Spain and France have made it through to the final of UEFA U19 Euro 2024.
Jose Lana’s Spanish side scored in extra time to edge past Italy by a goal to nil, while France defeated Ukraine by the same scoreline.
They will now meet in the final at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park on Sunday (28 July) at 7pm.
It’s a repeat of a group game in this year’s tournament. It was an intriguing contest which ended 2-2 at Larne’s Inver Park.
First up at the National Stadium yesterday was the last four encounter between Italy and Spain.
The Italians created more chances than the Spanish across the piece, but they could not find the back of the net.
In the first half in particular Bernardo Corradi’s team enjoyed plenty of possession. Midfielder Luca Di Maggio and attacker Simone Pafundi were constantly looking to get on the ball.
Pafundi fired a free-kick inches past the upright before Italy striker Francesco Camarda steered a shot wide, while Spain keeper Raul Jimenez gathered well at the feet of Italy defender and captain Luca Lipani.
Italian keeper Renato Marin saved from Dani Rodriguez as the Spanish applied pressure, while Pafundi’s strike drifted off target. And Spain striker Iker Bravo blasted the ball over the top as half-time approached.
Italy striker Kevin Zeroli came close with a decent strike and Di Maggio was just off target.
On 62 minutes Di Maggio produced another stinging effort which Jimenez did well to push out, while Marin saved from Dani Rodriguez.
Spanish substitute David Mella’s shot went the wrong side of the post and Di Maggio tried his luck with a drive that drifted wide.
In extra time Italy had chances through Pafundi and substitute Jonas Harder before Spain grabbed the only goal of the game on 100 minutes. Full-back Julio Diaz delivered the ball across the face of goal where substitute Pol Fortuny slotted it past Marin.
Another Spanish substitute, Jesus Rodriguez, was guilty of missing a couple of gilt-edged opportunities.
Italy piled on the pressure towards the end but could not find a way past a Spanish defence marshalled superbly by Wassim Keddari (Simo) and Yarek Gasiorowski.
In the closing stages Zeroli poked the ball wide from close range – it was a great chance - and was then off target with a header.
In yesterday’s second semi-final, also played at the National Stadium, France defeated Ukraine in regulation time.
France dominated the early proceedings, breaking forward at pace and putting pressure on Ukraine's backline.
France captain and midfield powerhouse Valentin Atangana had the first chance of the game but steered his effort wide.
Then lively French winger Saimon Bouabre threatened, although his strike was blocked.
On 20 minutes the game opened up when Viktor Tsukanov's dangerous free-kick was nearly glanced in by Taras Mykhavko, whose cross-shot then troubled Justin Bengui-Joao shortly after.
Ukraine were defensively well drilled and proving increasingly hard to break down.
And, on the stroke of half-time, Dmytro Mikhailenko's side made ground in France's half, resulting in Oleksiy Gusiev's effort from distance crashing off the crossbar.
Atangana finally broke the deadlock on 61 minutes. The midfielder appeared to hang in the air before connecting with Senny Mayulu's corner to send his team in front with a powerful header.
France substitute Eli Junior Kroupi's swerving effort rattled the frame of the goal in the 74th minute as Bernard Diomede's side pushed to finish the job.
In added time there was a scare for France when keeper Bengui-Joao fumbled a corner. He eventually gathered in the ball and 1-0 was enough to set up the decider with Spain.
Meanwhile, at Seaview yesterday, Norway booked their place at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Chile next year after a gripping penalty shootout with Turkiye.
The play-off game was level at one apiece after 120-plus minutes. Rasmus Holten gave the Norwegians the lead on 16 minutes and Turkey equalised with a superbly crafted goal in the 81st minute. Isak Vural headed the ball home after a sweeping move.
The teams could not be separated in extra time, so a shootout ensued. Remarkably Norway scored all 10 of their penalties, while Turkiye missed their 10th penalty.
All four semi-finalists at this year’s UEFA Men’s U19 European Championship also earned a spot at the U20 World Cup.
The Irish Football Association is hosting U19 Euro 2024 along with UEFA. For highlights of the action so far go to the UEFA Under-19 section on uefa.com.
To buy tickets to the U19 Euros final between Spain and France go to irishfa.com/u19euro.
Image: Team-mate Cristian Perea congratulates Pol Fortuny (no 10) after he scored Spain’s winner against Italy in the first of two U19 Euros semi-finals staged at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park yesterday.
