Spain streak to victory
Sunday 1 January 2006
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In 1994 Spain, as hosts, missed out on the UEFA European Under-18 Championship final by the narrowest of margins. This time they not only made the decider, they won it in style against a promising Italian team.
Holders out
Greece were picked as hosts, having not qualified since 1984, but holders Portugal, who had not finished outside the top four in nearly a decade, fell unbeaten in the qualifying round on goal difference behind Turkey. Germany, 1994 runners-up after losing on penalties to Portugal, also went out after losing 1-0 on home soil to Northern Ireland. In the end Greece were joined by Spain, Norway, Turkey, Hungary, the Netherlands, Italy and, for the first time as a separate nation, Slovakia.
Italy through
Italy's squad for the finals included Francesco Totti, Andrea Pirlo and Gianluigi Buffon - second choice behind Morgan De Sanctis - and they began Group A in style by racing into a 3-0 half-time lead against the hosts and winning 4-1. Norway overcame Slovakia 3-1 but then lost 2-1 to Italy as Greece defeated the Slovakians 5-1. Although Italy then lost 1-0 to Slovakia they still went through, Greece finishing second after drawing 1-1 with Norway.
Spanish surge
Group B opened with Spain defeating Hungary 2-1 and the Netherlands winning 4-1 against Turkey. Two days later Spain and the Dutch were victorious again, the Spanish putting three past Turkey and the Netherlands winning a thriller 5-3 against Hungary with three goals in the last 20 minutes. The Dutch needed only a draw to pip Spain to the final, but Miguel Ángel Angulo scored on 50 and 55 minutes, and although Tommie van der Leegte pulled one back on the hour, Spain were through. Hungary also won 2-1 to end third in the pool.
Carlos heroics
The Dutch, having just missed out on the final, fell 5-0 to the hosts in the third-place match, future UEFA EURO 2004™ winners Georgios Karagounis and Vassilios Lakis among the scorers. Spain also turned on the style in the final, Carlos Domínguez scoring a hat-trick and Guti also on target in a 4-1 win that clinched their first U18 title, Totti gaining a late consolation while Buffon also came off the bench and kept a clean sheet for the final 27 minutes.
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