If you thought that international football was done and dusted, with Euro 2024 and Copa America both climaxing last Sunday, you thought wrong. Eight European teams are currently in action in Northern Ireland for the 2024 UEFA European Under-19 Championship (well, seven teams and hosts Northern Ireland), which kicked off earlier this week. A European youth tournament has been held annually/regularly since first being introduced in 1948. However, the tournament has only been known under its current U19 Euros guise since 2002. Will the Spanish nation have further reason to rejoice following their Euro 2024 success?
What Happened During Matchday 1 Of The U19 Euros?
Hosts Northern Ireland, who are playing in their first U19 Euros Finals since last hosting the event in 2005, began their Group A campaign with a goalless draw with 2009 U19 champions, Ukraine. 19 years ago, the Northern Ireland youngsters lost all three of their group games, so at least Monday’s result in Larne gives them foundations to build on, with matches against Italy and Norway to come.
In the other opening Group A encounter in Belfast, defending U19 Euros champions, Italy, rallied from 1-0 down to record a 2-1 victory over Norway. Daniel Braut had opened the scoring for the Norwegians in the 35th minute, but goals either side of half-time from midfielders, Luca Di Maggio & Kevin Zeroli, gave the Azzurri maximum points and the perfect start.
Jose Lana’s Youngsters Continue Spain’s Rich Vein Of Form
Despite a brave effort by U19 Euros’ debutants Denmark, in their Group B opener in Larne on Tuesday, it was multiple-winners Spain, who finished the strongest and bagged all 3pts. The Danes had hit back in determined fashion to level the scores before half-time after Chema Andres had given Spain an early lead, but a goal from Iker Bravo in the 79th minute settled it for the Spanish.
It was a similar scoreline at Seaview in Belfast in the late Group B encounter on Tuesday, as France, who missed out on the 2023 U19 Euro Finals, netted a late penalty to run out 2-1 winners against Turkey. The tenacious Turks had got off to a flyer, with Bursaspor defender, Yigit Fidan, scoring after just 4 minutes. They maintained their lead until the 65th minute when Lucas Michal levelled for Les Bleus. France went pushing for the win and was awarded a penalty in the 86th minute. Rennes defender, Jérémy Jacquet, kept a cool head to slot home and give France the victory.
Does Further European Success Await Spain?
The Spanish nation is still in party mode following their side’s Euro 2024 success and Jose Lana’s youngsters will have an extra bounce in their step in Northern Ireland. Spain is aiming to claim a 9th U19 Euros crown this year since the youth tournament took on its current guise in 2002. However, Spain’s power has waned in recent times with their last trophy success coming pre-Covid, in 2019. They reached the semis in 2023 but failed to qualify for the U19 Euros in 2022.
Several well-known Spanish stars have made an impact on the European youth scene over the years. Fernando Torres top-scored for La Roja when they reigned supreme at the inaugural U19 Euros in 2002. In 2011, Alvaro Morata netted the joint-most goals ever at the U19 Euros Finals, scoring 6 times, as the Spanish secured a 5th crown in the space of nine years.
France Look To Maintain Their Qualifying Record
France may have failed to qualify for the U19 Euro Finals on several occasions down the years, including last year, but they’ve not been knocked out at the group stage of any Finals since 2003. They’ll be confident of progressing to this year’s semis at least, following their opening Group B success against Turkey, even though a clash against Spain awaits in matchday 3 on Monday.
France captured the last of their three U19 Euros crowns to date back in 2016, six editions ago and they’ve not reached another tournament final since. Les Bleus have been perennial semi-final losers of late, losing at the last stage in three successive campaigns (2018, 2019 & 2022). They may have to be careful of their next opponents, Denmark, too. The Danes beat them during the initial qualifying stage of this year’s tournament.
Italy Aims to Claim Back-To-Back U19 Euros Crowns
Over in Group A, Bernardo Corradi’s Italy made a winning start in their quest to become the first side to win back-to-back U19 Euros titles since Spain in 2012. The Azzurrini have had a few quiet periods in the youth tournament, including 7 years (2009-2015) where they failed to reach the semi-final stage. However, since then they’ve been more consistent, reaching the Final three times in the past six editions. Italy ramped up their qualifying campaign en route to these Northern Ireland finals, winning all of their elite round qualifiers.
Italy will be relieved to have got the better of Norway in their Group A opener on Monday. The Norwegians had the best qualifying campaign of all the Northern Ireland finalists, winning all six of their matches. They also reached the semis for the first ever time in last year’s U19 Euros and will want more of the same. Ukraine had a promising qualifying campaign too and won’t be pushovers for Italy either. However, the Ukrainians will be slightly disappointed with their group starting on Monday. Drawing a blank against a Northern Ireland side who have regularly leaked goals.
The Remaining U19 Euros Schedule
Thursday 18th July
Group A: Norway v Ukraine (15:30)
Group A: Northern Ireland v Italy (19:00)
Friday 19th July
Group B: Denmark v France (15:30)
Group B: Turkey v Spain (19:00)
Sunday 21st July
Group A: Norway v Northern Ireland (19:00)
Group A: Ukraine v Italy (19:00)
Monday 22nd July
Group B: Turkey v Denmark (19:00)
Group B: Spain v France (19:00)
Thursday 25th July
1st Semi-Final: Group A (Winner) v Group B (Runner-Up) 14:00
FIFA U-20 World Cup Play-Off: Group A (3rd) v Group B (3rd) 16:30
2nd Semi-Final: Group B (Winner) v Group A (Runner-Up) 19:00
Sunday 28th July
Final (19:00)
THE OLYMPIC GAMES – A RUNDOWN OF THE GOLDEN GREATS
MARK CAVENDISH AIMS TO BREAK THE TOUR DE FRANCE RECORD
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP – HOST NATION HEROICS
COPA AMERICA 2024 – ARGENTINA & MESSI GO TROPHY-CHASING AGAIN
EUROPEAN FOOTBALL’S MANAGERIAL MAESTROS
GIRO D’ITALIA PREVIEW – WILL POGACAR PEDAL TO VICTORY?
HISTORY OF THE NORTH LONDON DERBY
THE LONDON MARATHON – RUNNING THE GOOD RACE
Image Credit: Deposit Photos
