Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
We now know the Semi Final lineup for this summers UEFA Under 21 European Championships with Group C coming to a close last night. With the competition expanded to 12 teams for the first time it meant that only the group winners were guaranteed entry to the next stage of the tournament.
With the three nations that topped their group going through, that left just one berth available. One that would go to the side with the best runners up record. Slovakia had already had one nervy evening after watching the action in Group B on Friday.
Portugal needed to win and score 4 times to have any chance of surpassing Slovakia’s record. They did their bit in terms of goals but unfortunately they shipped two efforts to tournament debutantes Macedonia and that meant the Portuguese youngsters would be sent packing.
Therefore whatever finger nails Slovakia had left they would have to bite last night as Group C came to a conclusion.
Going into the game the Czech Republic would have to beat Denmark by four clear goals but that is on the assumption that Germany do not lose to Italy.
Should Germany lose to Italy and Czech Republic lose to Denmark then it is anyone’s guess and would you know that is exactly what happened. Italy took the lead against the German counterparts on the half hour when some sloppy German defensive play presented the Italians with a golden opportunity.
One that Federico Bernardeschi took with aplomb. His cool finish with the outside of the boot meant that as things stood it would be Italy who topped the group with the Germans now waiting on matters in the other game between Denmark and the Czech Republic.
Denmark had the noses in front only to be pegged back twice by their Czech counterparts but on 73 minutes Cardiff City’s Kenneth Zohore put the Danes ahead for a third team that evening. This was an all important goal as it meant that as things stood both Germany and Italy would progress to the Semi Finals.
With that news filtering through to both the Germans and the Italians it meant the game fizzled out as a contest and almost evoked memories of the 1982 Anschluss in Gijon as both teams played for a result that was beneficial to both sides.
Denmark themselves would get a fourth goal in injury time and that secured Germany’s place in the Semi’s as the best runners up. It meant that Slovakia would miss out on qualifying by virtue of goal difference. Germany’s +4 record pipping the Slovakians +3.
Group winners Italy have been rewarded with a pairing with Spain who currently have a 100% record in this years tournament. While Germany have been paired up with Aidy Boothroyd’s England, once again the old foes will go head to head.
Both matches take place on Tuesday, England vs Germany is up first followed by Spain vs Italy. I think it is fair to say that the four strongest nations have reached the Semi’s and we should be in for a brace of titanic clashes early next week.
