Report Technical UEFA European Under-17 Championship Final Round 2012 – Slovenia INTRODUCTION CONTENTS The final tournament of the 11th European Under-17 Championship was the first to Route to the Final 3 be staged in Slovenia and served to underline the high turnover rate in a highly competitive The Final 4 competition. As in 2011, the eight finalists included only three of the previous season’s Technical Topics 6 qualifiers – France and the two teams who Talking Points 10 reached the 2011 final, Germany and the Netherlands. While major powers such as Winning Coach 12 England, Italy, Portugal and Spain were absent, Georgia and Poland made their first appearances UEFA Technical Team 13 in the final tournament for a decade; Iceland qualified for the first time in five years; and the Team Analysis: Belgium 14 debut by the Slovenian hosts brought the overall Team Analysis: France 15 total of participants in the final tournament to 32 of UEFA’s 53 member associations. Team Analysis: Georgia 16 The 12 group matches were played at four Team Analysis: Germany 17 venues in two centres, Group A being contested in Ljubljana and Domžale, Group B in Maribor Team Analysis: Iceland 18 and Lendava. After the conclusion of the group stage, the three knockout matches were played Team Analysis: Netherlands 19 in Ljubljana, with the two semi-finals staged as Team Analysis: Poland 20 a double-header at the new National Arena. The crowd of 11,674 that watched the final between Team Analysis: Slovenia 21 Germany and the Netherlands brought the cumulative attendance for the final tournament Results 22 to 41,420 (a 39% increase on the 2011 total of 29,739) and live or delayed coverage of 12 matches was made available to a pan-European TV audience by Eurosport, with Slovenian TV also screening the host team’s games and Georgian TV providing blanket coverage of the country’s historic run to the semi-finals. Published by UEFA Technical Observers: As the Under-17 finals represent the first Ross Mathie Editorial Team: John Peacock experience of an international event for most of Andy Roxburgh (UEFA Technical Director) Pictures: the participants, briefings on doping controls Graham Turner (unless otherwise indicated) Matt Browne & Diarmuid Greene, and the dangers of match fixing were written Production Team: Sportsfile into the tournament diary. André Vieli Ole Andersen (Graphics) Dominique Maurer Setting: Administration: Atema Communication SA, CH-Gland Catherine Maher Stéphanie Tétaz Printing: UEFA Language Services Artgraphic Cavin SA, CH-Grandson 02 INTRODUCTION Route to The Final The final tournament was shaped by expectations. The clear two and conceded two en route to their semi-final against objective for Albert Stuivenberg’s Dutch squad was to become the Dutch, which was marked by the dismissal of their captain after only the third nation in two decades to successfully defend only 16 minutes. Unfazed, composed and athletically outstanding, the title. Germany’s aim was also to reach the final for the second Vasil Maisuradze’s team’s heroic resistance was not broken down successive year, while the French, four-time finalists since the until the Dutch scored in the 79th minute and again after 80+2. turn of the century, travelled to Ljubljana with the clear intention of going home with gold medals. The other contestants, while The Dutch had negotiated Group B with a degree of comfort, secretly dreaming of lifting the trophy, publicly declared that although the opening 3-1 victory over the hosts was followed by their aim was to give a good account of themselves. However, two goalless draws. The Belgian team, after holding the upper variations on the definition of “good account” were translated hand for much of their opener against Poland, were punished for into different tactical approaches. wayward finishing and one defensive mistake which allowed Marcin Dorna’s side to post a 1-0 win which was to prove decisive In Group A, Iceland’s team spirit, commitment and attention to set in the outcome of the group. The Poles then conceded two points plays allowed them to come back from 2-0 down to draw with in a 1-1 draw with Slovenia, but successfully secured a goalless France and, after a first half against Germany when the emphasis draw with the Dutch on the final matchday to send them into was on direct forward passing as soon as the ball was won, the semi-finals. they settled into a more organised game and came close to equalising. Against Georgia, they were seven minutes away Their opponents were a German side which had made an from a semi-final place when they conceded the decisive goal. uncharacteristically cautious start against the Georgian underdogs; played out an edgy, identical 1-0 scoreline against Iceland; and, France accompanied them to the airport. After two draws, Jean- with a changed lineup, had finally burst into top gear and scored Claude Giuntini’s side needed to beat Germany. But, for all their three times during the second half against France. Reverting to fluent approach play and solo skills, they were unable to deliver their original lineup, Stefan Böger’s team was made to fight all telling blows and were comprehensively defeated by Germany’s the way during a hard-fought semi-final against Poland, when their superior punching power. The 3-0 win allowed Germany to top clearest chances came late in the game while the Poles were the group without conceding a goal and they were joined by a surging forward in search of an equaliser. In the event, the header Georgian side which added technique and athletic qualities by Leon Goretzka from a corner proved decisive, and the Germans to foundations of team spirit, national pride and were to meet the Dutch for the third time in the last four finals. efficient team organisation. They scored However, to reach the outcome that many would have predicted, both teams had been required to overcome unexpectedly strong resistance from pre-tournament underdogs. Despite torrential rain in the hours prior to the game, the stadium in Maribor was in top condition for the hosts’ opening fixture against the Netherlands 03 The final TT triumphs (again) Getty Images German No 10 Max Meyer and team-mate Timo Werner look concerned as Dutch midfielder Thom Haye weaves his way goalwards during the final in Ljubljana The scene was set for a memorable following the resounding 5-2 victory The Netherlands favoured a 4-3-3 formation Under-17 final, with Germany and the against their arch-rivals in 2011. A crowd of with two wingers, while Stefan Böger’s Netherlands facing each other for the third 11,674 greeted the players in Slovenia’s Germany lined up in a 4-2-3-1 structure, time in four years, both with a victory national stadium in Ljubljana – the weather with the highly rated Max Meyer licensed in the title-deciding matches, and the was cold, but the reception was warm to play the “free spirit” in between Dutch coach, Albert Stuivenberg, hoping from the biggest attendance ever at middle and front. Perhaps it was the for back-to-back gold medal performances, an U17 final not involving a host nation. effects of five games in two weeks, Maybe expectations were too high, but or the nervous tension which inevitably it would take some time before the drama captures the minds of young players on would manifest itself. such occasions, or the efficiency of the two defences (only one goal conceded between The first half was, in the main, a case them in the final tournament), but apart of shadow boxing, although the teams from sporadic moments, caution prevailed. were set up for a positive approach. A combination of innocuous passing and half-hearted attempts to penetrate dulled the senses of those watching. 04 Glimpses of sunshine were few and started to press, to gain territorial advantage come to terms with the shock, a penalty far between, literally and metaphorically and to put Germany into contain-and- decider was underway. The euphoric Dutch speaking. Yes, the crossbar was tested by counter mode. In fairness, Stefan Böger’s scored all five, but by a strange twist of Germany’s Timo Werner in the 22nd minute team never looked vulnerable despite fate, Germany’s No 20, the substitute who – the VfB Stuttgart striker took one touch the frantic pressure exerted on them. had changed the game in the second half before launching a powerful right-foot shot. Their captain and goalscorer Leon Goretzka and who had created the goal, became the And yes, a short time after the only corner was substituted in the 80th minute, and unfortunate one to miss from the spot. of the first period, the Dutch came close few would have predicted, at that moment, It was a cruel blow for the boy and for his with a drive from striker Queensy Menig in that the VfL Bochum youngster would not team-mates who had dominated all the the 38th minute (the AFC Ajax youngster’s be lifting the European trophy. statistics, except for the final scoreline. effort cannoned off the underside of the The Netherlands, with a Houdini act, turned bar and bounced back into play). But that However, the Netherlands were not defeat into victory before misbelieving was it. Two near misses, two fouls by prepared to give up, and one minute into eyes. Tonny Trindade de Vilhena of each team, and a lot of misplaced passes addedtime, Albert Stuivenberg’s team Feyenoord dispatched the winning penalty produced a less than exciting spectacle for saved the day.