Marin denies Dutch victory

Marko Marin kept Germany top of UEFA European Under-17 Championship Elite round Group 1 after his equaliser ensured a draw against pool hosts the Netherlands.

Anita returns
Having each won their opening group matches on Thursday - the Dutch 1-0 against Finland and Germany 4-0 versus Northern Ireland - each team knew victory today had the potential to take them into the Luxembourg-hosted finals with a game to spare. The stakes attracted 2,248 spectators to the Sportpark Molenbroek, and the Netherlands boasted midfielder Vurnon Anita in their lineup after his appearance for the AFC Ajax first team in the Dutch Cup semi-finals on Wednesday.

Goal apiece
Those fans had something to celebrate on eleven minutes when Romario Sabajo's shot was blocked on the goalline but Olivier Ter Horst got to the rebound and shot hard and low to put Ruud Kaiser's team in front. It was a close encounter, however, and before the break Germany were level as David Vrzogic advanced up the left and crossed low for Marin to strike into the roof of the net. Germany pushed hard in the second half, but Dutch goalkeeper Erwin Mulder denied Toni Kroos, Lars Bender and Raphael Lorenz. Unlike when these teams met a year ago and two late Dutch goals gave them a decisive victory, there was no winner.

Tuesday task
Kaiser's team trail Germany on goal difference, and the Dutch coach said: "We were second best in some personal duels and a number of players could not keep up with their opponents in the closing minutes. Anything is possible in football, but I think Germany will beat Finland [in Tuesday's deciders] so we will have to score a lot of goals against Northern Ireland."