Uefadirect #88 (08.2009)
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UEFAdirect-88•E 14.7.2009 14:33 Page 1 8.09 Including Germany crowned U21 champions 03 Spanish victory in the UEFA Regions’ Cup 06 German double at U17 level 07 No 58 88 – Février August 2007 2009 UEFAdirect-88•E 14.7.2009 14:33 Page 2 Message Photos: uefa-pjwoods.ch of the president Decisive action Still fresh in our memories, the heartwarming images of the UEFA Champions League final in Rome and, even more recently, of the youthful exuberance of the European Women’s Under-17 final round in Nyon remind us that football is first and foremost a festival that unites supporters of different national teams or clubs in their passion for football. It is up to the match organisers to do all they can to ensure that these festivals of football are not spoiled and that their sporting spirit remains intact from start to finish. However, the fact that football mirrors society, including its flaws, increases the danger of its popularity and media exposure being used as a choice platform by individuals seeking emotions that have nothing to do with those that sport arouses. Such disruptive elements can never be tolerated, not even remotely, and racism – increasing incidents of which have been witnessed in stadiums lately – is no more acceptable than acts of violence. But it is not enough to say so and to repeat it, and it is not enough to take IN THIS ISSUE preventive measures such as our Respect campaign and our support of anti-racism Germany crowned associations – we also have to state our clear and unreserved intention to do every- European U21 champions 03 thing we can to eradicate this scourge from stadiums. Castilla y León win At its meeting in Vilnius at the beginning of July, the UEFA Executive the UEFA Regions’ Cup 06 Committee took a decisive step in this direction. By asking the referee to go so far as Germany retain to stop the match – in accordance with a clearly defined procedure and respecting Women’s U17 title 07 all security constraints – if the atmosphere in the stadium is perceptibly being spoiled Stagehands prepare in Zurich 08 by racist acts committed by more than the odd individual, the Executive Committee Finland looks forward has taken an unequivocal decision: better to interrupt the festival than to let it to Women’s EURO 2009 09 continue in a vile atmosphere. Zero tolerance of racism 10 Football is categorically not compatible with racism, no more than it is with The UEFA Women’s violence, doping or any other form of cheating or discrimination. Champions League takes off 12 News from member associations 15 COVER Michel Platini UEFA President Never before in the history of the UEFA competitions have a team won by such a wide margin as Germany’s women’s Under-17s, who retained their European title with a 7-0 win against Spain. Photo: Sportsfile 02 uefadirect 8.09 UEFAdirect-88•E 14.7.2009 14:33 Page 3 European Under-21 Championship GermanyGermany winwin –– andand soso dd o o SS w w e e d d e e n n Sabattini A HANDSOME 4-0 VICTORY OVER ENGLAND IN MALMÖ NOT ONLY GAVE mark and reaching over half of the viewing public. In Italy, RAI’s audience GERMANY THE EUROPEAN UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSHIP BUT ALSO ALLOWED THEM was greater than anything recorded TO COMPLETE A REMARKABLE HAT-TRICK. MORE THAN ONE, IN FACT. during the 2006 and 2007 finals. And Germany’s ZDF network posted German national teams had, ation, the DFB. The only entry in the record Under-21 viewing figures, with in the space of six weeks, won the debit column is that their defence of 5 million watching the tournament European Under-17 titles in both the the Under-19 crown was trun- get under way with a remake of the women’s and men’s games, clinching cated by a 1-0 elite round defeat EURO 2008 final against Spain, over the triple with the Under-21 crown. by Spain. 6 million tuning into the final group The other hat-trick covers a wider That title was won in the game against England, and 8.24 mil- time span but is equally impressive: Czech Republic last summer with lion watching when the two teams in the men’s game, Germany became Horst Hrubesch at the Under-19 met again in the Malmö final. the champions of Europe at all three helm. He was again the winning coach But it would be amiss to of UEFA’s age levels. at the Under-21 finals in Sweden. focus only on the armchair spectators. The achievement is even more At the stadiums in Gothenburg, creditable if the history books are taken Impressive TV audiences Halmstad, Helsingborg and Malmö – into account. Germany had never previ- It was a remarkable event the four host cities for the finals – the ously won silverware in any of the in many respects. The tournament’s 15 matches were watched by 163,090 three age brackets, with their previous big-time status was confirmed by supporters at an average of 10,873 success dating way back into the obso- astonishing TV audience figures. With- per game. Former international referee lete Under-16 competition in 1992. out getting sidetracked into boring Karl-Erik Nilsson, performing the role It means that there are motives for listings, the spectacular figures included of tournament director, had hoped for satisfaction in the youth development records for Swedish broadcaster TV4, “good crowds, a successful Swedish divisions of the German national associ- with audiences topping the million team and decent weather”, and his 03 UEFAdirect-88•E 14.7.2009 14:33 Page 4 The matches attracted a huge TV audience. Sportsfile Sportsfile expectations were exceeded on all Finland had never reached three counts, with sunny Sweden the Under-21 finals before and the side Sportsfile emerging after a run of rainy, cool coached by former central defender A brave move by Germany’s goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, in the midsummers. Markku Kanerva may have gone home semi-final against Italy That was good news for the without a point but they sold their teams, the pitches and the public. three defeats very dearly, conceding The fan zones in each of the host cities only two goals against each of their proved to be great crowd-pullers and, distinguished group rivals. The other as UEFA’s general secretary, David debutants, Belarus, deserved credit for Taylor, remarked, “they seem to make a different reason – finding the physical even more impact on the community in and mental strength to bounce back smaller cities than they do in a after a traumatic 5-1 defeat by the metropolis.” With the same hosts on the opening day. The other sponsors on board as at eliminated team in their group were EURO 2008, the event had Serbia, silver medallists in 2007, who a nice festive texture, after gaining the upper hand in the with the fans reacting second half of their goalless draw with enthusiastically to the Italy and then being held to the same live music, the com- result by Belarus, produced uncharac- petitions and the teristic slips during a 3-1 defeat by the skills contests – not hosts. The fact that the Netherlands, to mention the food gold medallists in both 2006 and 2007, and drink. It all had not qualified for the Sweden show- helped to underline down emphasises the competitive nature the fact that today’s Under-21 of Under-21 football. football is only one short step away from the top rung. Thrilling semi-finals Minimal differences in quality Competitive football were further illustrated by the two This proximity was high- thrilling semi-finals, with Sweden, still lighted by a Spanish squad which 3-0 down to England well after the could have featured no fewer than hour mark (conceding all three goals as The leading six players who were on FIFA Con- a result of corner kicks), somehow scorer of the tournament, federations Cup duty in South Africa, managed to fight back to 3-3, only to Sweden’s along with two Italian starlets. Spain’s be cruelly beaten in a penalty shootout Marcus Berg, who bagged new Under-21 coach, Juan Ramón after hitting the woodwork during seven goals. López Caro, refused to exploit absences extra time. In the other semi-final in as an excuse. “Let’s be honest,” he Helsingborg, Italy were on eight occa- remarked, “the objective of the age- sions thwarted by the woodwork, limit sides is to deliver players to the German keeper Manuel Neuer or a senior team – so we should be satisfied combination of both. A long-range rather than upset.” A 2-0 defeat by shot by right back Andreas Beck put England in their second match was them into the final, where their solid ultimately the undoing of the Spanish defence – one goal conceded in four challenge and the 1-1 draw between games – and swift counterattacking England and Germany in the final laid the foundations for a resounding group game was enough to send them success. The strength of the winning home along with the Finnish team. squad was highlighted by the two goals Sportsfile from striker Sandro Wagner, who had previously played only nine minutes in the entire tournament but was among the starters in Malmö. But special credit must be paid to Sweden – and not just out of cour- tesy to the hosts. In their four games, 04 uefadirect 8.09 UEFAdirect-88•E 14.7.2009 14:33 Page 5 Belarus and Finland’s Serbia were Teemu Pukki unable to break passes their deadlock.