Bojan strike gives Spain title

Bojan Krkić was the hero for Spain as his goal early in the second half gave Spain the UEFA European Under-17 Championship after a tight final against England.

Emphatic finish
An equaliser in the semi-final against Belgium was the first of this tournament for the 2006 joint top scorer, but the FC Barcelona striker is not considered one of Europe's brightest prospects for nothing and his emphatic finish proved enough to give Spain the title to add to their six triumphs in the predecessor U16 event.

Reshuffled teams
The strong wind in Tournai has been a factor in every game here in this tournament and Spain had it at their backs in the first half. In the absence of Henri Lansbury, concussed in the semi-final defeat of France, Daniel Rose moved into a central midfield role for England with Daniel Welbeck and Michael Woods outside. Spain made changes to the team which began the penalty shoot-out defeat of hosts Belgium, bringing in Moisés Jiménez and Lucas Porcar on the right while Sergio Rodríguez replaced suspended defender Pichu.

Falqué effort
With those adjustments it was not surprising that the teams both took time to settle. Nathan Porritt came close with an early shot, but otherwise the defences looked especially assured, though England nearly conceded on 22 minutes when Fran Mérida's free-kick from the right caught in the wind and only just eluded Bojan, Sergio and the far post. Jason Steele was then on hand to catch an Iago Falqué effort. Spain ended the first half in control with flying winger Falqué proved a real handful for England right-back Seth Nana Ofori-Twumasi. On one occasion it took a Woods intervention to take the sting out of his shot before it reached Steele.

Bojan strikes
England nonetheless survived the first period and after the interval the breeze was behind them. However, eight minutes in, the man who scored twice against them in a 3-2 win for Spain in October, Bojan, did it again. Steele could only parry a Merida effort and Bojan was there to shoot in with aplomb past two despairing defenders to the delight of the sizable Spanish support.

England regroup
Behind for the first time in eight competition matches this season, England took time to regroup before a looping Ofori-Twumasi cross was headed not far off target by Rhys Murphy. Porritt's free-kicks from wide caused danger before he was replaced on the hour by Tristan Plummer, and his last caused Spain goalkeeper David De Egea some confusion though Woods's resulting shot only brushed the post.

Job done
Woods then struck a free-kick of his own from the edge of the area that De Egea dived to turn wide. With nine minutes left Bojan had the ball in the net again but was flagged for offside from Falqué's pass. Steele then did brilliantly to deny the striker as he shaped to shoot. Bojan, though, had already done his job.