Germany U19

[BlackNess]

very good start !!!


3-2 seems good !!

I hope those guys don't dissapoint like the U21.

exactly what i thought when i saw that U19 Championship !!

[Oliver_Kahn]

Having scored one and created another in Germany's 3-2 UEFA European Under-19 Championship victory against Russia, Mesut Özil now has a bigger target in his sights. "We want to win the title, that's what we came here for," said the FC Schalke 04 midfielder. "It was very important to win that opening game, because a good start to the tournament is crucial."

'More to come'
The technically gifted 18-year-old was first capped at this level in September and has since developed into one of coach Frank Engel's key players. Against Russia Özil took his goal tally to three goals in eight U19 outings, but remains confident "there is more to come" despite his legs feeling heavy after a tough breakthrough season with his club which saw him make 19 Bundesliga appearances and earn a contract extension until 2009.

Elaborate plan
Özil grew up in the Ruhrgebiet, formerly the centre of Germany's coal and steel industry, and was introduced to the game by his Turkish parents at the age of six. Despite his heritage, as a teenager he agreed with his family to return his Turkish passport in order to be eligible to represent Germany. Following his own three-step-plan - "stick to your task, believe in your aims, and enjoy your sport" - Özil says he is constantly "pursuing a higher goal". His ambitions include playing for Fenerbahçe SK or FC Barcelona at some point in the future but for now he is happy with his lot. "I'm glad to get the chance to play for Germany and also develop myself competing against the best European players of my age," he said.

'Great atmosphere'
Özil's Schalke team-mate Benedikt Höwedes is also in the Germany squad, and the duo are room-mates in Austria. "I am in good company," Özil said. "Sharing a hotel room in Linz with Benedikt is great. The atmosphere is great and after that opening victory it's even better."

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[Oliver_Kahn]

The second round of Group B matches at the 2007 UEFA European Under-19 Championship will be played amid constrasting kinds of pressure as opening winners Germany and France meet in Ried on the same day as point-less Russia and Serbia attempt to salvage their campaigns in Pasching.

German milestone
Germany play their 200th U19 international when they meet France at the Fill Metallbau Stadium and will be hoping to build on their 3-2 success against Russia on Monday and gain a victory that coach Frank Engel is in no doubt about the significance of. "Who wins the next game is most likely through to the semis," he said. "But France are mighty strong. The main task for the France game is to recuperate from an exhausting match against Russia. At these temperatures you would rather spend the day at the pool," Engel continued, referring to the 38-degree temperatures currently sapping energy levels in Austria.

Defensive lapses
Germany emerged from the Elite round of qualification without conceding a goal but after seeing their rearguard breached twice by Russia captain Artem Dzyuba, Engel is keen to tighten up the defence for the tests that lay ahead. "We were clearly not as untouchable in defence as in previous matches. But this is the final round, not a preliminary stage," he said. The main threat to that defence is likely to be Kévin Monnet-Paquet, fresh from his hat-trick exploits in France's 5-2 victory against Serbia, a game they won despite being 2-0 down with just ten men. "To win the first game was important," said coach Guy Ferrier. "But to win the second game is also important and to win the third game is very, very important."

France understrength
"The game against Germany is a big one though because if we win then we can relax a little bit before our final group match. But We only have 17 players now so it will be difficult," continued Ferrier who will be without midfielders William Vainqueur and Bakary Sako in Ried because of injury and suspension respectively. Germany, meanwhile, will have FC Schalke 04 goalkeeper Ralf Fährmann on the bench after original reserve Christopher Gäng broke a finger during the warm-up prior to the Russia game.

Serbia boosted
Serbia should welcome new FC Metz signing Ljubomir Fejsa back from injury when they take on Russia, a game that will also see the return of Nenad Adamović from suspension at right-back. Coach Zvonko Zivković said: "We did not have a natural right-back against France and this was a big problem, so we will change that, and we get our best player back into midfield. This is very important."

Vital encounter
"The next game is the vital one for us. If we lose it's all over," added Zivković, whose side could not take advantage from a winning position and an extra man against France. "I hope we will play better than we did on Monday." They may have to against a Russia side whose coach Ravil Sabitov was calmness personified despite their opening day loss to Germany. "The result was not that important. What really matters is that we make it to the next stage," he said. "But had we won a point we would not have had to defeat both France and Serbia. They are also very good sides, so it will pretty tough, but I am convinced we can make it. My team certainly has the potential to advance," added Sabitov, who will welcome back defender Sergei Golyatkin from suspension.

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[Oliver_Kahn]

Germany coach Frank Engel has called on FC Schalke 04 goalkeeper Ralf Fährmann to replace the injured Christopher Gäng at the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Austria.

Thumb fracture
Reserve goalkeeper Gäng, 19, broke his left thumb during training and left the camp to return for treatment with his new club Hertha BSC Berlin. Engel has called on the 18-year-old Fährmann to replace him at the finals. Such a change during the tournament is allowed only permitted for goalkeepers. Germany won their opening Group B match 3-2 against Russia on Monday. They take on France in their second game of the finals in Ried tonight.

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[Oliver_Kahn]

Germany coach Frank Engel believes a positive atmosphere will help his side reach the UEFA European Under-19 Championship semi-finals for the second time in three seasons as they prepare to play Serbia in the concluding round of matches in Group B.

'Great mood'
Engel's team opened the finals with victory against Russia before drawing 1-1 with France on Wednesday, leaving Germany and France both needing a point to make sure of reaching Tuesday's semi-finals, while Zvonko Zivković's Serbia side must take all three in Pasching to reach the last four. Although the momentum might appear to be with a Serbia side who lost their first game 5-2 to France yet won the second against Russia 6-2, Engel is in bullish mood, saying: "The atmosphere in the team is great. We have spoken about the France match and analysed it and the game is as tough for us as for the first two. We want to win, but I'd still be content with a draw."

'No pressure'
Germany might need only a point to progress while their opponents know victory is essential but Engel does not believe the dilemma of whether to press for a win or protect their goal brings extra expectation. "Why should we have particular pressure? We have it in our own hands. Pressure is something you put on yourself," he says. "Serbia are a good team, they have four very strong players so we have to careful, but as against France, we will not do any particular marking. We are good enough ourselves and will focus on our system."

Zivković expectations
Serbia coach Zivković is in equally confident mood after his side got their campaign back on course in spectacular fashion against Russia, saying: "We expect to get through. Psychologically the Russia win gives us a big lift. Germany are a good team; we know mentally they're very tough, so we must be strong in the tackle, tactically prepared, run hard and play for the whole game. We know where we are and what we must do. We have to keep our concentration for every single minute; if we do that, I think and hope we can go all the way to the final."

France focus
France, meanwhile, take on eliminated Russia in Steyr where a victory would put Guy Ferrier's side in pole position to win the section. Damien Plessis is suspended following his red card against Germany and, despite the return of Bakary Sako after his Matchday 1 dismissal and the oppostion of a side who have conceded nine goals so far, France are taking nothing for granted. "We need to focus on our own strengths, try to create as many chances as possible and convert them," said captain Malaury Martin. "The semi-finals are our aim and we'll do everything to reach them, although we must finish the match with eleven players this time."

'Hope for luck'
Ravil Sabitov acknowledged after the Serbia defeat which confirmed Russia's early exit that his side's best efforts had not been good enough, although the coach is keen for his players to end their first finals campaign on a positive note. "I know why we've lost both games – but I'll keep that to myself," he said. "We must produce a good performance against France to get anything from this group; we've done well in both games and we must do so again on Saturday to at least get one win. We must play the same as we have done so far and hope for more luck."

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[jec1]

Who's the best player to come out of this crop?

[Oliver_Kahn]

Mezut Özil, from Schalke, offensive midfielder.

He is havign a great tournament.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Germany coach Frank Engel praised his side for their battling spirit after they came from behind to end Serbia's UEFA European Under-19 Championship hopes with a 3-2 victory that also clinched first place in Group B after France could only manage a goalless draw against bottom side Russia. Germany will now face Group A runners-up Spain in the semi-finals, when France take on holders Spain. uefa.com rounds up the reaction.

SERBIA 2-3 GERMANY
Zvonko Zivković, Serbia coach
It was an excellent game. We started the match very well and scored the early goal. But in the second half Germany showed they had come into the game in a more relaxed state and were better prepared psychologically because they knew one point would be enough to qualify. We needed the three points but we were playing against a very good team who were a little more relaxed and also fresher than us.

Frank Engel, Germany coach
Both teams put up an excellent fight. There was a lot at stake as both sides knew if they lost they would be out. In the end we scored the goals and I really have to compliment my team on how they played. The victory was deserved. I knew from the start it wouldn't be a very easy game. The way the game went made the match that much more difficult but the most important thing was the team showed a lot of character to come through and win.

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[cassanova]

The u-19 will rule this tournament, Germany have the best team.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Greece will attempt to reach their first UEFA European Under-19 Championship final in Steyr on Tuesday when they take on a Germany side seeking to surpass the efforts of the team of 2002.

New ground
Nikolaos Nioplias has already guided Group A runners-up Greece further than they have ever gone before in only their second finals appearance while Frank Engel's Germany, who finished top of Group B, will be aiming to go one step further than the team of five years ago - beaten in the final by a Spain side featuring the likes of Fernando Torres, José Antonio Reyes and Andrés Iniesta. Both sides emerged from the group phase with unbeaten, yet contrasting, records, Greece scoring twice compared to Germany's seven goals. "Both teams play with very different styles and I can't say yet what kind of tactics we will adopt," said Engel, who has reason to be optimistic if history is any guide. The sides are meeting for the third successive U19 campaign, most recently in the 2005/06 qualifying round, and Germany have won both previous games, scoring six goals.

Boateng wary
"We have to focus on Greece now and not think about the final," said defender Jerome Boateng, the only German survivor of that win in October 2005. "It will be a tough match. I saw them against Austria and they are a compact team with two or three very good players." Boateng's older brother, Kevin-Prince was a member of Germany's last U19 semi-finalists, the team who lost to France in Northern Ireland two years ago.

Germany confident
Engel is confident his team can improve on 2005 crop despite an injury doubt to midfielder Anis Ben-Hatira, who completed only half of Germany's last training session on Monday because of a muscle problem. "The players always believed they could make the final," the coach explained. "There are two options before a tournament like this - you can just come to a European Championship and enjoy it or you can go there and make an impact. I tried to tell that to the team and I think they were listening."

Objective achieved
Greece coach Nioplias admits he was not so bold about his side's chances before the finals but he has now redefined their target. "Our objective was to get into the final four and we've done that. We've set our targets step by step, from the qualifying round, through to the Elite round, and now we are aiming for the final," he told uefa.com. "Of course it's a big achievement for our national team to be in the last four in the European U19 Championship for the first time."

Duo return
Nioplias has no fresh injury worries for the match at the Vorwärts Stadion and is boosted by the return of midfielders Elini Dimoutsos and Georgios Ioannidis after the pair sat out Saturday's goalless draw through suspension. Although both have completed their bans, both sides have six players apiece who would miss the final were they to pick up another yellow card.

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[Oliver_Kahn]

The match was 2-2 at the 89th min, Greece were 1 man down, but Germany conceeded a goal from a corner-kick.

[ScaryJeff]

I saw the game with one eye while i was working on the PC.

But it was the same as the whole tourney for them. The played really well. offensivly but didn't make their chances. Espescially Ben Hatira and Özil looked very promising also the striker from BVB ( forgot his name ) but after they went up front they somehow stopped playing and really begged for the goal.

Oh and our goal keeper ?? i hope we have better than him. Didn't see him get one ball espescially from crosses. that guys just too small ( 1,83 according to transfermarkt.de ) doubt he'll get those 10 centimeters he needs to be any use

[Oliver_Kahn]

Originally Posted by ScaryJeff

I saw the game with one eye while i was working on the PC.

But it was the same as the whole tourney for them. The played really well. offensivly but didn't make their chances. Espescially Ben Hatira and Özil looked very promising also the striker from BVB ( forgot his name ) but after they went up front they somehow stopped playing and really begged for the goal.

Oh and our goal keeper ?? i hope we have better than him. Didn't see him get one ball espescially from crosses. that guys just too small ( 1,83 according to transfermarkt.de ) doubt he'll get those 10 centimeters he needs to be any use

The Greeks were just so lethal, Germany missed far too many chances and paid for it.. Agreed on the goalkeeper, Manel is too short to be a gk, I think the 3rd goal was definately his fault..

Ben Hatira looked great today, Ozil not so good. Is Tyrala the BVB striker ? He looked good.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Germany	2 - 3	Greece
Ben-Hatira 25, 65(pen)		Ninis 40, Mitroglou 58, Lampropoulos 90

Ten-man Greece earned a place in the final of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship for the first time as Andreas Lampropoulos headed in a last-minute corner for a 3-2 victory against Germany in Steyr.

Late winner
Despite playing the last third of the match with ten men after Vassilis Pliatsikas was sent off, Lampropoulos added to goals from Sotiris Ninis (40) and Kostas Mitroglou (58) to cancel out Anis Ben-Hatira's strike in either half for Germany and set up a final meeting with either France or holders Spain, who meet in Pasching in the second semi-final, on Friday.

Changes
Germany, bidding for a first final since 2002, made two changes from the starting lineup which accounte