2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship

Last updated
2007 UEFA Under-21 Championship
Europees kampioenschap voetbal onder 21 - 2007
2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship.png
Tournament details
Host countryFlag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
Dates10–23 June
Teams8 (finals)
51 (qualifying) (from 1 confederation)
Venue(s)4 (in 4 host cities)
Final positions
ChampionsFlag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands (2nd title)
Runners-upFlag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg  Serbia
Tournament statistics
Matches played15
Goals scored34 (2.27 per match)
Attendance211,999 (14,133 per match)
Top scorer(s) Flag of the Netherlands.svg Maceo Rigters (4 goals)
Best player(s) Flag of the Netherlands.svg Royston Drenthe
2006
2009

The UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2007 were held from 10 to 23 June 2007. It was the 16th staging of UEFA's European Under-21 Championship.

Contents

Summary

For the first time, a host nation was chosen ahead of the competition – the Netherlands, who were also the defending champions, were exempt from qualifying. The host nation was chosen on 15 December 2005. England, Italy, Portugal, Turkey, and Sweden also submitted bids. Of UEFA's 52 member countries, only the Faroe Islands did not compete in the qualification round for the tournament. That left 50 nations attempting to qualify for the seven remaining spots at the finals.

This was the first time that the competition's final matches took place in an odd-numbered year. UEFA took this decision with the will to give more visibility to the tournament, since during even-numbered years the competition was clouded by the approaching FIFA World Cup or the UEFA European Championship.

The tournament also served as the European qualifying tournament for the 2008 Summer Olympics, with a place for the four semi-finalists of the tournament. [1] [2] However, as England is not an Olympic nation, their team was ineligible for the Olympics; since England reached the semi-finals, a fifth-place playoff was necessary.

In this competition, a new UEFA penalty shoot-out record was established. [3] The semi final between The Netherlands U21 and England U21 finished 1–1. Thirty-two penalties had to be taken before the tie was decided. The Netherlands U21 won 13–12, [4] and went on to win the tournament by defeating Serbia U21 4–1 in the final. [5]

After the final, some commotion arose in the Netherlands because several Dutch internationals with Surinamese roots carried the flag of Suriname with them during the trophy presentation.[ citation needed ] Dutch coach Foppe de Haan expressed the actions of these players as "inappropriate".[ citation needed ]

Qualification

Steward outfit displaying the logo of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2007 ClothingUEFA2007under21.jpg
Steward outfit displaying the logo of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2007

In order to make the switch from even to odd-numbered years, the 2007 edition was a shortened version, condensed from a two-year campaign into a one-year campaign. Therefore, a completely new qualification format was devised to eliminate the weaker nations early, and saw a decrease in the size and duration of qualification groups.

Finals tournament

Draw

The Dutch team celebrating their victory after the final Netherlands212007.jpg
The Dutch team celebrating their victory after the final

The draw for the finals took place in Arnhem on 24 November 2006, putting the eight qualifying nations into two groups. The provisional dates for the group games are 10 June to 17 June 2007, with Heerenveen and Arnhem each staging a semi-final on 20 June. The final took place on Saturday 23 June at Euroborg in Groningen.

The opening game was between the Netherlands and Israel at 10 June.

Venues

CityStadiumCapacity
Arnhem Gelredome 25,000
Heerenveen Abe Lenstra Stadion 26,100
Groningen Euroborg 20,000
Nijmegen De Goffert 13,000

Squads

Group stage

The final, Netherlands-Serbia, in the rain EuroborgEK21.jpg
The final, NetherlandsSerbia, in the rain
Team qualified for the knockout stage
Team went to play-off for Olympics

Group A

TeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 321053+27
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 312032+15
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 311152+34
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 30030660
Source: [ citation needed ]
Netherlands  Flag of the Netherlands.svg1–0Flag of Israel.svg  Israel
Maduro Soccerball shade.svg10' Report
Abe Lenstra Stadion, Heerenveen
Attendance: 22,013
Referee: Damir Skomina (Slovenia)
Portugal  Flag of Portugal.svg0–0Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
Report
Euroborg, Groningen
Attendance: 7,197
Referee: Robert Małek (Poland)

Israel  Flag of Israel.svg0–1Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
Report Mirallas Soccerball shade.svg82'
Netherlands  Flag of the Netherlands.svg2–1Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal
Babel Soccerball shade.svg33' (pen.)
Rigters Soccerball shade.svg75'
Report Veloso Soccerball shade.svg77'
Euroborg, Groningen
Attendance: 19,498
Referee: Knut Kircher (Germany)

Netherlands  Flag of the Netherlands.svg2–2Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
Rigters Soccerball shade.svg13'
Drenthe Soccerball shade.svg37'
Report Mirallas Soccerball shade.svg9'
Pocognoli Soccerball shade.svg70'
Abe Lenstra Stadion, Heerenveen
Attendance: 24,099
Referee: Stéphane Lannoy (France)
Israel  Flag of Israel.svg0–4Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal
Report Fernandes Soccerball shade.svg37'
Vaz Tê Soccerball shade.svg45'
Veloso Soccerball shade.svg49'
Nani Soccerball shade.svg50'
Euroborg, Groningen
Attendance: 10,833
Referee: Zsolt Szabó (Hungary)

Group B

TeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg  Serbia 32012206
Flag of England.svg  England 312042+25
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 311154+14
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 30121431
Source: [ citation needed ]
Czech Republic  Flag of the Czech Republic.svg0–0Flag of England.svg  England
Report
Gelredome, Arnhem
Attendance: 9,382
Referee: Zsolt Szabó (Hungary)
Serbia  Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg1–0Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Milovanović Soccerball shade.svg63' Report
De Goffert, Nijmegen
Attendance: 8,347
Referee: Stéphane Lannoy (France)

Czech Republic  Flag of the Czech Republic.svg0–1Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg  Serbia
Report Janković Soccerball shade.svg90+3'
De Goffert, Nijmegen
Attendance: 6,109
Referee: Robert Małek (Poland)
England  Flag of England.svg2–2Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Nugent Soccerball shade.svg24'
Lita Soccerball shade.svg26'
Report Chiellini Soccerball shade.svg36'
Aquilani Soccerball shade.svg69'
Gelredome, Arnhem
Attendance: 17,103
Referee: Damir Skomina (Slovenia)

Italy  Flag of Italy.svg3–1Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic
Aquilani Soccerball shade.svg4'
Chiellini Soccerball shade.svg29'
Rossi Soccerball shade.svg45+1'
Report Papadopulos Soccerball shade.svg14'
Gelredome, Arnhem
Attendance: 7,167
Referee: Craig Thomson (Scotland)
England  Flag of England.svg2–0Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg  Serbia
Lita Soccerball shade.svg5'
Derbyshire Soccerball shade.svg77'
Report
De Goffert, Nijmegen
Attendance: 9,133
Referee: Knut Kircher (Germany)

Knockout stage

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
20 June – Heerenveen
 
 
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 1 (13)
 
23 June – Groningen
 
Flag of England.svg  England 1 (12)
 
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 4
 
20 June – Arnhem
 
Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg  Serbia 1
 
Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg  Serbia 2
 
 
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 0
 

Semi-finals


Serbia  Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg2–0Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
Kolarov Soccerball shade.svg4'
Mrđa Soccerball shade.svg87'
Report
Gelredome, Arnhem
Attendance: 17,438
Referee: Robert Małek (Poland)

Final

The teams enter the field for the final 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship-final.jpg
The teams enter the field for the final
Netherlands  Flag of the Netherlands.svg4–1Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg  Serbia
Bakkal Soccerball shade.svg17'
Babel Soccerball shade.svg60'
Rigters Soccerball shade.svg67'
Bruins Soccerball shade.svg87'
Report Mrđa Soccerball shade.svg79'
Attendance: 19,813
GK1 Boy Waterman
RB4 Arnold Kruiswijk
CB2 Gianni Zuiverloon
CB18 Ryan Donk
LB5 Erik Pieters Sub off.svg 89'
DM6 Hedwiges Maduro (c)
RM11 Daniël de Ridder
LM8 Royston Drenthe Yellow card.svg 9'Sub off.svg 78'
AM10 Otman Bakkal
CF13 Maceo Rigters Sub off.svg 69'
CF9 Ryan Babel
Substitutes:
MF12 Luigi Bruins Sub on.svg 69'
FW14 Roy Beerens Yellow card.svg 89'Sub on.svg 78'
DF19 Calvin Jong-a-Pin Sub on.svg 89'
Coach:
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Foppe de Haan
GK1 Damir Kahriman
RB3 Antonio Rukavina Yellow card.svg 89'
CB2 Branislav Ivanović (c)Yellow card.svg 62'
CB11 Duško Tošić Yellow card.svg 43'
LB6 Aleksandar Kolarov Yellow card.svg 28' Yellow-red card.svg 62'
CM7 Milan Smiljanić
CM13 Nikola Drinčić Sub off.svg 65'
CM10 Dejan Milovanović
RF19 Dušan Basta Sub off.svg 73'
CF9 Đorđe Rakić Sub off.svg 73'
LF8 Boško Janković
Substitutes:
MF21 Zoran Tošić Sub on.svg 65'
MF14 Stefan Babović Sub on.svg 73'
FW18 Dragan Mrđa Yellow card.svg 82'Sub on.svg 73'
Coach:
Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg Miroslav Đukić

Man of the Match:
Ryan Babel (Netherlands)

Assistant referees:
Manuel Navarro (Switzerland)
Tomáš Mokoš (Slovakia)
Fourth official:
Stéphane Lannoy (France)

Awards

Best player

Team of the tournament

GoalkeeperDefendersMidfieldersForwards

Flag of England.svg Scott Carson
Flag of Portugal.svg Paulo Ribeiro

Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg Branislav Ivanović
Flag of Italy.svg Giorgio Chiellini
Flag of England.svg Leighton Baines
Flag of England.svg Steven Taylor
Flag of Portugal.svg Manuel da Costa
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Gianni Zuiverloon
Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg Duško Tošić
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Jan Vertonghen
Flag of England.svg Ashley Young

Flag of the Netherlands.svg Royston Drenthe
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Otman Bakkal
Flag of England.svg Nigel Reo-Coker
Flag of Portugal.svg Miguel Veloso
Flag of Portugal.svg Manuel Fernandes
Flag of Italy.svg Alessandro Rosina
Flag of Italy.svg Alberto Aquilani

Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Kevin Mirallas
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Maceo Rigters
Flag of England.svg Leroy Lita
Flag of England.svg David Nugent
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Ryan Babel

Goalscorers

4 goals

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

Medal table and Olympic qualifiers

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsFinal result
Gold medal icon.svgFlag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands (H)5320105+511Champions
Silver medal icon.svgFlag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg  Serbia 53025619Runners-up
Bronze medal icon.svgFlag of England.svg  England 413053+26Eliminated in
semi-finals
Bronze medal icon.svgFlag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 41213415
5Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 311152+34Eliminated in
group stage
6Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 311154+14
7Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 30121431
8Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 30030660
Source: UEFA
(H) Hosts

Olympic qualifying play-off

The 2007 European Under-21 Championship also served as the European qualifying round for the 2008 Olympic football tournament. Europe's four places at the Olympics were to be filled by the four semi-finalists; however, because England, one of the semi-finalists, cannot compete independently at the Olympics, a play-off match between Portugal and Italy, the two third-placed teams in each group, was arranged to identify the fourth European team to go to Beijing. Italy defeated Portugal through a penalty shoot-out.

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References

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