SPAIN 0 CROATIA 3 | EURO U-21 QUALIFIER

The Spanish U-21 National Team lost a golden opportunity to practically qualify themselves for the upcoming European U-21 Championships after losing 0 - 3 to Croatia. The loss has taken away the top spot of the Group & complicates the automatic qualification. Spain now has to win Sweden & see what happens with the Croatia game.

Spain seemed to underestimate their opponents today, who were better off-the-ball, defensively & of course, scoring goals. Spain played well for the first 30 mins but then fell apart with the Croatian goals, including a tremendous goalkeeping mistake by Kepa who failed to clear a back pass. 

Spain was simply outplayed on all fronts.

Match details

SPAIN - 0: Kepa; Bellerín, Jonny, Duarte (Castro, min.67), Marín; Deulofeu, Saul, Oliver Torres, Ceballos (Pedraza, min.54); Asensio & Munir.

CROATIA - 3: Livakovic; Peric, Caleta-Car, Jedvaj, Milic; Krovinovic, Rog, Pavicic (Capan, min.86), Coric (Fiolic, min.94); Tudor & Perica (Kolar, min.76).

GOALS: 0-1, min.36, Caleta-Car; 0-2, min.42, Perica; 0-3, min.48, Perica.

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SPAIN LOSES 1 - 2 SERBIA | U-21 EURO | ELIMINATED FROM EURO 2015 & 2016 RIO OLYMPIC GAMES

It was a must winner encounter. Spain had to defeat Serbia today to qualify for the Euro 2015 Championships & the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. The final result was a hard blow for the current U-21 European Champions after losing at home 1 - 2.

Same story as the away match at Serbia that finished 0 - 0, solid Serbian defence that waited patiently as Spain made mistakes under their frustration & impatience. However, this time around luck also abandoned the Spaniards with the first Serbian goal in the 31st min which was a "stupid" own goal from Spanish defender Saul. It was uphill from here as Spain bounced off the effective Serbian defence & grew increasingly frustrated. 

To honour the Spanish U-21 team they never gave up & in the 91st min Sergi Roberto equalized the game. With the euphoria of the moment, Spain went all out for a second goal to attempt to win the encounter while the "knife was hot". They perhaps sinned of being over-zealous & while Spain was attacking Serbia counter-attacked & exploited the spaces in defence to allow Kostic to score the winner in the 93rd min. 

Unfortunate for Spain which will be disappointed after receiving the double blow of Euro 2015 & 2016 Olympic Games elimination. Congratulations to Serbia for their well planned & executed performance, victory & qualification.  

Details:

SPAIN - 1:
Kepa ; 2. Manquillo , 4. Sergi Gomez , 5. Muniesa (Oliver min. 70), 3. Gaya ; 6. Saul ; 8. Sergi Roberto , 10. Isco ; 11. Deulofeu (Sarabia min. 64) , 9. Munir & 7. Muniain (Sandro, min. 56).

SERBIA - 2:
Dimititrovic ; 22. Stojkovic  (Filipovic min. 65), 16. Cirkovic, 5. Velljkovic, 13. Petrovic; 21. Smic, 2. Kovacevic, 7. Radoja  (Mijailovic min. 85), 11. Kostic ; 10. Causic &; 8. Pesic
(Cavric min. 72).

GOALS:
0-1 min. 31 Saúl o.g., min. 91 1-1 Sergi Roberto, 1-2  min. 93 Kostic

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SPAIN SECURES PLACE IN UEFA U-21 EURO 2015 DEFEATING HUNGARY 0 - 1

The UEFA European U-21 Finals will be held in the Czech Republic in 2015 between the 15th & 30th of June, & Spain needed just 1 point to mathematically secure their presence & place in the Championship.

This afternoon the U-21 Spain Football Team defeated 0 - 1 Hungary & got more than the needed point, but three.

Less than entertaining match of Football with Spanish Team dominance. The Hungarians were more defensive creating the occasional chance for themselves. Spain got an early penalty in the 3rd min after Deulofeu was fouled but Captain Muniain missed. 

The winner came in the 66th min when Saul Ñiguez broke the Hungarian defensive wall from an outside shot the found the net.

Match line-ups & details:

Hungary 0: Jova; Szolnoki, Kelemen, Tamas, Farkas (Vass, min. 46); Windercker (Barath, min. 75) Poor; Bese, Vecsei, Bacsa (Markvart, min. 69); & Ugrai.

Spain 1: Pacheco; Manquillo, Gómez, Muniesa, Bernat; Saul Ñíguez; Deulofeu, Sergi Roberto, Denis Suarez, Muniain (Sarabia, min. 65); & Munir El Haddadi (Ayoze Pérez, min. 76).

Goal: 0-1, min. 66: Saul Ñiguez.

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TEEN MAGAZINE PUBLISHES BEST WORLD SOCCER U-21 TEAM

The magazine "Teen Digest" has published their list of XI players that make up the "Best World Soccer U-21 Team". Spanish Football is well represented  with two Spanish born players, Carvajal & Isco ( Real Madrid ) & two foreign players playing in Spanish Clubs, Varane ( Real Madrid ) Courtois (At. Madrid) & Neymar ( FC Barcelona ). 

Here is the full list of the chosen Best World Soccer U/21 Team: 

Courtois (Atletico Madrid); Carvajal (Real Madrid), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Varane (Real Madrid), Shaw (Southampton); Pogba (Juventus), Verratti (PSG), Draxler (Schalke), Isco (Real Madrid); Neymar (FC Barcelona) & Lukaku (Everton).

Their is a high chance that a future FIFA Golden Ball winner will come out of the above list. 

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ALBANIA 0 SPAIN 2 | U-21 EURO GROUP QUALIFIER

The Spanish Football U-21 National Team travelled to Albania for their Group match qualifier for the 2015 European Championships. The final result a 0 - 2 victory for Spain which virtually assures them a place in the Euro U-21 Finals & keeps them top of their Group with 18 points, that is, 6 straight victories to date.  

The games was not easy at all for Spain. Albania put up a rough & sticky plan which consisted in maximum pressure which caused the Spaniards to lose the ball. The Spanish midfield was continually overrun by Albania & the Spanish defence under siege. It was not until the 66th min that Spain managed to win back control with the goal from Muniain. This was followed later in the 88th min by the sealer & second goal from Deulofeu.

Relief on the Spanish bench & joy in gaining another victory & three points.

Details:

Albania 0: Teqja; Husaj, Gjokak, Prençi, Kotobelli; Kruja, Kace, Shala, Gino; Batha & Shkurtaj

Spain 2: Pacheco; Carvajal, Sergi G., Amat, Bernat; Campaña, Óliver; Deulofeu, S. Roberto, Muniain; & Morata.


Goals : 0-1 (66') Muniain. 0-2 (88') Deulofeu.

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EURO U 21 GROUP 4 MATCH RESULT | BOSNIA 1 SPAIN 6

The Spanish U-21 Football National Team maintains its dominance of Group 4 with an overpowering 1 - 6 victory over. Five straight wins with 20 goals in favour & only 5 against. 

Here are all the goals & goalscorers:

• Prcic 15th min 1 - 0
• Barisic own goal 33rd min 1-1
• Oliver 44th min 1-2
• Morata 45th min penalty 1 - 3
• Muniain 61st min 1 - 4
• Oliver 64th min 1 -5
• Deulofeu penalty 1 - 6

Bosnia attempted to get a goal to lessen the scoreline "pain" in the latter part of the match & nearly pulled it off. Depending on how second placed Austria does in their match, Spain could seal their pass on the the Euro U-21 finals against Albania. 

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EURO - U21 QUALIFIER | SPAIN 6 ESTONIA 0

The SPANISH FOOTBALL U-21 NATIONAL TEAM hosted ESTONIA tonight for a EURO U-21 classification match. The current European Champions defeated their guests 6 - 0 in a one way affair that gave Benfica forward RODRIGO a HAT-TRICK ( 4th , 7th & 45th min). The other goal scorers were ISCO in he 59th min, ALVARO VAZQUEZ in in the 90th min & SARABIA in extra time. Not much to add except reiterate the Spanish dominance.

Thiago

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FRANCE 3 SPAIN 2 | U-21 INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY RESULT

The SPANISH U-21 NATIONAL TEAM played FRANCE in a friendly match & lost 3 - 2 to the "Blues". The Spanish side was a bit of an experiment with players lined up who habitually don´t play together, but this is no excuse at all. The French side played better & deserved to win, but suffered towards the end & were nearly equalized.

The French U-21 team were 3 - 0 up by the 35th min thanks to some basic mistakes by the Spanish defence & some bad coordination in midfield. Plus, Spain lost Juan Carlos to a Red Card in a vital moment just after the first Spanish goal & that left Spain with 10 men on the field.

Spain played better - & their Best Football - from the 37th min onwards when FRAN MERIDA scored the Spanish opener & then a second goal arrived with Spain down to 10 men via RIOS in the 60th min. It looked possible that Spain could turn things around & make an incredible comeback but it did not eventuate as France held out & stood firm to the Spanish pressure.

Great win for the French youngsters & encouraging comeback attempt under the circumstances by the Spaniards.

France u-21 defeat Spain in International Friendly: L´Equipe

Match details:

France 3: Gorgelin; Corchia, Stambouli, Mangala, Makonda; Guilavogui, Pajot (Varene, m.70); Saivet, Griezmann (Sylla, m.88), Gueye (Cabella, m.60); Riviére.


Spain 2: Mariño (Robles, m.46); Mario, Bartra, Ayala, Nacho; Camacho (Illarmendi, m.46), Recio (Ríos, m.58), Mérida (Pacheco, m.46), Juan Carlos; Álvaro Vázquez (Falque, m.75), Canales.


Goals: 1-0, m.10: Riviére; 2-0, m.18: Riviére; 3-0, m.35: Gueye; 3-1, m.37: Fran Mérida; 3-2, m.60: Rios
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EURO U-21 QUALIFIERS | SPAIN 2 CROATIA 1

The SPANISH U-21 NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM a little bit closer to getting to their objective of participation in the next Euro Championships & in the process in the 2012 London Olympic games after defeating CROATIA 2-1 last night.

The youngsters still have a "dangerous" 2ºleg match on Tuesday in Croatia which they must win to keep their hope alive, but yesterdays victory is an important step foward.

Here are the details & the scorers:

2.- SPAIN: De Gea; Azpilicueta, Domínguez, San José, José Ángel (Víctor Ruiz, min. 46); Rubén Pérez, Dani Parejo (Canales, min. 81), Thiago; Mata, Bojan (Jeffren, min. 69) & Adrián.

1.- CROATIA: Kelava; Vida (Vukusic, min. 90), Puncec, Maloca, Vrsaljko; Tomecak, Balelj, Ademi, Skolnik (Oremus, min. 73); Palic (Kreilach, min. 82) & Kalinic.

Goals: 1-0, min. 20: Adrián; 1-1, min. 21: Skolnic; 2-1, min. 41: San José.

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