UEFA U-21 Championships

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Play-off for Final Tournament : 16th October 2012

Russia 2 - 2 Czech Republic
Aggregate: 4 - 2
Referee: Antti Munukka (FIN) – Stadium: Centralni, Yekaterinburg (RUS)

Switzerland 1 - 3 Germany
Aggregate: 2 - 4
Referee: Matej Jug (SVN) – Stadium: Swissporarena, Lucerne (SUI)

Sweden 2 - 3 Italy
Aggregate: 2 - 4
Referee: Michael Oliver (ENG) – Stadium: Guldfageln Arena, Kalmar (SWE)

Serbia 0 - 1 England
Aggregate: 0 - 2
Referee: Hüseyin Göçek (TUR) – Stadium: Mladost, Krusevac (SRB)

Norway 5 - 3 France
Aggregate: 5 - 4
Referee: Paolo Valeri (ITA) – Stadium: Marienlyst, Drammen (NOR)

Denmark 1 - 3 Spain
Aggregate: 1 - 8
Referee: Szymon Marciniak (POL) – Stadium: Aalborg Stadion, Aalborg (DEN)

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Under-21 finals lineup complete.

Holders Spain, who took the 2011 title in Denmark, qualified on Tuesday alongside Russia, England, Norway, Germany and Italy. Together with Monday's play-off winners the Netherlands, those sides will go into the draw with Israel on 28th November when the groups for next summer's June tournament are picked.

There was plenty of drama, not least in Drammen where Norway beat France 5 - 3 to advance 5 - 4 overall. Italy, one up as they travelled to Sweden, prevailed 3 - 2 on the night after an exchange of five goals in 18 minutes, while a last-gasp Connor Wickham strike ensured England completed a second 1 - 0 win against Serbia.

Russia were grateful for their 2 - 0 first-leg victory in the Czech Republic as they drew 2 - 2 while Germany, having been held 1 - 1 at home by Switzerland last Friday, triumphed 3 - 1 away. Spain, defending a 5 - 0 lead in Denmark, won 3 - 1 to confirm they will be tough to beat in Israel. The Netherlands, winners of two of the last four editions of this championship, were the sole team to qualify on Monday after easing to a 4 - 0 aggregate success against Slovakia.

In the finals draw, the two top seeds will be hosts Israel (position A1) and the highest ranked team (B1) according to competition coefficient rankings as set out in the regulations. The sides ranked second and third are seeded and will allocated positions A2 and B2. The remaining four teams are not seeded and will be drawn into positions A3, B3, A4 and B4. UEFA will release a full list of seedings on Wednesday. The finals are played from 5th to 18th June.


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The winners of the last four UEFA European Under-21 Championships will all play in the same group at next year's finals after the draw was made in Tel Aviv.

Holders Spain were drawn in Group B alongside 2009 winners Germany, and the team who claimed back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007, the Netherlands. Russia, in their first finals for 14 years, complete a stern-looking section.

Hosts Israel, meanwhile, were the top seeds in Group A, which was completed by England, Norway and Italy. The only country to have played in the last four finals, England will again take on Norway, whom they met in qualifying for the tournament. Israel are participating in their second finals and will meet the side that denied them a place in the 2009 version, Italy.

Former Israeli internationals and tournament ambassadors Avi Nimni and Eli Ohana assisted with the draw, which was hosted by former Israel goalkeeper Bonni Ginzburg, and the official tournament ball was also unveiled at the ceremony.

Final tournament draw

Group A
Israel (hosts)
England
Norway
Italy

Group B
Spain (holders)
Netherlands
Russia
Germany

The finals take place between 5 and 18 June 2013. The match schedule will be confirmed in due course.

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Teams learn fate in U21 qualifying draw...

Most recent winners Spain and Germany face tough schedules while Greece will meet Turkey after the 2013/15 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying draw in Nyon.

Austria, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Albania lie in wait for 2011 winners Spain. Looking to retain their title in Israel this summer, Spain will not have an easy ride in Group 4 of qualifying for the next competition, which will conclude with a final tournament in the Czech Republic in June 2015.

Winners in 2009, Germany also have a tough task ahead in Group 6, where they have been pitted against Romania, Montenegro, the Republic of Ireland and the Faroe Islands.

Neighbours Greece and Turkey, meanwhile, will meet in Group 7, while Group 8 is the only section to feature two sides who will compete in this summer's finals: hosts Israel and Norway.

Group stage matches can get under way from 22nd March, as the contestants bid to join hosts the Czech Republic in the finals. The ten group winners and the four best runners-up will advance to the play-offs to determine the seven sides destined for the showpiece event.

2013–15 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying draw

Group 1
England*
Wales
Finland
Moldova
Lithuania
San Marino

Group 2
Russia*
Denmark
Slovenia
Bulgaria
Estonia
Andorra

Group 3
Netherlands*
Scotland
Slovakia
Georgia
Luxembourg

Group 4
Spain*
Austria
Hungary
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Albania

Group 5
Switzerland
Ukraine
Croatia
Latvia
Liechtenstein

Group 6
Germany*
Romania
Montenegro
Republic of Ireland
Faroe Islands

Group 7
Sweden
Turkey
Greece
Poland
Malta

Group 8
Israel*
Portugal
Norway*
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Azerbaijan

Group 9
Italy*
Serbia
Belgium
Cyprus
Northern Ireland

Group 10
France
Belarus
Armenia
Iceland
Kazakhstan

*2011/13 finals contenders


©UEFA.com 1998-2013. All rights reserved.

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The 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Final tournament
comprises the seven play-off winners and Israel, who qualify automatically as hosts. The eight teams are split into two groups of four. Each team plays each other once in their group with the winners and runners-up advancing to the semi-finals where the winner of Group A plays the Group B runner-up and vice-versa. The winners advance to the final.

5th June 2013 Results

Final tournament - Group stage (Group A)

Israel 2 - 2 Norway
Referee: Pawel Gil (POL) – Stadium: Netanya Municipal Stadium, Netanya (ISR)

Final tournament - Group stage (Group A)

England 0 - 1 Italy
Referee: Antony Gautier (FRA) – Stadium: Bloomfield, Tel Aviv (ISR)

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Results 2013–15 qualifying round

22nd March 2013

(Group 1)
Wales 1 - 0 Moldova
Referee: Gunnar Jarl Jónsson (ISL) – Stadium: Parc Y Scarlets, Llanelli (WAL)

25th March 2013

(Group 9)
Belgium 2 - 0 Cyprus
Referee: Markus Hameter (AUT) – Stadium: FC ZD Oud-Heverlee, Louvain (BEL)

(Group 3)

Scotland 3 - 0 Luxembourg
Referee: Dennis Antamo (FIN) – Stadium: Saint Mirren Park, Paisley (SCO)

26th March 2013

(Group 10)
Belarus 1 - 2 Iceland
Referee: Stephan Klossner (SUI) – Stadium: Torpedo, Zhodino (BLR)

(Group 2)
Andorra 0 - 3 Russia
Referee: Laurent Kopriwa (LUX) – Stadium: Estadi Comunal, Andorra la Vella (AND)

30th May 2013

(Group 9)
Cyprus 3 - 0 Northern Ireland
Referee: Michael Tykgaard (DEN) – Stadium: Makarion, Nicosia (CYP)

1st June 2013

(Group 2)
Bulgaria 3 - 0 Andorra
Referee: Johnny Casanova (SMR) – Stadium: Lovech Stadion, Lovech (BUL)

5th June 2013

(Group 2)
Andorra 0 - 3 Bulgaria
Referee: Robert Rogers (IRL) – Stadium: Estadi Comunal, Andorra la Vella (AND)

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6th June 2013

Final tournament - Group stage (Group B)

Spain 1 - 0 Russia
Referee: Matej Jug (SVN) – Stadium: Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem (ISR)

Netherlands 3 - 2 Germany
Referee: Ivan Bebek (CRO) – Stadium: Ha Moshava, Petah Tikva (ISR)

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2015 qualifying - 6th June 2013

(Group 1)
Lithuania 2 - 1 San Marino
Referee: Sven Bindels (LUX) – Stadium: Stadium of Marijampole football club, Marijampole (LTU)

(Group 10)
Armenia 1 - 2 Iceland
Referee: Jovan Kaludjerović (MNE) – Stadium: Hrazdan Central Stadium, Yerevan (ARM)

(Group 7)
Poland 2 - 0 Malta
Referee: Alexander Harkam (AUT) – Stadium: Marszałek Piłsudski, Krakow (POL)

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8th June 2013

Final tournament - Group stage (Group A)

England 1 - 3 Norway
Referee: Serhiy Boiko (UKR) – Stadium: Ha Moshava, Petah Tikva (ISR)

Italy 4 - 0 Israel
Referee: Ovidiu Haţegan (ROU) – Stadium: Bloomfield, Tel Aviv (ISR)

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2015 qualifying 7th June 2013

(Group 2)
Estonia 0 - 1 Denmark
Referee: Thorvaldur Árnason (ISL) – Stadium: Kadriorg, Tallinn (EST)

(Group 4)
Albania 1 - 2 Hungary
Referee: Jonathan Lardot (BEL) – Stadium: Niko Dovana, Durres (ALB)

(Group 6)
Faroe Islands 2 - 2 Romania
Referee: Eiko Saar (EST) – Stadium: Toftir, Toftir (FRO)

2015 qualifying 8th June 2013

(Group 8)
Azerbaijan 0 - 0 FYROM
Referee: Nikola Popov (BUL) – Stadium: Dalga Stadium, Baku (AZE)

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9th June 2013 Final tournament - Group stage

(Group B)
Netherlands 5 - 1 Russia
Referee: Antony Gautier (FRA) – Stadium: Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem (ISR)

Germany 0 - 1 Spain
Referee: Pawel Gil (POL) – Stadium: Netanya Municipal Stadium, Netanya (ISR)

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11th June 2013 Final tournament - Group stage

(Group A)
Israel 1 - 0 England
Referee: Serhiy Boiko (UKR) – Stadium: Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem (ISR)

Norway 1 - 1 Italy
Referee: Ivan Bebek (CRO) – Stadium: Bloomfield, Tel Aviv (ISR)

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2015 qualifying 11th June 2013

(Group 2)
Estonia 1 - 1 Andorra
Referee: Jari Järvinen (FIN) – Stadium: Kadriorg, Tallinn (EST)

(Group 1)
Finland 2 - 2 Lithuania
Referee: Georgi Vadachkoria (GEO) – Stadium: Raatti, Oulu (FIN)

(Group 10)
Belarus 0 - 1 Kazakhstan
Referee: Vasilis Dimitriou (CYP) – Stadium: Gorodskoi Stadion, Borisov (BLR)

(Group 5)
Latvia 4 - 0 Liechtenstein
Referee: Petur Reinert (FRO) – Stadium: Sloka, Jurmala (LVA)

(Group 4)
Bosnia and Herzegovina 4 - 1 Albania
Referee: Aleksandrs Anufrijevs (LVA) – Stadium: Bilino Polje, Zenica (BIH)

(Group 3)
Luxembourg 1 - 7 Slovakia
Referee: Bardhyl Pashaj (ALB) – Stadium: Deich, Ettelbruck (LUX)

(Group 6)
Montenegro 3 - 0 Faroe Islands
Referee: Denis Scherbakov (BLR) – Stadium: Stadion Podgorica, Podgorica (MNE)

(Group 1)
San Marino 0 - 3 Moldova
Referee: Suren Baliyan (ARM) – Stadium: Stadio Olimpico, Serravalle (SMR)

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12th June 2013 Final tournament - Group stage

(Group B)
Spain 3 - 0 Netherlands
Referee: Ovidiu Haţegan (ROU) – Stadium: Ha Moshava, Petah Tikva (ISR)

Russia 1 - 2 Germany
Referee: Matej Jug (SVN) – Stadium: Netanya Municipal Stadium, Netanya (ISR)

15th June 2013 Semi-finals

Spain 3 - 0 Norway
Referee: Serhiy Boiko (UKR) – Stadium: Netanya Municipal Stadium, Netanya (ISR)

Italy 1 - 0 Netherlands
Referee: Ovidiu Haţegan (ROU) – Stadium: Ha Moshava, Petah Tikva (ISR)

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Final - Teddy Stadium - Jerusalem 18/06/2013

Italy 2 - 4 Spain

1. 0 - 1 Thiago Alcántara 6
2. 1 - 1 Immobile 10
3. 1 - 2 Thiago Alcántara 31
4. 1 - 3 Thiago Alcántara 38 (Pen)
5. 1 - 4 Isco 66 (Pen)
6. 2 - 4 Borini 80

Thiago Alcántara struck the first ever hat-trick in a one-off Under-21 final as Spain beat Italy 4 - 2 to retain their UEFA European U21 Championship title.

Julen Lopetegui's masterly Spain side came into the decider unbeaten in 25 competitive encounters, and though Thiago's early opener looked to have set them on course to increase that tally, Ciro Immobile soon struck back for Italy. It proved a false dawn for Devis Mangia's team, who fell behind again just after the half-hour.

The two previous finals between these nations – in 1986 and 1996 – had been won on penalties, so it was fitting that spot kicks from Thiago and Isco ultimately settled matters in Jerusalem. Fabio Borini's 80th-minute riposte was too little, too late.

Considering these two sides had conceded a solitary goal between them in Israel, few could have foreseen such a helter-skelter encounter. Álvaro Morata, the adidas Golden Boot winner with four goals, had been Spain's go-to man in their opening four fixtures and, six minutes into the showpiece, again came up trumps. This time he played the role of provider, shimmying his way to the byline before standing the ball up for Thiago to head in from close range.

If that was typical tiki-taka from Spain, the Azzurrini's equaliser came in more direct fashion. Immobile brought down Matteo Bianchetti's long pass with one exquisite touch before dinking the ball over David de Gea – bang went Spain's tournament clean sheet.

Francesco Bardi soon got down swiftly to deny Morata and Koke, thus keeping his team level. De Gea, making his 27th appearance to equal Santi Denia as Spain's most-capped U21 international, was in action himself before the half-hour. Alessandro Florenzi raced on to Borini's pass, bamboozled Marc Bartra and volleyed goalwards – De Gea was well placed.

It proved a turning point for Spain, who restored their advantage when Thiago wriggled free, took Koke's ball down on his chest and squeezed a shot through Bardi's legs. The Italian did not get quite so close to preventing La Rojita's third, Thiago slotting past him from the spot after Giulio Donati felled Tello.

The FC Barcelona midfielder so nearly made it four after the interval but his low effort was thwarted by Bardi. De Gea should also have been required not long after, Lorenzo Insigne and Florenzi both snatching at half-chances. Isco soon followed suit at the other end, putting his first-time finish narrowly wide following a lightning-fast counterattack from Cristian Tello.

Though Tello's pace was now proving a frequent thorn in Italy's side, it was the man behind him who teed up Spain's fourth, Martín Montoya pulled down by Vasco Regini after racing forward from right-back; Isco made no mistake.

Despite the early scare it seemed that, finally, Lopetegui's assertion that "the final is in our hands" had come to fruition. Though Borini prompted brief cause for alarm with a fine finish, Lopetegui, mastermind of Spain's U19 triumph last summer, could join a record crowd at Teddy Stadium in watching his team lift Spain's fourth U21 title in consummate fashion.

The above report supplied by UEFA.com

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