Russia romp into Elite round

Russia and Germany became the first two sides to reach the UEFA European Under-19 Championship Elite round with the mini-tournament hosts claiming top position in Group 12 thanks to a final-day win against Germany.

Russia romp
Both Russia and Germany reached the final tournament of the 2006/07 competition in Austria in July, and the 2007/08 crop were quickly into their stride in the first round of matches with comfortable victories against Estonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina respectively. Russia, fielding much of the squad that won the European U17 title two years ago, began their bid for a unique double by overwhelming Estonia 7-0 in Moscow. Aleksandr Prudnikov scored a hat-trick and Aleksei Ionov, Dmitri Ryzhov, Igor Gorbatenko and Alan Alborov also found the net against opponents who ended with ten men following the dismissal of goalkeeper Daniil Savitski on the hour, when Russia already led 5-0.

Strong start
Germany were equally emphatic winners, Dennis Diekmeier and 2005/06 U17 finals joint top scorer Manuel Fischer both registering twice and Deniz Naki, Timo Gebhart, Eric Maxim Choupo-Mouting and Mario Vrancic also on target in an 8-1 win against Bosnia-Herzegovina, for whom Antonio Vidović at least had the final word on the night with the last goal of the game seven minutes from time.

Germany glut
It was a similar story for Germany on Matchday 2, Naki scoring twice more with Choupo-Moting, Gebhart and an Igor Morozov own goal providing a 5-0 advantage against Estonia before Vladislav Tšurilkin struck a 90th-minute consolation. Russia found the going more difficult, and it took Semin Fomin's goal a minute before half-time to finally end the resolve of Bosnia-Herzegovina and earn a 1-0 win at the Moskvich Stadium.

Russia on top
The results in the first two matches ensured Russia and Germany would both progress regardless of the outcome of their meeting at the Krylia Sovetov Stadium in the final round of matches, when Choupo-Moting and Naki twice gave Germany the lead only for Fomin and Gorbatenko to level on each occasion, leaving Vadim Gagloev to secure first place in the standings with the winning goal in the 69th minute. Estonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, meanwhile, ensured neither would end the section point-less as Morozov struck a 90th-minute equaliser to give Estonia a 2-2 draw.