Inaugural Tartan triumph
Sunday 1 January 2006
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While England had dominated the former International Youth Tournament, neighbours Scotland lost all six semi-finals they reached. But in the second UEFA European Under-18 Championship, the Scots began by eliminating their arch-rivals in qualifying, and ended by lifting their first continental trophy at any level.
Holders through
Finland were selected as hosts for the 16-team finals, and holders West Germany won the only three-team qualifying group with a perfect record against France and Luxembourg. Other notable preliminaries saw the Netherlands and Yugoslavia defeat Wales and Turkey respectively on penalties, the Republic of Ireland overturning a first-leg deficit to beat Northern Ireland, and Scotland pipping England, winning the first leg 1-0 at home, falling 2-0 down at the break in the return but rallying to win 3-2 overall.
Finns fall
A year before hosts West Germany had launched the tournament with a win, this time Finland fell 2-1 to Czechoslovakia. Also in Group C, Portugal overcame Hungary by the same score and then drew 1-1 with Czechoslovakia while Finland bounced back 3-2 against Hungary. However, the hosts then finished 1-1 against Portugal allowing Czechoslovakia to claim the sole semi-final berth with a 2-0 win against the Hungarians.
Soviet success
West Germany were drawn in Group A and they began their defeat by beating Ireland 1-0. But the Soviet Union, surprise non-qualifiers in 1981, were in determined mood, defeating Austria 4-1 then Ireland 2-0. That gave them a two-point lead as Austria gained a 4-1 win against West Germany, who then lost 1-0 to the USSR to surrender their title. Austria finished second after overcoming Ireland 4-2.
Poland prevail
Poland, beaten finalists the year before, won their two openers 1-0 against Belgium and Spain. The Spanish lost 2-1 to Bulgaria, who then fell 1-0 to Belgium. That meant Belgium's closing 3-1 win against Spain gave them hope, but Poland got the point they needed in a goalless game with Bulgaria.
Dutch denied
Scotland, meanwhile, were showing fine form in Group D, beating Albania 3-0 and Turkey 2-0. Since the Netherlands, containing the nucleus of their 1988 senior European champion team, could only defeat those teams 3-1, Scotland needed only to draw with the Dutch in their decider and did so as Marco van Basten's opener was cancelled out late on by Gary McGinnis. It was also 1-1 between Turkey and Albania - in what was to prove the latter's only U18 finals.
Scottish delight
The Scots continued their winning ways in the semi-finals, triumphing 2-0 against Poland. Czechoslovakia scored the only goal versus the Soviet Union, who subsequently beat Poland 3-1 for third place. In the final Scotland defeated Czechoslovakia by the same scoreline, Gary Mackay, Pat Nevin and John Phillibe on target for a team coached by future senior team managers Andy Roxburgh and Walter Smith.
Mexican campaign
Scotland, Czechoslovakia, Poland and the Netherlands were to play in the FIFA World Youth Championship the following summer in Mexico. Poland performed best, finishing third having eliminated Scotland at the quarter-final stage when the other European contenders also fell. Brazil eventually won the title.
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