Spain face Swiss challenge in Euro U21's Final - Betting News with Betfred

versus

Spain have looked virtually unbeatable at times in the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championships, but came within a whisker of elimination in Wednesday's semi-final against Belarus.

Having rescued victory from the jaws of defeat, their last gasp comeback against Belarus has taken them to within 90 minutes of another Under-21 title, but they face an impressive Switzerland team on Saturday evening, playing in their first final, having been semi-finalists in 2002.

The Spanish, European Under-21 champions in 1986 and 1998 have been praised from all sides for their football so far – which is reminiscent of their senior team's brand of play that took them to World Cup glory last summer.

Spain are odds of 4/6 to win in 90 minutes but might not have everything their own way against Switzerland though. The Swiss have emerged victorious from all four matches in Jutland and, perhaps more impressively, the Group A victors have yet to concede a goal.

The football experts believe Spain will lift the trophy, and in Adrián López of Deportivo de La Coruña, Spain have a striker in a rich vein of form, and with five tournament goals to his name already, he will seriously test the so far watertight Swiss defence!

Spain needed an 89th-minute equaliser from Adrián against Belarus to take the match into extra-time, before the same player headed them in front and Barcelona striker Jeffren Suárez clinched the win, as they failed to hit the same heights showed earlier in the tournament.

In the other semi-final the Swiss too needed extra-time to clinch a 1-0 win over the Czech Republic, thanks to a winner from FC Zürich forward Admir Mehmedi.

There is no doubt the two best sides in the tournament have made it into the final of the European under-21 Championships and it promises to be a great meeting between two in-form sides.

Spain have been most people's favourites to win the tournament ever since a ball was kicked, but they showed against England and Belarus they can struggle to break down organised defences, and they looked a little tired in their semi-final.

They will not have everything their own way in the final against a strong Switzerland side that are big outsiders and football odds of 9/2 for a Swiss win in normal time reflect this.

Swiss fans and punters looking for inspiration and a possible upset on Saturday need only to cast their minds back 12 months ago when the senior Swiss side caused a major shock at the World Cup, beating Spain in their opening game group game.

My Tip of the Weekend:

Spain should be too strong for Switzerland but there will not be many goals in the game, with a 1-0 win to the Spaniards looking good at 5/1 with Betfred.
For those of you who feel this final could go beyond the 90 minutes, you can get 5/1 also on the game to be both a draw at half-time and at full-time.

Saturday 25th June: Spain U21's v Switzerland U21's, Aarhus Stadium, Aarhus, kick-off 19.45 BST, live on Sky Sports 1.

By Drew Swainston
(Guest writer from Betfred on behalf of Beer Footy and Birds!)

Czech Mate - England Surrender Winning Position.

The 2011

UEFA Euro

Under-21

Championships

Group B

19/06/2011

England 1

Czech Rep 2

England produced a nightmare last-gasp collapse tonight to lose to the Czech Republic and crash out of the 2011 European Under-21 Championships in Denmark.

In a game they needed to win, Stuart Pearce's youngsters looked set to do just that, as Danny Welbeck broke the deadlock just 14 minutes from time. However two last-gasp goals from Jan Chramosta and Tomas Pekhart ensured the Czech Republic progressed to the semi-finals at England's expense.

Coming into the game the Czechs knew a draw was all they needed to advance with Spain and they were clearly content to go through the motions.
England needed a dramatic improvement on their opening two draws against Spain and Ukraine to avoid crashing out of the competition, especially playing a side who had been unbeaten in qualifying.

England boss Stuart Pearce made three changes from the starting line-up that took to the field against the Ukraine last Wednesday. Captain Michael Mancienne was dropped in place of Fabrice Muamba, Tom Cleverley was prefered to Jack Rodwell and Scott Sinclair came in for Danny Rose. Phil Jones was handed the captain's armband in place of Mancienne.

One would have assumed a game of such simple importance, where only victory would be good enough would have seen England hit the ground running. But the opposite transpired and England were very apathetic in their display, showing little little urgency or passion.

The Czechs got off to the better start and in the 16th minute it took an acrobatic save by Frank Fielding from a Lukas Marecek volley to keep the game scoreless.

Tom Cleverley had England’s best chance of opening the scoring in the 29th minute. A surging run down the left by Ryan Betrand opened space to allow him to deliver a deep cross to the far post, but the Manchester United man volleyed the ball wide of the upright.

Neither side really imposed themselves for the remainder of the half until the 41st minute, when Scott Sinclair cut inside from the left and unleashed a blistering drive tipped over by Tomas Vaclik.

Sinclair had certainly brought something positive to England's attack, and three minutes from the break the Swansea man cut in off the left flank and forced Vaclik to push away another goal bound strike.

In the second half things were not improving for England. There was much huffing and puffing but what attempts there were on the Czech goal were from too far out to seriously worry their opponents.

Then in the 76th minute the deadlock was finally broken. Daniel Sturridge worked the ball on to his favoured left foot and curled a delightful cross into the area. Danny Welbeck (right) got between the Czech defence, and his header into the left corner was too strong for Vaclik.

But the drama wasn't over. In the final minute of normal time Marcel Gecov was given too much time and space to deliver a cross that took a wicked deflection off Welbeck, allowing Chrasmosta to calmly lift the ball over Fielding for the equaliser, and break the hearts of England's Young Lions!

Moments later, with England having to send men forward in the vain hope of getting a winning goal, they were caught woefully short at the back. Chramosta broke the offside trap and unselfishly rolled a pass to his left for Pekhart, who stroked into the empty net from the edge of the area to put the result beyond doubt and send the Czechs into the last four of the tournament, and England home.

The Czech Republic will now face Switzerland and Spain play Belarus in the semi-finals on Wednesday.

Stuart Pearce's post-match comments: "I think us going home now is symptomatic of us not passing well enough in the first two matches, but I am proud of the players' endeavour. We just paid the price of switching off at a throw-in late on and that can happen to a team regardless of their age. My squad put their heart and soul into it and have been tremendously focused. I'm not interested in talking about players who aren't here, my thoughts are with the players who are suffering in the dressing room right now."

England's U21 team tonight:

Fielding, Walker, Bertrand, Smalling, Jones (c), Henderson (Lansbury '64), Muamba, Cleverley (Albrighton '77), Sinclair (Rose '87), Sturridge, Welbeck.

Subs: Mancienne, McCarthy, Albrighton, Rose, Tomkins, Rodwell, Cork, Lansbury, Delfouneso, Wickham, Steele.

England's Young Lions Fire Blanks!

The 2011

UEFA Euro

Under-21

Championships

Group B

15/06/2011

Ukraine 0

England 0

A late Danny Welbeck strike last Sunday, earned England a creditable 1-1 draw in their opening UEFA European Under-21 Championship group game, against a strong Spanish outfit.

But England's young lions failed to capitalise on Sunday's performance, as they fluffed their lines and suffered stage fright in Herning tonight at the hands of the Ukraine, and were held to a goalless draw against a team considered the weakest in the 'group of death.'

England lacked imagination throughout a docile encounter, with too many long balls lumped forward towards an isolated Danny Welbeck, who admirably tried to create something out of virtually nothing.

It was Ukraine and their forward Denys Garmash, who had the game's first real attempt. He struck from 20 yards after a strong run, but a deflection took the ball off target. Ukraine's next chance of the match fell to Konoplyanka, whose 25-yard drive was pushed away by keeper Frank Fielding, but only into the path of Maxym Biliy who was denied a shot on goal by a brilliant challenge from Chelsea left-back Ryan Bertrand.

Shakhtar Donetsk defender Yaroslav Rakitskiy was the next to go close for Ukraine, drilling a 25-yard free-kick narrowly wide.

Daniel Sturridge (right) was the pick of the young England players, and came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 32nd minute.
Bringing down a high ball 30 yards out, the Chelsea striker sent a vicious dipping volley over the head of Kanibolotskiy, but with the keeper well beaten, the ball crashed off the cross-bar and bounced away to safety.
England finished the first half on top but went into the break goalless.

After the break Sturridge drilled a fierce free-kick too close to Kanibolotskiy.
Welbeck then wasted the best chance of the second-half courtesy of another moment of magic from Sturridge. His incredible volleyed pass sending Welbeck clean through only for the Manchester United striker to slice his chance horribly wide.

On the hour mark the ineffective Jack Rodwell and Danny Rose were substituted, to be replaced by Henri Lansbury and Scott Sinclair, and the pair made an instant impact, Lansbury pouncing on a loose ball and feeding Sinclair, who's control let him down.

Sturridge then had a shot blocked as England, like on Sunday, committed more men forward late on, but the Ukraine knew a draw was even more damaging for them than for their opponents.

England failed to build on their small amount of pressure, instead allowing Ukraine to come back into the game.
Ukraine threw on Zozulya for Kravets with 20 minutes remaining, and they almost broke the deadlock eight minutes from time when Phil Jones' first error of the match let in Zozulya, but Fielding produced a fine stop.

Lansbury was involved in everything good England were doing and Stuart Pearce's men nearly snatched it late on when Lansbury drilled a shot just wide from 20 yards, and Sturridge's 30-yard blast was tipped round the post by Kanibolotskiy, who then saved Welbeck's header from the resulting corner.

A win tonight would have left England needing only a draw to progress but the reality is now that England are left with a must-win final group game against the Czech Republic at the weekend, if they are to progress to the semi-finals of the Euro 2011 tournament.

Earlier tonight Spain beat the Czech Republic 2-0 in Viborg, and now sit top of the group with 4 points from their opening 2 games, with the Czech Republic lying 2nd on 3 points after defeating the Ukraine in their opening game. England have 2 points from 2 games and the Ukraine 1 point from 2 games.


England's U21 team tonight:

Fielding, Walker, Smalling, Jones, Bertrand, Henderson, Mancienne (Muamba '89), Rodwell (Lansbury '57), Sturridge, Welbeck, Rose (Sinclair '58).

Subs: McCarthy, Muamba, Albrighton, Sinclair, Tomkins, Cork, Cleverley, Lansbury, Delfouneso, Wickham, Steele.

To Play:

19.06.11 - England v. Czech Republic - Viborg Stadium, Viborg - ko 19:45, live on Sky Sports.
19.06.11 - Ukraine v. Spain - Herning Stadium, Herning - ko 19:45, live on Sky Sports.

Psycho's boys kick-off 2011 Euro dream versus Spain - Betting News with Betfred

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The youngsters of England face a formidable challenge in their opening UEFA European under-21 Championship group game, when they face the World Cup holders next generation of starlets, in the shape of Spain.

Stuart Pearce led the England under-21s to the final in 2009, going one step further than their semi-final defeat in the 2007 tournament, and will without doubt be looking to win this competition which begins this weekend in Denmark.

The man known as 'Psycho' has admitted he has used the 2009 campaign in Sweden as the blueprint for this tournament, though much of the build-up was overshadowed by the 'will-he, won't-he' dilemma involving the call-up of Jack Wilshere.

In the end Pearce decided not to call on the Arsenal midfielder, and despite the loss of Kieran Gibbs, Micah Richards and Andrew Carroll through injury, he still has a strong squad at his disposal. Some of his under-21 stars could look to use this tournament to impress in the wake of the England senior teams recent dismal performance against Switzerland.

England face Spain in their opening European under-21 Championship match and their opponents are even money to win the game, something most football experts agree with.

If you look through the Spain under-21 squad it is filled with talented youngsters, some who already have experience of playing on the world stage, and it is no surprise to see them as pre-tournament favourites. They are priced at 7/4 to lift the trophy with Betfred.

Head coach Luis Milla can call upon the likes of the talented Barcelona pair Thiago Alcántara and Bojan Krkic, Valencia's Juan Manuel Mata, Athletic Bilbao's Javi Martínez and goalkeeper and Manchester United target David de Gea - so they are understandably well fancied by many to replicate their senior team, and secure the UEFA European under-21 trophy.

Danny Rose and Daniel Sturridge got the goals to give England a 2-0 win over Denmark in their final warm-up game and those two, along with the likes of Manchester United duo Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley, will be Pearce's danger men as they hunt for the win - priced at football odds of 9/4.

England have a lot of young talent within their squad, and if they can play to their full potential there is a real chances that they could go all the way in Denmark.
They are definitely in the tougher of the two groups, but if they can qualify for the knockout stages of the tournament they are in with a real chance - whatever happens they should certainly go further than the senior team did at last summers World Cup!

My Tip of the Weekend:

No one would be surprised if Spain prove to be too strong for England, but the opening match of any tournament is often a cagey affair and a draw at 9/4 looks a safe bet, with a 1-1 scoreline a 5/1 shot.
Take the 5/1 before a ball is kicked on the Czech Republic to be surprise winners of the tournament. They had an outstanding qualifying campaign, topping their group with 22 points from a possible 24, before thrashing Greece 5-0 in the play-offs.(Greece topped their own qualifying group with England as runners-up).

Sunday 12th June: Spain U21's v England U21's, Herning Stadium, kick-off 19.45, live on Sky Sports 1.

By Drew Swainston
(Guest writer from Betfred on behalf of Beer Footy and Birds!)

The 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship

Every two years the cream of Europe's young talent gathers for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship. The competition has existed in its current form since 1978. Denmark are hosting the 2011 tournament, which is likely to be the biggest football event in the country's history and will be the 18th staging of the tournament.

Joining the hosts are seven battle-hardened sides who progressed through a gruelling group stage that began in March 2009, before holding their nerve in the play-offs to seal their place. To be eligible for the campaign ending in 2011, players need to be born in or after 1988. Many can be actually 23 years old by the time the finals tournament takes place; however, when the qualification process began (late 2009) all players would have been 21 or under.

This tournament has been considered a stepping stone toward the senior team. Players such as Mesut Özil, Klaas Jan Huntelaar, Luís Figo, Petr Čech, 2010 World Cup winner Iker Casillas, 2006 World Cup winners Francesco Totti and Andrea Pirlo, and Euro 2004 winner Georgios Karagounis began their international careers in the youth teams.

It all kicks off this Saturday, the 11th June, when Denmark face Switzerland and Belarus take on Iceland in Group A. The following day, Group B gets under way with games involving 2009 beaten finalists England, who play Spain and the Czech Republic versus Ukraine.

The tournament consists of two groups of four, with the top two from each progressing to the semi-finals where it becomes a knockout competition. In finals held a year before a summer Olympic Games the Championship also serves as qualification for the Olympic Football Tournament.

It is a measure of how tough qualification was that only three of the countries that contested the 2009 finals in Sweden are back this time – Belarus, England and Spain. The Czech Republic were the only side to come through qualifying undefeated. Iceland were the surprise package and Belarus pulled off the most astonishing result in qualifying, overturning a 2-0 play-off first-leg reverse to five-times champions Italy by triumphing 3-0 in Borisov. Spain can boast two FIFA World Cup winners in Javi Martínez and Juan Mata, while England are the only country to have qualified for a third successive time. Ukraine, finalists in 2006, have a squad brimming with UEFA Champions League pedigree, and will want to build on the promise of their UEFA European U19 Championship victory in 2009. Six players capped at senior level are included in the Switzerland squad for the U-21 finals, and sure to be spurred on by vociferous home support, Keld Bordinggaard's Denmark side have much to look forward to – as do fans across the continent.

The tournament venues will all be located in Jutland, at already existing stadiums in Aarhus, Aalborg, Herning and Viborg. The semi-finals will be played at the Herning Stadium and Viborg Stadium, and the final will take place in the Aarhus Stadium, Aarhus on the 25th June.

Group A: Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland, Belarus.
Group B: England, Spain, Ukraine, Czech Republic.

England Squad:
Goalkeepers:
1 Frank Fielding
13 Alex McCarthy
23 Jason Steele

Defenders:
2 Michael Mancienne
3 Ryan Bertrand (pictured right)
5 Chris Smalling
6 Phil Jones
14 Kyle Walker
15 James Tomkins
16 Jack Cork

Midfielders:
4 Fabrice Muamba
7 Marc Albrighton
8 Jordan Henderson
17 Thomas Cleverley
18 Henri Lansbury
19 Jack Rodwell
20 Danny Rose

Forwards:
9 Daniel Welbeck
10 Daniel Sturridge
11 Scott Sinclair
21 Nathan Delfounes
22 Connor Wickham (pictured right)

Head Coach: Stuart Pearce.
Asst Coach: Steve Wigley.

Group B Fixtures:
12.06.11 - Czech Rep vs. Ukraine - Viborg Stadium, Viborg - ko 17:00
12.06.11 - Spain vs. England - Herning Stadium, Herning - ko 19:45
15.06.11 - Czech Rep vs. Spain - Viborg Stadium, Viborg - ko 17:00
15.06.11 - Ukraine vs. England - Herning Stadium, Herning - ko 19:45
19.06.11 - England vs. Czech Republic - Viborg Stadium, Viborg - ko 19:45
19.06.11 - Ukraine vs. Spain - Herning Stadium, Herning - ko 19:45