European Under-21 Championship

[DJT75]

Does anyone have any idea why Portugal are playing Italy later this week to decide who came 3rd in this tournament, when they finished 5th & 6th?

Surely the losing Semifinalists should contest this, or better still, no-one...

[KevD]

The reason they have a third/fourth place playoff in this competition is to provide the 3 European qualifiers for the Olympic U23 tourament at the Olympics. Its actual name is the Olympic play off.

England cant qualify as they dont take part in the tournament and I would think as Serbia are a new country on their own (since the split with Montenegro), they are Ineligable.

So Belgium and Holland will go to Bejing with the winner of Portugal/Italy.

[DJT75]

Originally Posted by KevD

The reason they have a third/fourth place playoff in this competition is to provide the 3 European qualifiers for the Olympic U23 tourament at the Olympics. Its actual name is the Olympic play off.

England cant qualify as they dont take part in the tournament and I would think as Serbia are a new country on their own (since the split with Montenegro), they are Ineligable.

So Belgium and Holland will go to Bejing with the winner of Portugal/Italy.

Ah ha - it now becomes clear. Thanks Kev. So a losers play off with some actual meaning for a change!

[raigraphixs]

that was a mad pen shoot-out 13-12 , lads were unluckly to lose.


...

[KevD]

I couldnt believe the Dutch keeper jumping out so far, even more suprised the England players never said anything!

A good performace really, although would have strugggl;ed to get a team out in the final (David Bently take note ).

England, Tournament, Semi, Penalties... there was only one outcome

[RMCF]

I see that Platini and his cronies have said they will back the referee in the final if he takes the players off the pitch if there is any racist chanting/booing etc from the crowd.

I would love to see this happen - it only has to happen the once to make these idiot fans take notice.

Imagine Serbia were winning a major U21 final and their fans cost them the title by having the game abandoned due to racism. There would, hopefully, be uproar at home, around Europe and around the world, and these people would know that now that it has happened it could easily happen again at any league, CL, Euro, WC game and we might see an end to it, once and for all.

[KevD]

I really hope they start to do something about it, as they have ignored it up till now.

They have siad they are going to take a few weeks to determine what they aahould do about this latest occurance Why take weeks? The racist chants of the crowd were ther for all to hear and I am sure there must be some people who witnessed the racism in the tunnell.

Hoping that it is not just another case of a £500 fine, teams need to be kicked out of tournaments or have games awarded against them in order to cut this out of the game.

Holland have as many black players as England, while I hope I dont hear chanting, I would be delighted to see the ref take the players off the field.