Ireland complete memorable double
Sunday 1 January 2006
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Having been in Iceland the previous year, the UEFA European Under-18 Championship came across Europe to another island in 1998, landing in Cyprus. There were new winners, too, in the shape of the Republic of Ireland.
France knocked out
Ireland had qualified for the last two tournaments, and won all their four matches on their way to the finals this time. However, holders France lost out in the intermediary round, losing the first leg 3-0 in England and only winning 1-0 at home. 1997 runners-up Portugal did come through, as did Spain, Germany, and two new qualifiers - Lithuania and Croatia.
Free-scoring Germany
Germany had needed away goals to reach the finals, but had a spectacular start in Group A in Larnace, defeating Lithuania 7-1, a game that was level at 1-1 with 25 minutes left. In what was destined to be a tough pool, Spain beat Portugal 2-1 and then lost 4-1 to Germany - the goals all in the first half this time including two from Sebastian Deisler - while the Portuguese overcame Lithuania 2-0. Germany were to be grateful for their previous results, as they lost 2-0 to Portugal on Matchday 3, but with Spain winning 2-1 against Lithuania the Germans finished first in a three-way tie.
Keane goals decisive
It was the same story in Group B. Croatia seemed in trouble after Matchday 1 as they lost 5-2 to Ireland, despite having come back to equalise from two down, while England beat the hosts 2-1. Cyprus then fell 3-0 to Croatia, and Alan Smith's goal gave England victory against Ireland. England looked favourites, but lost 3-0 to Croatia on the final day, and the Irish won by the same score against Cyprus, Robbie Keane scoring twice, to make the final. However, all the top three, as in the other pool, qualified for the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship in Nigeria.
Irish celebrations
Portugal and Croatia, having come so close, ended goalless in their third-place match before the Croatians won 5-4 on penalties. Spot kicks were also needed in the final, after Alan Quinn's 70th-minute goal was cancelled out just before the end of normal time by Andreas Gensler. Alex O'Reilly saved twice for Ireland in the shoot-out, and Liam George converted the winner that made it 4-3 to clinch his nation's second UEFA trophy after Brian Kerr had led the U16s to the European title two months before.
Spain win world title
In Nigeria, Germany and England went out at the group stage, as did future UEFA members Kazakhstan, then representing Asia. Ireland's shoot-out luck deserted them in the second round against the hosts, and Portugal lost the same way to Japan as Croatia went out 4-0 to Brazil. However, Spain defeated Honduras 3-1, took out Ghana on penalties, overcame Mali 3-1 in the semi-finals, and then defeated Japan 4-0 to become world champions. Pablo González scored twice in the final and five times overall in the tournament, the joint highest, as Spain claimed their first FIFA title.
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