2019 UEFA Under-21 Euros

Teams for France vs Romania, kicking off at 8pm:

France XI: Bernardoni; Amian, Konate, Upamecano, Sarr; Ntcham, Tousart, Guendouzi; Ikone, Mateta, Thuram.

Romania XI: Radu; Manea, Nedelcearu, Rus, Boboc; Nedelcu, Cicaldau; Olaru, Hagi, Coman; Puscas.

A number of changes for France. Mateta replaces Dembele up front, Guendouzi starts, Amian in for Dagba. Good few changes for Romania too, most notably Coman starts after scoring 2 goals as a sub against England.

This should be a good game with top spot up for grabs. England also taking on Croatia but it's a dead rubber.

Half-Time: 0-0 at the break; this game is an anti-climax. A draw sees both of these teams through and it looks like that's the plan. Neither side with a shot on target. Hate to see it.

Full-Time: It ends 0-0 with Romania through as group winners and France through as runners-up. Both sides played for a draw and Italy got shafted as they could have made it had both teams genuinely pushed for a winner. Wasn't a single shot on target in the whole game.

Croatia and England played out a 3-3 draw. Should have watched that instead. Nelson, Maddison and Kenny with England's goals; Croatia's coming from a Brekalo brace and Vlasic.

Semi-Final line-up is confirmed: Germany vs Romania and Spain vs France. Both games on Thursday.

NIMAN wrote: »

Haven't been watching any of this tournament, just wondering who you'd say are the Top 3 players that are standing out and who might be catching the eyes of the major scouts out there?

Top 3 players for me would be Dani Ceballos and Fabian Ruiz for Spain, and Luca Waldschmidt for Germany. They've looked like they could hold their own in their senior teams.

Also been impressed with Ianis Hagi of Romania, Federico Chiesa for Italy and Jonathan Ikone for France.

ERG89 wrote: »

Those players are 23 so they probably should be with the seniors at this stage. Its obvious they want to win this but if those players go to the Olympics and not the Euro's next summer I'll be baffled. Those countries ain't exactly strong in those positions right now either.

Ceballos and Ruiz as regulars at senior level should be very interesting with their danger from long range. Common tactic of teams playing Spain is to sit deep, but these guys can make that a costly mistake since they're lethal outside the box.

France 1-0 in front. Mateta from the penalty spot after Firpo had fouled Reine-Adelaide.

Looks like PSG's Dagba has suffered a bad injury. Going to be stretchered off. Amian replaces him.

1-1. Marc Roca scores from a corner despite French keeper Paul Bernardoni making two very good stops just beforehand.

2-1. Oyarzabal scores from the penalty spot after a Konate foul. Looked soft to me.

Half-Time: Spain scoring just before the break. They're worthy of the lead. Roca and Ruiz playing well, Ceballos surprisingly quiet so far. France have been disappointing. Ballo-Toure at LB looks a weak link, getting caught out defensively and putting in some shocking crosses. I'd think about subbing him for Malang Sarr.

3-1 Spain. Ruiz makes a good run and picks out Olmo who finishes. France have conceded these goals at really poor times, just before and after the break. Hard to see Spain being caught now.

4-1 Spain. Mayoral the substitute blasts home after a nice cross from Fornals. That's game over anyway. Spain have been too good.

Full-Time and Spain through to the final. It was almost 5-1 in the final moments as Soler tried a lovely cheeky lob but Ballo-Toure cleared off the line. Didn't expect this to be so one-sided but France never showed what they could do. Roca and Fabian Ruiz controlled the midfield and France couldn't offer much on the break. Fornals had a good second half.

Pleased that the two best teams have made the final on Sunday. I think Germany can do more damage than France on the counter. Should be a cracking game.

Final's on Sky Sports Football from 7:45pm. Here are the teams:

Spain XI: Sivera; Aguirregabiria, Nunez, Vallejo, Firpo; Roca, Ruiz; Olmo, Ceballos, Fornals; Oyarzabal.

Germany XI: Nuebel; Klostermann, Tah, Baumgartl, Henrichs; Serdar, Eggestein, Dahoud; Oztunali, Waldschmidt, Amiri.

Spain unchanged from the France game. Surprise call from the Germans as they start Serdar for the first time in the tournament. I'd rather see Neuhaus play as I think he offers more but looks a sign of the respect they have for Spain's midfield.

Should be a good game as these sides have been by far the two best in the tournament. Germany have been deadly on the break, while Spain have looked to control the midfield. I'll go for Spain to edge it.

Terrible challenge from Spain captain Vallejo. Think that should be a red but he's been given a yellow.

2-0 Spain. Olmo making the most of Nubel's spill. Germany were getting closer to an equaliser before that too. Tough for the Germans to come back now.

Soler been so good since coming on. They've scary strength in depth.

Full-Time. Spain win 2-1 to take the title. I think they deserved it, although Germany will look to that first half challenge from Vallejo that didn't result in a red. Fabian Ruiz the player of the tournament for me.

Very enjoyable tournament. Lot of goals and teams trying to attack. Future of European football looks bright.