Spain crowned U-17 European champions
The UEFA U-17 European
Championship 2017 in Croatia reached its climax on Friday evening, with Spain
ending up as worthy winners. The competition also served to determine the five
European participants at the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017, which will take place
from 6 – 28 October in India. Alongside the two finalists, France, Germany and
Turkey also booked their tickets to the global showdown.
Spain and England met in
the final for the third time in this age category. Their third encounter could
hardly have been more dramatic. Spain substitute Nacho Diaz headed his side
level at 2-2 in the sixth minute of additional time, forcing the tie to a
penalty shoot-out in which Rhian Brewster and Joel Latibeaudiere missed for
England. Spain had previously beaten Germany on penalties in the semi-finals.
The Iberians will now
head to the U-17 World Cup as continental champions, with Croatia 2017
representing their record-extending ninth title at this level. Although yet to
triumph at the global finals, they nevertheless have an impressive record, finishing
as runners-up three times and earning the bronze medal twice.
Europe's U-17 World Cup participants
England had won all 11 previous games during this edition of the competition
ahead of the title-decider, and showed impressive consistency at the finals.
Despite the disappointing defeat, the Three Lions can travel to the U-17 World
Cup in October with plenty of confidence. England made their U-17 World Cup
debut in 2007 and were knocked out by Germany in the quarter-finals – just as
they were four years later. At the 2015 edition in Chile they failed to make it
beyond the group stage.
Germany demonstrated an insatiable appetite for goals as they sealed their
passage to India, finding the net 17 times in five games to finish as the
tournament's top scorers. The only time they failed to hit the target was in
the semi-final against Spain, which they subsequently lost. Germany have not
yet lifted the U-17 World Cup trophy, and suffered a 2-0 reverse to Croatia in
the round of 16 in 2015.
The tournament's surprise
package was undoubtedly Turkey, who finished as group runners-up behind Spain
and ahead of Italy. A narrow 1-0 triumph over Hungary in the quarter-finals
secured a maiden qualification for them at an U-17 World Cup, before slipping
to a 2-1 defeat to England in the last four.
France snapped up the last ticket to India thanks to a 1-0 win over Hungary in
the World Cup play-off. Hungary had beaten Les Bleuets 3-2 in the group stage,
but France bounced back with subsequent victories over Faroe Islands (7-0) and
Scotland (2-1) to progress to the last eight, where they lost 3-1 to Spain.
This will be France's sixth appearance at an U-17 World Cup. At the 2015
edition in Chile they packed for home after the round of 16 following a 5-3
defeat to Costa Rica on penalties.
