Dynamic Turkey seal cup success

By Paul Saffer at Stadio Ettore Mannucci

Two goals in five second-half minutes from Deniz Yilmaz and Tefvik Köse proved enough to secure Turkey the UEFA European Under-17 Championship title.

Comeback stymied
Probably the two most entertaining teams in the competition were matched in the final, and having only just shaded the first half, Turkey, previously European champions at U16 and U18 level, made their decisive move not long after the break, and Abdullah Avci's were able to stymie one last Netherlands comeback.

Marcellis back
Turkey were able to name the same starting lineup that began their last three games, all wins, against England, Belarus and Croatia. There was only one Dutch change from the side that started the extra-time semi-final victory against Italy, captain Dirk Marcellis returning from a one-game suspension to reclaim his defensive berth from Mike van der Kooij.

Lively start
Immediately the Dutch, in their first UEFA youth final, showed their intent, Diego Biseswar breaking through and shooting just wide. At the other end Deniz Yilmaz made Tim Krul save, and it was already clear the predicted feast of attacking football was coming to fruition to the excitement of the crowd, which as in all the other games in Italy contained noisy support for both teams from local schoolchildren.

Woodwork struck twice
Krol was the busier goalkeeper, diving to deny both Nuri Sahin and Köse, Martijn van der Laan also had a make a vital saving tackle on Deniz Yilmaz. But then Jeffrey Sarpong came agonisingly close, his swinging shot from outside the box striking the upright. A Ruud Vormer free-kick then was deflected wide, and from the resulting John Goossens corner, Marvin Emnes headed on to the crossbar.

Brave Babacan
Nuri, dictating matters in the Turkey midfield, had a shot tipped over by Krul, who then saved a Caner Erkin header. At the other end Emnes crossed into the path of Goossens but Volkan Babacan bravely dived at the feet of the winger to collect. It was only as the half-hour mark passed that the pace of the game settled a little in the Tuscan evening cool.

Yilmaz scores
By the interval, the match was still closely poised, though the Turkish, as ever, looked especially threatening. And five minutes into the second half their breakthrough came, as Nuri slipped the ball into the path of Deniz Yilmaz, whose shot was placed neatly between Krol's dive and the post.

Lead doubles
The Dutch had come from behind numerous times in their 2004/05 U17 campaign, but soon they faced a 2-0 deficit. Özgürcan Özcan's strong shot was only parried by Krol, and before the ball could be cleared Köse pounced for his tournament-leading sixth goal of the finals.

Duo introduced
Has Krol not then come to the rescue when a corner was headed on goal, Turkey could have moved even further in front, but the Dutch introduced Jerson Anes Ribeiro and Niels Vorthoren to give their attack a new lease of life.

Superb save
Jordy Bluij came forward on 68 minutes to sent in a thunderous shot that Babacan did superbly to keep out, and for the last ten minutes Melvin Zaalman, whose had scored the semi-final winner against Italy on his injury comeback, was thrown into the action.

Comeback hopes dim
Fine work from Vurnon Anita set up Emnes, but his back-heel was blocked by Babacan, and Anita himself then headed wide. But ultimately there was to be no repeat of the Netherlands' two-goal injury time recovery against Croatia on the opening day, and the European U17 crown belongs deservedly to Turkey.