European Under-19 Championship Final Round 2012 – Estonia INTRODUCTION CONTENT The 11th European Under-19 Championship fi nals were the fi rst to be staged in Estonia Introduction 2 and the fi nal tournament was extremely well organised (the coaches were unanimous in The route to the fi nal 3 their praise for the host association). The playing surfaces, severely tested by torrential The fi nal 4 rain prior to and during key matches, proved to be excellent – notably when the two semi- Technical topics 6 fi nals were played as a double-header under heavy rain at the Lilleküla stadium. It was one Talking points 10 of the four venues used for the 15 matches played from 3-15 July 2012: the Kadriorg and Winning coach 12 Lilleküla stadiums in Tallinn and two grounds in Rakvere and Haapsalu, some 90 minutes’ drive from the capital. The eight teams were The UEFA technical team 13 accommodated at a single hotel in Tallinn, which helped to promote cultural interchanges Team analysis: Croatia 14 between the squads. Whereas seven of the competitors played at least one group match Team analysis: England 15 in Tallinn, the Serbian team was alone in having to travel outside the capital for all three Team analysis: Estonia 16 of their fi xtures. Attendances were high, peaking with the 7,864 fans who made their Team analysis: France 17 way to the Lilleküla stadium to watch the fi nal on a day when thunder, lightning and Team analysis: Greece 18 persistent heavy rain might have provided motives to stay away. They were rewarded with Team analysis: Portugal 19 a spectacular game. The accumulative total for the event was 46,022 spectators at an average Team analysis: Serbia 20 of 3,068 per match. Nine of the 15 games were televised to a pan-European audience by Team analysis: Spain 21 Eurosport. Results 22 Only three countries (Greece, Serbia and the defending champions, Spain) had been at the 2011 fi nals in Romania. The 2012 fi nal tournament in Estonia served as a qualifying event for the forthcoming FIFA Under-20 World Cup, with Croatia, England, France, Greece, Portugal and Spain earning places at Published by UEFA Technical observers: the fi nal tournament to be played in Turkey Editorial team: Jarmo Matikainen from 21 June to 13 July 2013. Andy Roxburgh Marc Van Geersom (UEFA Technical Director) Pictures: Graham Turner Sportsfi le Production team: Ole Andersen (Graphics) André Vieli Setting: Dominique Maurer Atema Communication SA, CH-Gland Administration: Printing: Sandra Celant Artgraphic Cavin SA, CH-Grandson Stéphanie Tétaz UEFA Language Services 02 THE ROUTE TO THE FINAL The Spaniards started the tournament as the only country to have The Croatians had also put England under great pressure in successfully defended the Under-19 title and, during the fi rst half their opening match, but had to settle for a 1-1 draw. England then of their opening game against Greece, Julen Lopetegui’s side started strongly against Serbia and posted a 2-1 win to create a produced trademark patient, possession-based combination play scenario on the fi nal matchday in which England or Croatia could with Gerard Deulofeu, in particular, creating danger with his skill qualify along with France. Croatia convincingly defeated Serbia but on either fl ank. His run on the right provided Spain’s fi rst goal but, missed out when England beat a much-changed French team after the second, they struggled with the higher pressing by the 2-1 to take top spot. Greek team and needed resilience to hang on for a 2-1 win. This set up two dramatic semi-fi nals. The fi rst was marked by the A similar pattern applied to their second – spectacular – game dismissal of Greek keeper Stefanos Kapino during added time at against Portugal. Spain took the lead three times but allowed the end of the fi rst half, when his team were leading 1-0. But the Portugal to hit back three times and then clinched top place with a fi rst action by reserve keeper Sokratis Dioudis was to save the laborious 2-0 win against Estonia. Arno Pijpers’ host team was ensuing penalty. England took the upper hand after equalising in well organised in defence but individual lapses of concentration the 56th minute but failed to beat Dioudis and were beaten by a gave Portugal two of their three goals in the opening match. counterattack in the 18th minute of extra-time. The other semi- Against Greece, Estonia started well. But Greece took the lead fi nal was as spectacular as it was dramatic, with French strength through Giorgos Katidis and, improving in the second half, scored and aerial power terrorising the Spanish defence. Spain scored two magnifi cent goals. Karl-Eerik Luigend scored Estonia’s only three times – the last during extra time – but two corners and a goal of the tournament but Greece had the last word with a cross allowed France to make it 3-3 and then go 1-0 and 2-1 up in fourth goal. In their fi nal match, Estonia had a minimal share of the penalty shoot-out. But Spanish keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga made possession and, although they defended stoutly, only threatened two consecutive saves to give his team a 4-2 win and a chance to the Spanish goal with isolated counterattacks. end the tournament as Spain had started it – with a game against the talented Greeks. With Spain into the semi-fi nals and the hosts eliminated, the Portugal v Greece match in Rakvere took on must-win dimensions for the latter, whereas Edgar Borges’ team needed only a point. After a cautious start, the game burst into life in the 16th minute when Giannis Gianniotas cut in from the right and rounded off a fi ne individual effort with a left-footed fi nish. Within 60 seconds, André Gomes collected the ball outside the box, beat three defenders and levelled with a powerful shot. When Daniel Martins was shown a red card for violent conduct, Greece sensed their opportunity and, a feww minutes later, captaincaptain Katidis scored the DefenderDefender Karol Mets exemplifi es fi rst of his two goals. Even when the GreeksGreeks were also reduced Estonia’sEstonia’s commitmentcommitment to the cause to ten in the second hhalf,alf, theythey continued to dominate, even asas he holdsholds off GrGreece’seece’s lilivewirevewire wingerwinger GGiannisiannis GGianniotasianniotas though substitute Betinhoetinho set up a nail-biting fi nish by making it 3-2 with a lateate goagoal.l. Group B also had a stingting in the tail. Pierre Mankowski’s French side took the leadlead withwith an iimpressivempressive 3-0 wwinin over Serbia, all the goalsoals hitting the net in the fi rst half. Croatia’s possession playplay frustrated them in the second game but speedy right-backht-back Dimitri Foulquier secured three points when a cross-shotcross-shot from the rightright looped over the Croatiantian keeper and into the far corner of the net. 03 THE FINAL Singing in the rain With Greek left-back Kostas Stafylidis grounded, Spain’s top scorer, Jesé Rodríguez, fi nds space to use the ball during the Tallinn fi nal On a damp, inhospitable night in Tallinn, Campaña, talented young players from Spain’s coach, Julen Lopetegui, remained nearly 8,000 people turned up at the Lilleküla FC Barcelona, Valencia CF and Sevilla FC faithful to the culture which has seen his Stadium to see if Spain’s Under-19 team respectively. Their opponents, Greece, had country achieve unparalleled success on could retain the European Under-19 last contested a fi nal at this level fi ve years the international stage. Favouring a 4–3–3 Championship title they had won the ago, when they lost 1-0 to Spain. But this formation, La Rojita set about mimicking previous season. Of the previous year’s new generation had some gifted players the style of their “big brothers” in the full squad, six were again on duty and three who were capable of producing a surprise, national team. As captain José Campaña were in the starting lineup – Gerard notably, left back Kostas Stafylidis, winger said afterwards: “Our style makes the Deulofeu, Paco Alcácer, and captain José Giannis Gianniotas and captain Giorgos difference, we like to have the ball and to Katidis who would provide the middle-to- enjoy playing football.” Not only did the front threat. On a slick surface, which was Spanish youngsters play a high-tempo waterlogged two hours before kick-off, possession game, but they immediately the game started at a frantic pace – the pressed the ball when it was lost, as if ball moving like an ice-hockey puck gliding someone had snatched their favourite toy. across the surface. The Greeks, on the other hand, operated a fl uid 4–2–3–1 system, with quick wingers and a creative “free spirit”, Giorgos Katidis, in front of a double midfi eld screen. Coach Kostas Tsanas had clearly called for a fast pace and an emphasis on using the fl anks. 04 In an evenly balanced fi rst half, both sides Otto stole the ball from the Greeks just As Kostas Tsanas’players dropped onto had their chances to break the deadlock, inside their own half. Within the blink of an the wet surface, spent forces on a wild but it was the efforts of the No10s which eye, the ball was transferred to right-wing night, the Spanish youngsters were singing came closest to a breakthrough. Despite partner Gerard Deulofeu. The latter ran to in the rain.