Spain complete record-equalling Women's Under-19 EURO hat-trick
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Spain recovered from a slow start in Lithuania to claim their third title in a row and sixth overall, both equalling competition records.
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From 1998 to 2011, the first 13 years of the UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship, Germany were dominant. In the 13 years after that, Spain emerged as the leading force so it was appropriate that in 2024 they equalled Germany's records of three titles in a row and six overall.
With only one of their victorious 2023 squad in Belgium back again in Lithuania, Judit Pujol's Spain made a slow start to their latest title defence, not scoring until Matchday 3. But the 2-0 win against Germany that took them through their group showed they were hitting form and after beating England 3-1 in the semis, Spain defeated the Netherlands 2-1 late in extra time to reclaim the trophy.
Spain cruised through round 2 of qualifying with three wins and 14 unanswered goals. But many of that team missed the WU19 EURO finals in favour of the forthcoming FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, and on Matchday 1 in Group B, Spain were held 0-0 by the Republic of Ireland despite leading 29-0 in shots.
It got worse for Spain three days later as, facing a Netherlands side that had equalised just before added time in a 1-1 draw with Germany, the holders fell to a 1-0 defeat, Lotte Keukelaar scoring in the 87th minute. Germany took the group lead as they came from behind to beat Ireland 2-1 but everything was still possible on the last matchday.
The Netherlands took first place as they overcame Ireland 2-0. And by the same scoreline Spain overtook Germany for second place.
Lithuania were making their WU19 EURO finals debut in Group A and the hosts lost by a tournament-record 10-0 to England. France came from behind to beat Serbia 3-1 and then beat Lithuania 6-0. That took France through as England equalised in the 90th minute against Serbia.
England were to finish first as they beat France 1-0. That meant Serbia's 4-1 win against the hosts was in vain although Nina Matejić's hat-trick ensured she was to finish top scorer on five while Lithuania's first-ever finals goal was an outrageous long-range strike by Karolina Jasaitytė.
Spain ended England's run in the semis with a dominant display in a 3-1 victory. That took Spain to a record 11th final, although Germany had 11 top-two finishes including the round-robin 1998/99 WU18 EURO finals.
The Netherlands beat France 2-0 in the other semi-final. Their first goal, just as against Ireland, was a free-kick move finished by Karlijn Woons, who had not scored at any level for six years prior to those two matches.
Having already won WU17 EURO, Spain had the chance to complete the youth double for only the second time after 2018, when they actually took the junior of the titles in Lithuania. They had the better of the first half against the Netherlands and led on six minutes through Marisa García, set up by Player of the Tournament Daniela Agote.
But the Netherlands, who had won their only previous final 1-0 against Spain in 2014, fought back in the second half and ensured extra time through Danique Tolhoek, her 15th goal of the campaign including qualifying. A penalty shoot-out, the method by which Spain won the 2023 final against Germany, loomed. But in the 118th minute, Olga San Martín got to the byline and cut back, via a deflection, for fellow substitute Intza Eguiguren to seal victory.