WORLD SERVICE
Final – the first a volley after Portugal failed to clear
Bryan Gil’s cross, the second a low shot after another
defensive mix-up – were expertly taken. But the
scoreline was harsh on a Portugal side who had played
the best football over the course of the tournament
“If you speak well of us, it’s for a reason,” said Torres.
“We’ve demonstrated it on the pitch by winning the
Under-17 and Under-19 European Championships, as
well as being runners-up at the Under-17 World Cup,
which is not something to sniff at. I think we are a
generation that has made its mark.
“We all know what kind of tournament this is; it is a
showcase at both an individual and group level, and it is
a good opportunity to show clubs you are a top player.”
Reigning champions Portugal were taking part in
their third successive Euro Under-19 Final but had to
be content with the silver medal, despite finishing as
the tournament’s highest-scoring team.
Their 12 goals in five games included
four in a semi-final thrashing of
Republic of Ireland and three against
Italy – who they beat in the Final in
2018 – in their opening group game.
The Italians beat hosts Armenia in
their second group game but needed to beat
Spain in their last match to make the semis.
Ahead at half-time thanks to Davide Merola’s
free-kick, Lorenzo Gavioli’s own goal and a Ruiz
penalty turned the contest in Spain’s favour.
“The main thing was we stayed positive,
passed the ball well, found spaces, showed the
essence of what we’re about,” said Santi after
the Italy game. “We’re a team with a lot of soul
with a lot of heart, and, apart from the tactics,
you need that.”
France, having reached the semi-finals after
winning all three group games, met their match
in Spain, but neither side could find the killer touch
and the match ended goalless after 120 minutes.
After Monaco’s Wilson Isador saw his penalty saved
and Maxence Caqueret of Lyon hit the woodwork,
Spain’s Torres stepped up to
convert the winning spot-kick.
In the other semi-final Portugal
cruised past Republic of Ireland,
with the tournament’s top scorer
Goncalo Ramos of Benfica
recording a hat-trick.
The Irish exceeded all
expectations at the finals by
reaching the last four but they
were without striker Jonathan
Afolabi, who collected a second
yellow card in their final group
game against Czech Republic
having scored a great solo goal
earlier in the match.
Afolabi, raised in Dublin by
Nigerian parents, had gone into
the tournament without a club after
leaving Southampton at the end of
last season having failed to agree a
new contract.
The tournament was the first
UEFA competition to be staged
in Armenia.Finish...Jonathan Afolabi of Republic of Ireland scores against Czech RepublicGoals...
Ferran
Torres“If you speak well of us, it’s for a
reason...I think we are a generation
that has made its mark”
Spain’s Ferran Torres
TEAM OF THE
TOURNAMENTGOALKEEPER
Arnau Tenas
(Spain & Barcelona)DEFENDERS
Victor Gomez
(Spain & Espanyol)
Eric Garcia (Spain
& Manchester City)
Oumar Solet
(France & Lyon)
Juan Miranda
(Spain & Barcelona)MIDFIELDERS
Maxence Caqueret
(France & Lyon)
Antonio Blanco
(Spain & Real Madrid)
Fabio Vieira
(Portugal & Porto)FORWARDS
Ferran Torres
(Spain & Valencia)
Jonathan Afolabi
(Republic of Ireland & unattached)
Felix Correia
(Portugal & Sporting)