Under 19 European Championship
Spain
won the under 19 European title for the third time in five years after beating
Scotland 2-1. The youngsters had already beaten their opponents 4-0 at
the group stage, but they found themselves up against a determined rival who
gave as good as they got up to the half time whistle. Five minutes in to the
second half though Spain made the breakthrough, Bueno picking up a return pass
from Mata to lob McNeil from outside of the area. And with twenty minutes to go
the Real Madrid striker got his second of the evening after Piqué laid
across Mata's long free kick. Scotland carried on fighting however, and
substitute Dorrans headed one back near the end to set up a nervous last few
minutes. (29.07.06)
Spain
cruised in to the under 19 European Championship final with a crushing 5-0
victory over Austria. Ginés Meléndez's side went ahead ten
minutes before half time when Piqué and Mata combined to set up
Jeffrén to score, and before the break Javi García had added a
second with a free kick which deflected in off the keeper after hitting the
bar. Mata added the third with twenty minutes to go after picking up a return
pass from his Real Madrid team mate Bueno, and Javi García and Bueno
added two more after that to wrap things up. Spain's opponents in the final
will be Scotland, who surprisingly beat the Czech Republic in the other
semi-final. (26.07.06) |