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Dominant Spain edge past stubborn Estonia

Published: Thursday 31 May 2012, 20.30CET
Estonia 0-1 Spain
Isco's strike, five minutes before half-time, gave Spain a slender win in Tallinn and put them in a commanding position in Group 5.
by Mikhail Malkin
from Lilleküla Stadium
Dominant Spain edge past stubborn Estonia
Luis Milla's Spain have won all six group matches ©Getty Images
 

Matches

Road to the final

The 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship comprises a qualifying group stage and play-off round to determine which seven teams join hosts Israel in the final tournament.

Qualifying group stage

Teams are split into ten groups – two of six teams and eight of five – and play each other on a home and away basis. The ten group winners and four runners-up with the best record against the teams first, third, fourth and fifth in their sections advance to the play-offs.

Play-offs
Play-off matches are played according to the knockout system, with each team playing each opponent home and away. The team which scores the greater aggregate of goals qualifies for the next round, with away goals, extra time and then penalties used to determine the winner in the event of a draw.

Final tournament
The final tournament comprises the seven play-off winners and Israel, who qualify automatically as hosts. The eight teams are split into two groups of four. Each team plays each other once in their group with the winners and runners-up advancing to the semi-finals where the winner of Group A plays the Group B runner-up and vice-versa. The winners advance to the final.

Further details, including the criteria for separating teams that finish level on points in a group, can be found in the official competition regulations.

Published: Thursday 31 May 2012, 20.30CET

Dominant Spain edge past stubborn Estonia

Estonia 0-1 Spain
Isco's strike, five minutes before half-time, gave Spain a slender win in Tallinn and put them in a commanding position in Group 5.

Isco was the matchwinner as Spain edged past Estonia to put the reigning champions in with an excellent chance of reaching the play-offs.

Despite scoring six without reply against these opponents on matchday two, Luis Milla's side again dominated but found the going tougher in Tallinn as they struggled to break down a resilient defence - with a fine performance from Estonian goalkeeper Marko Meerits at their heart.

The custodian showed his quality after 17 minutes, tipping away a Marc Muniesa header, although he could do nothing about Spain's goal five minutes from the break. Muniesa charged down the right flank and from the byline picked out an unmarked Isco, who fired in with ease.

Estonia – and notably Igor Subbotin – tried to attack in the second period but were again grateful to Meerits, who first confidently saved Rodrigo's header and later showed excellent alertness to race out and prevent Tello from scoring.

Spain could not find a way past Meerits for a second time but their job had been done. Should second-placed Switzerland fail to win in Croatia on 2 June, the Roja's play-off place as section winners will be guaranteed.

Last updated: 09/05/13 11.13CET

Related information

Player profiles
Team profiles
Related match

http://www.uefa.com/under21/season=2013/matches/round=2000192/match=2006883/postmatch/report/index.html#spain+edge+estonia

Lineups

Estonia

Estonia

Spain

Spain

1
MeeritsMarko Meerits (GK)
1
De GeaDavid de Gea (GK)
2
KulinitšAleksandr Kulinitš
2
MontoyaMartín Montoya
3
ReintamMikk Reintam (C)
3
PlanasCarles Planas (C)
4
ArtjuninArtjom Artjunin
4
BartraMarc Bartra
5
PodholjuzinMaksim Podholjuzin
5
Marc MuniesaMarc Muniesa
Yellow Card16
6
TennoSiim Tenno
Yellow Card90+1
6
Oriol RomeuOriol Romeu
7
SubbotinIgor Subbotin
Substitution78
7
MuniainIker Muniain
Substitution62
8
KaljumäeMarek Kaljumäe
8
KokeKoke
9
ProsaAlbert Prosa
9
RodrigoRodrigo
Substitution72
11
PeitreMeelis Peitre
10
IscoIsco
Goal40
18
MöölKarl Mööl
Substitution68
11
SarabiaPablo Sarabia
Substitution81

Substitutes

12
ToomMait Toom (GK)
13
MariñoDiego Mariño (GK)
10
VeisAndrei Veis
Substitution78
12
NachoNacho
13
MetsKarol Mets
14
IllarramendiAsier Illarramendi
Substitution81
14
TšegodajevMartin Tšegodajev
15
PardoRubén Pardo
15
AntonovIlja Antonov
16
Juan CarlosJuan Carlos
16
SinilaidSander Sinilaid
17
Álvaro VázquezÁlvaro Vázquez
Substitution72
17
PebreAndero Pebre
Substitution68
18
TelloCristian Tello
Substitution62

Coach

Frank Bernhardt (GER) Luis Milla (ESP)

Referee

Dawid Piasecki (POL)

Assistant referees

Maciej Wierzbowski (POL), Tomasz Listkiewicz (POL)

Fourth official

Daniel Stefanski (POL)

Legend:

  • GoalsGoals
  • Own goalOwn goal
  • PenaltiesPenalties
  • Missed PenaltiesMissed Penalties
  • reds_cardRed Cards
  • yellow_cardsYellow cards
  • yellow_red_cardsYellow/red card
  • SubstitutionSubstitution

See also

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