Germany claimed the UEFA European Under-19 Championship trophy for the first time despite playing more than half the final against Italy with ten men. Goals from Lars Bender, Richard Sukuta-Pasu and Timo Gebhart secured victory in an eventful decider in Jablonec.
While Players from the eight Nations: ( Germany, Hungary, Spain, Bulgaria, Italy, Czech Republic, England, Greece ) that participated in the tournament are returning to their respective club hoping to build on the success or failure of the under 19 Euro cup, here is a review of some of the top youngsters that caught the eye.
Richard Sukuta-Pasu (Germany): The FIFA under 17 World cup product was the spearhead of the German triumph. He scored vital goals against spain, Czech Republic and against Italy in the final. Bayer Leverkusen's Richard Sukuta-Pasu is the type of athlete football coaches dream about. "He is a really pleasant person and willing to learn, with the God-given qualities to be a good footballer," says former Bundesliga pro and coach Jurgen Gelsdorf, who now runs Leverkusen's centre of excellence. "Richard is very strong physically, has great technical ability and is extremely fast as well. All-in-all, that makes for a dangerous player."
Fran Mérida (Spain): Merida who was a member of spain's Uder 17 squad that won the 2007 UEFA U-17 Championships and also starred in the FIFA under 17 World Cup losing to Nigeria in a penalty shootut in the final, was suspended for the Spainish 2-1 defeat to eventual Champions Germany. He came back powerful to the team in the teams 1-0 lost to Hungary. Put in a virtuoso display against Bulgaria, capped by a fine goal with his weaker right foot.
Stefano Okaka Chuka (Italy): Stefano Okaka Chuka who is proudly from the same country as me (Nigeria) did not get on the score sheet at the Uefa 19 champions but he was the arrowhead of every attack of the Italians. Okaka just like Merida was suspended for the open game match but game back to play every minute of his team's game as they got to the final only to loss 3-1 to Germany in the final.
Savio Nsereko (Germany): The Uganda born German striker was suspended for the final game against Italy due to the yellow card he picked up celebrating his sides win over the Czeches in the Semi Final. Savio Nsereko was described by Costa Rican former player and Uefa technical observer Roy Millar as his best player of the tournament saying: "The best player in the tournament for me has been Nsereko."He can go inside on his right foot to make you a goal, or can go wide left and get in behind defenders."
Ben Mee (England): The Manchester City FC centre-half provided the answer to England's two problems at this tournament. After sloppy defending cost two goals against the Czechs, Mee was recalled and helped to register successive clean sheets. He also broke England's goalscoring duck in their third game, with a thumping header versus Greece.
Mihail Aleksandrov (Bulgaria): The big Liverpool fc player was the captain of the Bulgarian team and also anchored the midfield. He was a tireless work,ostensibly occupying a left-hand side role but in reality covering tirelessly across the midfield and probing for openings. Clever in possession and never lost heart.
Kyriakos Papadopoulos (Greece): The former Arsenal target was the youngest player of the championship. The 16 year old Greek did well to belly age with his sterling performance for the Greek under 19. The Olympiacos CFP prospect led the resistance for ten-man Greece against the Czechs.
Tomás Necid (Czech Republic): The Slavia Prague player scored 4 goals for the Czechs as the got to the semis before crashing to the Germans.He was a constant menace to defenders scoring a double against England plus another headed equalizer in the Semi Final.
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