2023-06-27 21:12:49
At the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, Georgia topped Group A with a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands, while Portugal also celebrated progress after a late penalty against Belgium.
In Group B, Spain conceded a 2-2 win over Ukraine to win the group (both teams had progressed before), the other game ended goalless.
Knockout round overview
Quarterfinals
Saturday July 1st
VF1: Georgia – Second Group C (18:00, Paichadze Stadium, Tbilisi)
VF3: Spain – Second Group D (21:00, Giuleşti Stadium, Bucharest)
Sunday 2nd July
VF2: England – Portugal (18:00, Shengelia-Arena, Kutaisi)
VF4: Sieger Gruppe D – Ukraine (21:00, Cluj Arena, Cluj-Napoca)
semifinals
Wednesday July 5th
HF1: Winner VF1 – Winner VF2 (18:00, Batumi Arena, Batumi)
HF2: Winner VF3 – Winner VF4 (21:00, Steaua Stadium, Bucharest)
Finale
Saturday July 8th
Winner HF1 – Winner HF2 (18:00, Batumi Arena, Batumi)
All times CET. Romania is one hour ahead of CET. Georgia is two hours behind.
Europe has three slots for the 2024 Men’s Olympic Football Tournament. Hosts France are automatically qualified and do not count. The top three teams from the U21 finals (excluding France and England) qualify for the Olympic Games.
The potential play-off game for participation in the Olympic Games will take place on July 7 (21:00 CET) or July 8 (15:00 CET) in Bucharest.
Zuriko Davitashvili put the Georgians ahead with a stunning solo effort, but Kenneth Taylor equalized deep in first-half injury time. Nothing happened after the break, so the defensively well-organized co-hosts were able to win the group with five points. The tournament ended prematurely for the Jong Oranje.
Player of the Match: Zuriko Davitashvili (Georgia)
Stats: Georgia are the first U21 finals hosts to progress through the group stage since Sweden in 2009.
Portugal needed to win the game against Belgium while also hoping Georgia didn’t lose. Both scenarios came true and the Portuguese can now look forward to a quarter-final against England. After the goalless first half, Portugal initially took the lead (56th minute) thanks to a great volley from João Neves, but Belgium equalized a little later in the person of Yorbe Vertessen. Tiago Dantas converted a penalty just before the final whistle to give Portugal a 2-1 win.
Player of the Match: Pedro Neto (Portugal)
The stat: Portugal have won seven out of eight final group games at U21 finals.
After two defeats at the start, both teams were determined to end the group stage with a sense of achievement. This only worked to a limited extent, because the game ended goalless. Croatia had the much better chances, but kept finding their teeth against goalkeeper Ștefan Târnovanu.
Player of the Match: Ștefan Târnovanu (Romania)
Stats: It was Croatia’s first clean sheet in the 14th game of a U21 finals.
Spain and Ukraine had secured a spot in the quarter-finals before kick-off, but were still up for group victory. This ultimately went to the Spaniards, who needed an equalizer from Abel Ruiz in the 90th minute. Ukraine were twice ahead of the game and left no stone unturned even after the late 2-2 draw, but had to settle for second place in Group B.
Player of the Match: Oleksandr Nazarenko (Ukraine)
The stat: Ukraine have reached the knockout stages of an U21 finals for the first time since 2006.
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