK Partizan 16 Lukáš Skovajsa 27/03/94 FK AS Trenčín 3 2 3 2 14 Vukašin Jovanović 17/05/96 90 90 90 FC Girondins de Bordeaux 5 14 19 Denis Vavro 10/04/96 MŠK Žilina 1 23 15 Aleksandar Filipović 20/12/94 45↑ 90 FK Voždovac MIDFIELDERS DEFENCE: 3 the leader of strong back four, MIDFIELDERS DEFENCE: Compact lines with strong 5 Tomáš Huk 22/12/94 FC DAC 1904 Dunajská Streda ready to break forward; 6 controlling in front 8 Nemanja Maksimović 26/01/95 90 90 90 FC Astana pressing as from midfield; ten behind the ball 6 25/11/94 90 90 90 FC Nordsjælland 10 Mijat Gaćinović 08/02/95 1 90 90 90 7 Jaroslav Mihalík 27/07/94 1 82↓ 73↓ 89↓ MKS Cracovia Kraków KEY FEATURES 16 Marko Grujić 13/04/96 68↓ 52↓ S Liverpool FC 8 Martin Chrien 08/09/95 2 1 90 66↓ 90 MFK Ružomberok KEY FEATURES ■■ 1-4-1-4-1 with Lobotka as controlling midfielder and 18 Dejan Meleg 01/10/94 FK Vojvodina 10 Albert Rusnák 07/07/94 1 90 90 90 playmaker ■■ 1-4-1-4-1 with Maksimović as single screening 19 Saša Lukić 13/08/96 87↓ Torino FC midfielder 11 Nikolas Špalek 12/02/97 MŠK Žilina ■■ Quick transitions in both directions; compact movements by middle four 20 Mihailo Ristić 31/10/95 38↑ 19↑ FK Crvena zvezda ■■ Combination play when not pressed; good passing 17 Lukáš Haraslín 26/05/96 8↑ 17↑ 1↑ KS Lechia Gdańsk between lines ■■ Patient build or, when pressed, direct supply to 22 Srdjan Plavšić 03/12/95 45↑ 90 3↑ FK Crvena zvezda 20 Miroslav Káčer 02/02/96 MŠK Žilina target striker Zreľák ■■ When pressed, direct supply to striker and FORWARDS second-ball support from midfield 21 Matúš Bero 06/09/95 2 89↓ 90 85↓ ■■ Compact disciplined defending; wide midfielders supplementing back four ■■ Plentiful supply of crosses with full-backs high to 7 Ognjen Ožegović 09/06/94 16↑ 13↑ FK Čukarički 22 LászlÓ Bénes 09/09/97 1↑ 24↑ 5↑ VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach support ■■ Excellent passing game with good options for player 9 02/03/94 1 74 90 41so FK Partizan in possession Uroš Djurdjević ↓ ■■ Good combinations on right, with left-footed winger FORWARDS 11 Aleksandar Čavrić 18/05/94 45↓ ŠK Slovan Bratislava cutting inside 9 Tomáš Vestenický 06/04/96 MKS Cracovia Kraków ■■ High press at opponents’ goal-kicks; instant pressure after ball loss ■■ Dangerous runs, through passes between centre- 17 Andrija Živković 11/07/96 1 90 90 90 SL Benfica 15 Adam Zreľák 05/05/94 1 73↓ 65↓ 69↓ FK Jablonec backs and full-backs ■■ Strong team and work ethics; disciplined defence backed by influential keeper 21 Nemanja Radonjić 15/02/96 22↑ 71↓ FK Čukarički ■■ Fierce pressure on ball-carrier normally from 18 Pavol Šafranko 16/11/94 1 17↑ 25↑ 21↑ FC DAC 1904 Dunajská Streda Numbers in match columns represent minutes played; G = goals; A = assists; midfield; occasional high press Numbers in match columns represent minutes played; G = goals; A = assists; ↑ = brought on; ↓ = taken off; S = suspended; so = sent off: so* = sent off from bench ↑ = brought on; ↓ = taken off; S = suspended; so = sent off

52 Poland 2017 Tournament review 53 TEAM PROFILES

SPAIN SWEDEN GROUP B SPAIN (9pts), PORTUGAL (6), SERBIA (1), FYR MACEDONIA (1) GROUP A ENGLAND (7pts), SLOVAKIA (6), SWEDEN (2), POLAND (1)

COACH COACH

ALBERT HÅKAN CELADES ERICSON

born: 29/09/75 born: 29/05/60 nationality: Spanish nationality: Swedish

STATISTICS STATISTICS

players goals players goals 22 used 12 scored 18 used 2 scored

611 Max: 731 v Serbia 444 Max: 452 v Slovakia ave. passes ave. passes attempted Min: 521 v Portugal attempted Min: 431 v Poland

89% Max: 92% v Serbia 84% Max: 86% v Slovakia passing passing accuracy Min: 84% v Portugal accuracy Min: 81% v England

Max: 63% v Serbia, Italy Max: 53% v Poland 59% 49% possession possession Min: 52% v Portugal Min: 45% v Slovakia

SPAIN ATTACK Player SWEDEN DEFENDING Player TEAM SHAPES movement TEAM SHAPES movement

SQUAD SQUAD 10 BORN G A MKD POR SRB ITA GER CLUB 12 BORN G A ENG POL SVK CLUB 18 11 7 W5-0 W3-1 W1-0 W3-1 L0-1 D0-0 D2-2 L0-3 8 6 8 7 6 GOALKEEPERS GOALKEEPERS 22 16 5 2 19 2 1 Kepa Arrizabalaga 03/10/94 90 90 90 90 Athletic Club 1 25/12/96 AFC Eskilstuna 14 3 5 4 13 Rubén Blanco 25/07/95 RC Celta de Vigo 12 Anton Cajtoft 13/02/94 90 90 90 Jönköpings Södra IF 1 12 16 Pau López 13/12/94 90 Tottenham Hotspur FC 23 Pontus Dahlberg 21/01/99 IFK Göteborg ATTACK: High-tempo combinations with ATTACK: 16 dropping to build alongside DEFENDERS SPAIN DEFENDING DEFENDERS positional interchanging in midfield centre-backs; balanced attacking with 2 Héctor Bellerín 19/03/95 90 90 90 90 Arsenal FC 2 Linus Wahlqvist 11/11/96 90 90 90 IFK Norrköping SWEDEN BASIC FORMATION great discipline 3 José Gayà 25/05/95 1 90 90 39↑ Valencia CF 3 08/04/94 1 90 90 90 Djurgårdens IF 12 4 Jorge Meré 17/04/97 90 90 90 90 Real Sporting de Gijón 4 Joakim Nilsson 06/02/94 IF Elfsborg 10 11 6 8 7 18 5 Jesús Vallejo 05/01/97 90 90 90 90 Real Madrid CF 5 20/03/94 90 90 IF Elfsborg

22 8 6 13 27/02/96 Molde FK 7 17 Álvaro Odriozola 14/12/95 1 90 Real Sociedad de Fútbol Isak Ssewankambo 16 19 2 19 Jonny Castro Otto 03/03/94 90 90 51↓ RC Celta de Vigo 5 4 14 Filip Dagerstål 01/02/97 90 90 IFK Norrköping 5 2 14 23 Diego González 28/01/95 90 Sevilla FC 1 15 Franz Brorsson 30/01/96 90 Malmö FF 3 20 Egzon Binaku 27/08/95 90 BK Hacken 12 MIDFIELDERS DEFENCE: Two lines of four with wingers 6 Dani Ceballos 07/08/96 1 27↑ 90 88↓ 90 Real Betis Balompié dropping back to cover full-backs MIDFIELDERS DEFENCE: Narrow compact set-up with 8 Saúl Ñíguez 21/11/94 5 1 90 90 90 90 Club Atlético de Madrid 6 07/09/94 85↓ 61↓ FC Groningen two lines very close together 10 Denis Suárez 06/01/94 1 90 8↑ 90 8↑ FC Barcelona KEY FEATURES 7 02/04/94 1 73↓ 87↓ 90 FC Basel 1893 11 Marco Asensio 21/01/96 3 1 81↓ 89↓ 90 90 Real Madrid CF 8 Kristoffer Olsson 30/06/95 1 90 90 72↓ AIK ■■ 1-4-3-3 with single screening midfielder and two KEY FEATURES 14 Mikel Merino 22/06/96 1↑ 90 9 Muamer Tankovic 22/02/95 5↑ 29↑ 45↑ AZ Alkmaar wingers ■■ Highly structured 1-4-4-2 with narrow, dense 18 21/04/97 9↑ 90 2↑ Real Sociedad de Fútbol ■■ Possession game; short-passing combinations, 16 Melker Hallberg 20/10/95 90 90 45↓ Kalmar FF defensive block control in tight situations 20 Carlos Soler 02/01/97 90 Valencia CF 17 Kerim Mrabti 20/05/94 17↑ 3↑ 90 Djurgårdens IF ■■ Fast counterattacks based on direct supply from ■■ High-tempo ball circulation; one- or two-touch back to front 21 Rodrigo Hernández 22/06/96 90 Villarreal CF 19 Niclas Eliasson 07/12/95 45↑ IFK Norrköping passing moves ■■ When opting to build, fluent passing moves, good 22 Marcos Llorente 30/01/95 1 90 90 90 83↓ Deportivo Alavés ■■ Fast attack-to-defence transitions; high pressing in 21 27/04/99 S 18↑ Sunderland AFC diagonals to wide areas numbers FORWARDS 22 Amin Affane 21/01/94 AIK ■■ Full-backs ready to push up while building ■■ Excellent use of wide areas; full-backs high-speed through thirds

7 Gerard Deulofeu 13/03/94 1 2 63↓ 82↓ 82↓ 90 AC Milan overlapping, underlapping FORWARDS ■■ Fierce pressure on ball carrier; forwards the 9 05/04/97 90 7↑ VfL Wolfsburg ■■ Attacks based on strong middle-to-front 1v1 10 Carlos Strandberg 14/04/96 1 31↑ 69↓ 90 KVC Westerlo hardworking first line of defence abilities, solo runs ■■ Well-drilled creative set plays; good deliveries; mixed 12 Sandro Ramírez 09/07/95 1 74↓ 75↓ 78↓ 71↓ Málaga CF 11 Gustav Engvall 29/04/96 59↓ 21↑ Djurgårdens IF ■■ Attacking vocation, clear playing philosophy, talent in marking when defending

15 Iñaki Williams 15/06/94 1 16↑ 15↑ 90 12↑ 19↑ Athletic Club all departments 18 Paweł Cibicki 09/01/94 90 90 45↓ MalmÖ FF ■■ Clear playing philosophy implemented with discipline Numbers in match columns represent minutes played; G = goals; A = assists; Numbers in match columns represent minutes played; G = goals; A = assists; and commitment ↑ = brought on; ↓ = taken off; S = suspended; so = sent off ↑ = brought on; ↓ = taken off; S = suspended; so = sent off

54 Poland 2017 Tournament review 55 EVENT REPORT WELCOME HOSTS

LASTING

The red-and-white flag of Poland practical terms, some examples include IMPRESSIONS Tomáš Souček waved happily in a breeze of success new pitches in Kielce and Tychy; a enjoys the moment with the Czech fans as the national association, the PZPN, refurbished main stand in Bydgoszcz; a The red carpet was rolled out for fans from across encouraged the host cities to lay out roof in Lublin; upgraded media facilities Europe for a tournament that will leave a positive a red carpet for the competition’s at all venues, along with investment first 12-team tournament. After in giant screen technology – the event legacy for the host nation the final whistle in Krakow, there left a clear infrastructural legacy. were many reasons to feel proud. Equally important is the social legacy Statistics spelled out a success story. the tournament will leave behind. Within hours of tickets going on sale in Bringing the U21 EURO to smaller cities February, all three of Poland’s group allowed UEFA and the PZPN to have a games and the final were sold out. The greater impact on the communities in final balance revealed a cumulative which the games were played. The six audience of almost a quarter of a million cities will all have benefited in numerous – to be precise, 244,085 spectators ways from hosting the event, such as at an average of 11,623 per match. key lessons in stadium management on But reasons for pride stretched an organisational level, for example, or beyond statistics. The PZPN adopted help promoting football – and sport in an expansive, dynamic approach general – within the community. Having aimed at engaging the public in a helped set a high benchmark in terms of huge event organised by the citizens organising the tournament, the PZPN will of Poland. Hence the decision to give have played a part in enabling the cities the tournament a geographical spread to push for similar events in the future. involving six cities of great diversity in Of course, the PZPN already have a terms of character, qualities and cultures. successful track record when it comes to If pressed to select a single preference organising the biggest sporting events. among the motives to feel proud, the UEFA EURO 2012 provided Polish football PZPN would highlight the way the a springboard on and off the pitch and organisation of the tournament brought its impact is still being felt in a number the cities together – to the extent of ways. For example, fans attending that the six mayors met regularly to Poland’s national-team matches can interchange information and knowledge. travel for free on public transport The results were outstanding. In simply by displaying a match ticket – an

The tournament logo was prominently displayed at every game

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Fans from all the visiting SPREADING nations added to the vibrant atmosphere THE WORD

A large media presence and a successful promotional campaign kept fans in the know

The tournament generated huge media interest, with 475 press and non-rights holding TV and radio staff accredited for the tournament and 147 media present at the final. The efforts of the PZPN to promote the Under-21 EURO, meanwhile, took various successful forms, from an online presence to a publicity tour, with much other engagement besides. Certainly, the work of building a buzz about the tournament benefited from a formidable online presence, with an initiative from EURO 2012. Benefits official u21poland website and Twitter are also evident on the pitch, where account launched in late summer Poland moved from 70th place in the 2016 and reinforced by promotional FIFA rankings in 2012 to fifth in August activities on the PZPN's multimedia 2017. "In qualifying for UEFA EURO 2016, platform – Łączy Nas Piłka (United we had the second-best crowd figures by Football) – which reaches 3 million in Europe with an average of 50,000. football fans nationwide per month. That has continued into our European Particularly impressive was the Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup," said creation of a 12-part TV series 'Nasze PZPN general secretary Maciej Sawicki. EURO' (Our EURO). Broadcast on Łączy The PZPN has also embraced UEFA's Nas Piłka's YouTube channel and Facebook GROW initiative, which, among other page, plus the u21poland channels, this things, aims to help member associations The tournament magazine show heightened public interest expand both grassroots participation branding was in the finals and raised anticipation and financial revenues. The PZPN has highly visible in levels as the tournament approached. the stadiums doubled its budget over the past four and host cities Catching the eye on a grander scale years, and 350,000 Poles are actively was the promotional EURO truck that playing the game. And while Poland ON BRAND delivered both a trophy tour and an is now blessed with state-of-the-art exciting range of activities including an stadiums, the PZPN is striving to exhibition, interactive football challenges, ensure that top-notch facilities exist appetite for taking part in a football Walk around the host cities and there competitions and sponsor activities. for grassroots players too. There are event. In Gdynia, the fixture list was was no mistaking the EURO had landed. The truck travelled over 15,000km, more than 2,600 artificial mini-pitches, mirrored by beach games between sets From city signage to the stadium spanning 47 stops from March onwards. with the association also intending to of supporters. Kielce organised a Sweden dressing, the UEFA European Under-21 The ‘One year to go’ countdown event construct covered pitches, enabling Day when fans could be forgiven for Championship’s vibrant blue-and-white – featuring tournament ambassador football to be played in all conditions. thinking they could hear ABBA. Followed visual identity caught the eye and Marek Koźmiński – and April’s official The shorter-term benefits this by Slovakia Day. And England Day. The reinforced the competition’s standing trophy handover in Gdynia were other summer, meanwhile, were equally citizens of Tychy happily greeted a and prestige. TV graphics, advertising major milestones, two of numerous rewarding – not least to the thousands massive Czech invasion of their famous backdrops and the brand elements for events publicised by the PZPN, primarily of volunteers who made the tournament parks. The people of Lublin applauded printed materials such as the official through media releases, for a network of tick. The atmosphere in the stadiums and the Swedish fans’ friendship march tournament programme helped ensure more than 500 media representatives. cities was as warm as the midsummer from the city centre to the stadium … a consistent look-and-feel whether Between 1 September 2016 and the final weather. The event generated The people of Poland rolled out a red watching a game in the stadium or on whistle there were more than 40,000 extraordinary social energy and colour carpet – with levels of professionalism, television halfway around the world. mentions of the tournament in the Polish

– especially in Bydgoszcz where the lack proficiency and public engagement that Branded graphics promoted press and on television, radio, websites, of a top-level club team created a huge added up to an event to be proud of. each of the six host cities forums and social media channels.

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Accessibility for disabled people was also a RESPECT priority. Dedicated ticketing measures were in place, with disabled people able to request a complimentary ticket for a companion to support Respect was a key byword at the final tournament them in attending matches. A total of 138 in Poland. Respect advertising boards were disabled people and 57 companions purchased located around the pitches at each stadium, and their tickets online or at stadium ticket booths. the Respect logo was visible on players’ bibs A no-smoking policy was in operation at each as they came out onto the pitch to warm up, of the tournament venues, with spectators as well as on their shirt sleeves for the match reminded of the tobacco ban via messages on the itself. Team captains wore No to Racism-Respect stadium giant screens and speaker announcements branded armbands, while the pre-match line-up over the stadium public address system. of the teams and match officials for the national No-smoking signs were prevalent throughout the anthems also involved youngsters carrying the stadiums, and stewards were instructed to ask VENUES AND ATTENDANCES Respect flag and wearing Respect T-shirts. spectators not to smoke in stadium public areas.

From Gdynia in the north to GDYNIA STADIUM, GDYNIA Krakow in the south, the final tournament capacity 14,769 tournament was played in six cities matches spanning the length of Poland. group b And with big crowds at each of the Spain 5-0 FYR Macedonia, 8,269 venues – and a total attendance of Portugal 1-3 Spain, 13,862 244,085 – the nation got behind Germany and Spain FYR Macedonia 2-4 Portugal, 7,533 line up ahead of the event as much as its team. the final in Krakow aggregate attendance 29,664 (above); UEFA's KIELCE STADIUM, KIELCE Respect campaign was well publicised tournament capacity 14,733 TYCHY STADIUM, TYCHY in Poland tournament capacity 14,805 matches group a matches Sweden 0-0 England, 11,672 group c Slovakia 1-2 England, 12,087 Germany 2-0 Czech Republic, 14,051 England 3-0 Poland, 13,176 Czech Republic 3-1 Italy, 13,251 Czech Republic 2-4 Denmark, 9,047 aggregate attendance 36,935

semi-final LUBLIN STADIUM, LUBLIN England 2-2 Germany, 13,214 tournament capacity 15,247 (Germany win 4-3 on pens) matches aggregate attendance 49,563 group a Poland 1-2 Slovakia, 14,911 KRAKÓW STADIUM, KRAKOW Poland 2-2 Sweden, 14,651 244k tournament capacity 14,715 Slovakia 3-0 Sweden, 11,203 TOTAL ATTENDANCE matches aggregate attendance 40,765 group c Denmark 0-2 Italy, 8,754 BYDGOSZCZ STADIUM, Germany 3-0 Denmark, 9,298 BYDGOSZCZ Italy 1-0 Germany, 14,039 11,623 tournament capacity 11,585 AVERAGE PER GAME (increased to 12,897 for Serbia v Spain) semi-final matches Spain 3-1 Italy, 13,105 group b Portugal 2-0 Serbia, 10,724 final 81% Serbia 2-2 FYR Macedonia, 5,121 Germany 1-0 Spain, 14,059 Serbia 0-1 Spain, 12,058 OF STADIUM CAPACITY aggregate attendance 59,255 aggregate attendance 27,903

62 Poland 2017 Tournament review 63 COMMERCIAL PROGRAMME

Marco Asensio fields questions at a Spain press conference

PERFECT

As is custom, adidas supplied the official PARTNERSHIPS match ball – a product that offered both superior in-flight visibility through its striking design and colour scheme, The support of the 11 sponsors was and improved grip for players courtesy felt throughout the tournament and of a premium surface structure. The adidas brand was also highly visible was a major factor in its success in the quality apparel it provided for tournament staff, volunteers and youth- programme participants. Moreover, adidas produced the official licensed The commercial programme for while the national sponsor offered products sold at official Intersport fan the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 crucial access and insight into the shops at all six stadiums during the Championship final tournament host market. This combination helped finals. Meanwhile, its ballboys/girls consisted of ten global sponsors and one generate awareness of the finals – key to initiative gave a once-in-a-lifetime national sponsor. It was an approach that attracting fans to the stadiums – and the experience to local youngsters at the allowed the global sponsors extensive various sponsors also contributed vital semi-finals and final. Closer still to the worldwide marketing rights to associate products and services to facilitate the action, as presenting partner of the with and promote the tournament, smooth running of the showpiece event. U21 EURO adidas Golden Boot award, the brand created a bespoke award presented to five-goal final-tournament top scorer Saúl Ñíguez of Spain.

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Carlsberg’s sponsorship Cinkciarz came on board as of the UEFA European U21 a global sponsor for the first Championship in Poland time, with the online currency was a fitting sequel to its exchange brand delivering involvement at UEFA EURO an extensive programme of 2012 in the same country fan engagement – including – with the Carlsberg name activation of commercial markedly visible throughout display, stadium tours and an the two-week tournament. innovative digital marketing Carlsberg’s core brand campaign encouraging fans messaging was promoted to create content linking the on perimeter boards, and brand to the tournament. In its products made available the local market Cinkciarz at key areas within all leveraged its sponsorship stadiums. Certainly, thanks of Poland’s national team to to the various refreshment further widen the scope of stalls on site as well as the its efforts; internationally, VIK programmes that the the company used parent organisation helped to run, brand Conotoxia to engage Carlsberg ensured nobody additional markets. went thirsty at these finals.

Already a presence in Polish Continental played its part football by virtue of its activities in driving the success of the at UEFA EURO 2012 and the Polish finals. The company's Copa Coca-Cola tournaments, logo could be seen vividly Coca-Cola utilised the U21 EURO on perimeter boards at the to reinforce its involvement in various venues – in fact the the international game. It offered bright 'Continental yellow' hundreds of people the chance to boards assisted in lighting win match tickets and gave key up the stadiums, just as customers a unique experience the numerous goals, skills with the ‘Ultimate Access tour’ and tackles illuminated – a behind-the-scenes tour that the on-field action. included watching the teams Continental also showed warm up (left). Its contribution to its support by purchasing a successful event also entailed several VIP booths, with providing Coca-Cola products, top management figures making sure participating teams coming to take in the and on-site staff were kept performances of these hydrated throughout – with fans top European teams. also able to buy drinks at the assorted refreshment stands.

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After a hugely successful A longstanding partner of debut at UEFA EURO 2016, UEFA national team football, Hisense continued its McDonald's was once again fruitful partnership with a valued presence at, and UEFA national team football supporter of, the showpiece by activating all its basic finals. As with so many rights as sponsor. With previous tournaments, the the consumer electronics company enabled more than brand seeking to expand a hundred children to have a its footprint across Europe, once-in-a-lifetime experience the championship proved an by being part of the pre- ideal opportunity to further match ceremony – walking develop its recognition on to the pitch hand in hand and awareness, while with their heroes via the Hisense also fully exploited exclusive ‘McDonald’s Player its assets such as tickets Escorts' programme. For for the purpose of B2B this edition, McDonald’s also and B2C engagement. recruited several children from abroad, highlighting the championship's international appeal.

The tournament was an ideal occasion UEFA national team football is for Hyundai to intensively activate a core component of SOCAR’s its brand, with UEFA national team sponsorship strategy. Having football – and the U21 competition in promoted its innovative 'Make particular – long established as a major Your Debut’ campaign around part of the automotive company's UEFA EURO 2016, the Azerbaijani global sponsorship strategy, and Poland energy company had the perfect considered an important market. In opportunity, with the U21 EURO, this context, Hyundai not only supplied to continue building brand over 100 vehicles to support final- awareness. There was significant tournament operations but also ran visibility on site, on TV and across nationwide test drive/ticket promotions digital media – indeed, UEFA’s to help attract fans to matches. Upon digital platforms posted ‘SOCAR arriving at the venues, the public could Top Stats’ videos throughout visit the brand’s commercial display the tournament and thus invited stands, which featured activities such further engagement with fans. By as driving simulators, photo booths and these efforts, SOCAR took another table football in addition to Hyundai step forward in developing its ‘noise sticks’, which were distributed brand and deepening its footprint for fans to show their support. across European football.

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Player escorts accompany the Serbia and FYR Macedonia teams out on to the pitch in Bydgoszcz

Turkish Airlines combined its role as official airline partner of UEFA national team football with its proud status of global partner of the U21 finals. Consequently it was strongly visible around the tournament with pitchside brand exposure and on-site visibility on backdrops, giant screens, stadium dressing and other promotional material. Turkish Airlines also profited from considerable exposure on social media via its digital sole and exclusive ‘Moment of the Day presented by Turkish Airlines’ – comprising a match-action video clip with graphic overlays of the best moment of each matchday.

As national sponsor of the U21 EURO, INTERSPORT seized the chance to engage with local supporters in the lead-up to the finals through a selection of ticket promotions that served to heighten anticipation levels. INTERSPORT was the official sports shop of licensed products for the championship, and to make sure fans had the best access to merchandise, it sold products through specially branded U21 areas within its classic retail stores in the host cities as well as dedicated shops at every finals venue. The official licensed product range, developed specifically for the event, included various eye-catching adidas items, replica shirts of the participating teams and, of course, match balls, replica balls and mini-balls.

70 Poland 2017 Tournament review 71 MEDIA RIGHTS

FINAL In Germany, 8.7m viewers watched the final on ZDF – a 30.7% share – which equalled the average BROADCAST domestic match audience for the senior team’s NETWORK European Qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World MUST-SEE TV Cup up to that point. In Spain, Cuatro attracted 4.2m viewers (33.7% share), the highest Europe audience in three tournaments and up 30.9% Huge television audiences emphasised Bosnia and Herzegovina on Spain’s 2013 final win against Italy (3.2m Arena Sport how the tournament has established viewers, 28.1% share), which was also on Cuatro. Bulgaria Nova Audience figures also exceeded expectations itself on the global sporting calendar in neutral markets with, for example, 2.1m Croatia Arena Sport tuning in to Rai 3 in Italy, 2.1m watching in Czech Republic Czech TV Poland and over 600,000 in France on L’Équipe. Denmark Discovery Finland Discovery France L’Équipe The final tournament for the 2017 UEFA FYR Macedonia European Under-21 Championship was TV Nova, Arena Sport broadcast in over 150 territories by 26 Germany ARD, ZDF broadcast partners, with impressive Hungary DIGI Sport numbers following the action throughout Charlton the two-week competition. That included Israel a 15% increase in the group stage Italy Rai alone across seven of the nations that Montenegro Arena Sport competed in both the 2015 and 2017 Spain’s run to the final Norway Discovery tournaments – the Czech Republic, Poland’s 2-2 draw attracted huge Denmark, Germany, Italy, Slovakia, with Sweden was figures on Poland Polsat watched by nearly Cuatro Sweden and the UK. The UEFA.tv channel 4m people on Polsat Portugal Sport TV on YouTube and the UEFA.com website Romania DigiSport and social media outlets complemented broadcast coverage by providing historical Serbia Arena Sport clips, interviews and many in-tournament Slovakia Markíza features, as well as live streams of all Rai’s broadcast of Italy v Germany was than their audience was 50% higher Spain Mediaset matches to viewers in markets where no the most-watched programme in Italy semi-final against Portugal in 2015 on broadcast partner had been appointed. that day (5.4m viewers, 32% share). ARD (3.5m viewers, 20.8% share). Sweden Discovery Both matches were early kick-offs. United Kingdom Sky UK Both domestic and neutral matches HIGHLIGHTS performed well in Slovakia, where Spain v Italy Outside Europe 0.5m viewers (28.7% share) tuned in In Italy, 7.9m watched the Azzurri take on UEFA.tv Australia beIN SPORTS to Markíza for the decisive last group Spain on Rai 1, almost double the number Globosat stage match against Sweden – that watched the 2013 final between Brazil The key viewing figures four than the 2015 final. the two sides on the same channel UEFA’s official YouTube channel is key to Canada RDS, TSN from Poland times more (4m viewers, 29.8% share). The figure is its media rights strategy In Sweden, Poland v Sweden attracted Caribbean ESPN comparable to the average neutral-match GROUP STAGE 0.8m viewers (29.2% share) across Live streaming and video-on-demand (VOD) coverage on UEFA.tv Hong Kong i-Cable audience in Italy during UEFA EURO 2016 Kanal5 and Eurosport 1, 68% up increased massively compared to 2015, in part because of the number Poland’s matches averaged between on free-to-air channels. In Spain, the Indonesia MNC/RCTI on the average domestic interest of matches covered increasing by six to 21, but also because of the 25 and 30% market share, with 4m audience on Cuatro was double the group stage match in 2015. growing popularity of UEFA.tv as a channel for football content. Latin America ESPN matches against Slovakia and size compared to the 2013 semi-final UEFA.tv had close to 700,000 subscribers by the end of the Malaysia/Brunei Astro Sweden attracting 3.7m viewers. against Norway (2m viewers, 18% share) SEMI-FINALS tournament, six times more than in 2015. Live streaming minutes and 27% higher than the 2013 final Middle East/North Africa 2.9m watched Spain’s game with watched (23,124,360) and total views (1,655,928) were up by 1,424% beIN SPORTS England v Germany between Italy and Spain (3.2m viewers, Portugal on Cuatro, a 21.3% share. and 1,831% respectively compared to 2015 with an average viewing Twice as many people watched 28.1% share). The match attracted Sub-Saharan Africa time of 13:57 minutes. Highlight clips, meanwhile, generated 1,155,866 Germany v Denmark on ZDF attracted England’s semi-final against Germany 57% more viewers than the Clásico Econet (Kwesé Sports) views and 2,449,289 minutes watched on VOD by 10 July 2017. UEFA.tv 5.7m viewers (22.9% share), on Sky Sports 1 (0.6m viewers, 4% between Barcelona and Real Madrid in United States ESPN was most-watched in Vietnam (11% of total views), followed by the compared to Germany’s opening share) than the British and Irish Lions April 2017, which was the most watched Netherlands (10%), Russia (8.4%), Thailand (7.4%) and India (6.5%). match in the FIFA Confederations Cup tour match that day (0.3m viewers, Liga match of the 2016/17 season (2.6m that week (6m viewers, 39% share). 5.9% share). In Germany, the 5.3m viewers, 16.7% share on Movistar).

72 Poland 2017 Tournament review 73 UEFA TV PRODUCTION

A minimum of 13 cameras covered every game

The images from the 2017 UEFA comprehensive additional programming European Under-21 Championship in material, including tournament and host Poland were produced in partnership city promos, plus an update package between the final tournament's host comprising interviews, rushes, raw broadcaster Polsat and UEFA. There host city material, play-off highlights was a production team at every one of and more. In-tournament behind- the six venues, with a minimum of 13 the-scenes filming was also carried cameras covering each game, including out for UEFA and its sponsors. two super-slow-motion cameras, a Broadcasters were able to customise steadicam and an in-goal mini-camera. their own coverage thanks to a series In addition, a flycam (similar to an aerial of unilateral facilities made available by camera system but mounted on a single UEFA and coordinated by the governing cable) was used for the opening match, body's unilateral services team. while the final was a 17-camera affair, In all, 155 commentary positions including an additional Steadicam, a high were booked, supplemented by 68 reverse camera and two extra super- post-match flash interview positions slow-mo cameras. UEFA TV Production and 58 pitch-presentation positions, also provided a full suite of graphics for as well as 189 unilateral cameras Polsat to complement the coverage. (including electronic news gathering, IN THE A cameraman gets up What's more, UEFA TV Production bonded mobile broadband, team close to the Germany staff were on site throughout the filming and UEFA filming). celebrations tournament to support both Polsat By directing the U21 final from and all visiting broadcasters. This London, as well as on the ground in PICTURE service was complemented by full Krakow, UEFA was able to prove the quality control completed off site on technical viability and effectiveness all matches, with feedback promptly of a UHD 4K remote production – Host broadcaster Polsat and UEFA TV Production shared with the host broadcaster representing a major milestone ahead teamed up to deliver the images from Poland as the tournament progressed. of UEFA EURO 2020, a tournament Leading up to the finals, UEFA that will be spread across 13 had also delivered to broadcasters different European host cities.

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DIGITAL FIRST The tournament’s social media accounts and UEFA.COM UEFA.com’s live MatchCentres proved huge hits in keeping fans up to date on the action 2.2m VISITS TO THE The UEFA European Under-21 previous tournament in 2015. There UNDER-21 SECTION Championship attracted a sizeable were also major gains on social media, digital audience once again for the with the conversation driven by the 2017 edition in Poland, with increasing likes of Spanish duo Marco Asensio numbers of fans eager to see the next and Saúl Ñíguez – each of whom had generation of stars, many of whom are featured prominently in their clubs’ ↑15% already playing at Europe’s top clubs. respective UEFA Champions League INCREASE A shift to the responsive, mobile- campaigns. Player of the Tournament ON THE 2015 friendly design so successful at UEFA Dani Ceballos was also at the centre of TOURNAMENT EURO 2016 was implemented for the the discussion, particularly after he was Under-21 section of UEFA.com, with snapped up by Real Madrid on the back users directed to the hugely popular of his impressive displays in Poland. live MatchCentres, which generated Much of the competition’s charm FACEBOOK over a million page views during lies in its history, with several Davie Selke takes time the course of the tournament. established stars having made their out with Germany REPORTERS The decline in consumption of first international impression on the fans (above); players shared tournament DELIVERED TEXT, 244k longer-form editorial such as reviews, Under-21 stage. This reflected in users’ content (top right); INTERACTIONS match reports and features meant interactions on social media, with social media graphics PHOTO AND VIDEO the content was instead pushed to key archive content featuring Under-21 alerted fans to key traffic areas – with the MatchCentres graduates such as Luís Figo, Mesut Özil information (right) UPDATES LIVE FROM taking centre stage alongside the official and contributing EVERY MATCH, information, data and statistics for which to increased fan engagement. MAKING THE MOST 12 m UEFA.com is the only official source. On Facebook, the Under-21s VIDEO VIEWS In addition, reporters delivered generated upwards of 244,000 OF THEIR BEHIND- text, photo and video updates live interactions and 12 million video views, from every match, making the most of increasing the channel’s overall follower THE-SCENES ACCESS their behind-the-scenes access with a count by some 77,000 in the process. TWITTER constant stream of first-hand colour Meanwhile on Twitter, constant updates and insight. In all, the 2017 edition from the team in Poland drove 188,000 resulted in almost 2.2 million visits to interactions and attracted 14,000 new the Under-21 section of UEFA.com, fans all centred around the official 188k an increase of around 15% on the competition hashtag #U21EURO. INTERACTIONS

76 Poland 2017 Tournament review 77 2017-19 UEFA EUROPEAN UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSHIP

Italy celebrate their 2004 triumph, the last time they lifted the trophy MATCH DATES QUALIFYING GROUP STAGE 20–28 March 2017 5–13 June 2017 28 August–5 September 2017 ROLL OF 2–10 October 2017 HONOUR CREDITS 6–14 November 2017 19–27 March 2018 3–11 September 2018 8–16 October 2018 2017 Germany Technical report editorial PLAY-OFFS Ioan Lupescu, Graham Turner, David Gough 12–20 November 2018 2015 Sweden FINAL TOURNAMENT Managing editor 16–30 June 2019 2013 Spain Michael Harrold

FINAL TOURNAMENT 2011 Spain Editorial VENUES Mark Chaplin, Patrick Hart, Andy James, Piotr Kozminski, ITALY 2009 Germany Anthony Naughton Stadio Renato Dall'Ara, Bologna Stadio Città del Tricolore, Reggio Emilia 2007 Netherlands Design , Cesena Fernando Pires, James Willsher, Oliver Meikle Stadio Nereo Rocco, 2006 Netherlands Stadio Friuli, Production SAN MARINO 2004 Italy Emily Meikle, Aleksandra Sersniova, Stéphanie Tétaz , Serravalle 2002 Czech Republic Photography Getty Images, Sportsfile, UEFA 2000 Italy 1998 Spain 1996 Italy 1994 Italy COUNTDOWN 1992 Italy

competition kicked off even before the 1990 USSR TO 2019 2017 finals had begun, with Kosovo's first match at this level ending in a 1-0 1988 France A record 54 teams are involved in qualifying, defeat by the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on 25 March. Gibraltar are 1986 Spain but only co-hosts Italy are guaranteed the other debutants for this 2017–19 1984 England a place in the 2019 final tournament edition which will involve all 55 UEFA member associations for the first time. England Italy have a bye to the finals but co- 1982 UEFA Technical Observers Group (from left): Ioan Lupescu, Thomas Schaaf, hosts San Marino must qualify – the nine Ginés Meléndez, Dany Ryser, Mixu Paatelainen, Stefan Majewski. Peter Rudbæk was part of the group but not available for the photograph Italy and San Marino will co-host the Azzurrini have won the title a group winners advance to the 12-team 1980 USSR the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 record five times, though they have final tournament automatically, with Championship final tournament, not lifted the trophy since 2004, the remaining two places decided by a 1978 Yugoslavia with a record 54 teams competing when a team including the likes of pair of two-legged play-off ties featuring in qualifying. Andrea Barzagli, the four best runners-up. The 2019 U21 Designed and produced by TwelfthMan on behalf of UEFA. twelfthman.co It will be the first time that Italy and beat Serbia and EURO will also serve as the qualifying ©UEFA 2017. All rights reserved. The UEFA word, the UEFA logo and all marks stage the U21 EURO, despite boasting Montenegro 3-0 in the final in Bochum. competition for the football event at related to UEFA and competitions, are protected by trade marks and/or copyright a glorious history in the competition: This time round, the qualifying the 2020 summer Olympics in Tokyo. of UEFA. No use for commercial purposes may be made of such trade marks.

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