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Hello football fans! The wait is finally over as the UEFA Under-21 European Championship qualifying campaign kicks off this week. With 53 nations vying for a place at the 2023 tournament in Romania and Georgia, there promises to be plenty of drama and excitement along the way. In this article, we\’ll take a comprehensive look at all the latest results and standings, providing you with everything you need to know about the teams in contention.
U21 Euro Qualification: Teams to Watch
England U21s
Boasting one of the strongest youth systems in Europe, England U21s are always a force to be reckoned with. Their squad is packed with exciting young players, including the likes of Manchester City\’s Phil Foden and Arsenal\’s Bukayo Saka. Foden, in particular, is a prodigious talent who has already established himself as a key player for the senior England team. As the clear group favorites, England will be looking to secure their place in the finals and contend for the title.
Spain U21s
Spain\’s golden generation continues to produce exceptional young talent, and the U21s are no exception. Led by the likes of Barcelona\’s Ansu Fati and Pedri, Spain possess an abundance of skillful and technically gifted players. Fati, with his blistering pace and prolific finishing, is a constant threat in the attacking third. Pedri, on the other hand, is a midfield maestro who dictatesthe tempo of the game with his exceptional vision and passing range. Spain will be a formidable opponent for any team they face in the qualification campaign.
Germany U21s
Germany\’s youth setup has consistently produced some of the most talented players in world football, and their U21s are no different. Florian Wirtz, a young attacking midfielder playing for Bayer Leverkusen, is one to watch. His exceptional dribbling skills, creativity, and eye for goal make him a dangerous threat. Karim Adeyemi, another highly rated prospect, provides pace and power on the wings. As the defending champions, Germany will be determined to retain their title and cement their status as one of the top U21 teams in Europe.
Netherlands U21s
The Oranje U21s enter this qualification campaign as one of the dark horses. With a young and talented squad, they could surprise a few people. They have a good mix of experience and youth, and they are well-coached by Erwin van de Looi. Stars to watch include Ryan Gravenberch, who is already a regular for Ajax\’s first team, and Noa Lang, who has impressed for Club Brugge this season.
The Netherlands have been drawn in a tough qualifying group, but they have the quality to finish in the top two. They will be confident of beating the likes of Gibraltar, Estonia, and Latvia. The key matches will come against Norway and Switzerland, and the Dutch will need to be at their best to get the results they need. If they can qualify for the tournament, they will be a team to watch.
Portugal U21s
Portugal U21s are one of the most exciting teams in Europe. The reigning European Under-19 Champions, they have a host of talented players coming through the ranks. They will be looking to make a statement at this tournament, and they will be confident of qualifying for the semi-finals at the very least.
Portugal are drawn in a tough group, but they will be confident of finishing in the top two. They will be wary of the threat posed by Greece, but they should be too strong for the likes of Cyprus and Liechtenstein. The key match will come against Spain, but Portugal will be confident of getting a result in that game.
Fabio Silva and Vitinha are two of the most exciting players in Portugal\’s U21 squad. Silva is a prolific goalscorer, while Vitinha is a creative midfielder with a wand of a left foot. Both players have already broken into the senior squad, and they will be looking to make a big impression at this tournament.
Italy U21s
Italy U21s are another team to watch in this qualification campaign. They have a good mix of experience and youth, and they are well-coached by Paolo Nicolato. Stars to watch include Sandro Tonali, who is already a regular for AC Milan\’s first team, and Nicolo Barella, who has impressed for Inter Milan this season.
Italy have been drawn in a tough qualifying group, but they will be confident of finishing in the top two. They will be wary of the threat posed by Sweden, but they should be too strong for the likes of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Luxembourg, and Montenegro. The key match will come against Spain, but Italy will be confident of getting a result in that game.
U21 Euro Qualification: Players to Watch
Phil Foden (England)
The Manchester City midfielder is one of the most exciting young talents in world football. He has been a key player for England at youth level and is expected to be a major force in this tournament. Foden is a skillful and creative player who can score goals and create chances for others. He is also a hard worker and has a good attitude, which makes him a valuable asset to any team.
Ansu Fati (Spain)
The Barcelona forward is one of the most promising young players in Spain. He has already made his debut for the senior team and has scored some important goals. Fati is a quick and agile player who is dangerous in front of goal. He is also a good dribbler and can create chances for others. Fati is still only 18 years old, but he has already shown that he has the potential to be a world-class player.
Florian Wirtz (Germany)
The Bayer Leverkusen midfielder is one of the most highly-rated young players in Germany. He has been compared to Mesut Özil and is expected to have a big future in the game. Wirtz is a creative and skilful player who can score goals and create chances for others. He is also a good passer and has a good vision of the game. Wirtz is still only 18 years old, but he has already shown that he has the potential to be a star.
Wirtz has already made his debut for the German national team and is expected to be a key player for them in the future. He is a player with a lot of potential and could be one of the best midfielders in the world in the years to come.
Wirtz is a versatile player who can play in a number of positions in midfield. He is most comfortable playing as a central attacking midfielder, but he can also play on the wing or as a second striker. Wirtz is a very good dribbler and passer, and he has a good eye for goal. He is also a very intelligent player who is always aware of his surroundings.
Wirtz is a very promising young player who has the potential to be one of the best midfielders in the world. He is already a key player for Bayer Leverkusen and the German national team, and he is expected to have a big future in the game.
Group A
Group A features the likes of England, Portugal, Italy, Croatia, and the Czech Republic. England, with their wealth of young talent, are the favorites to top the group. They have a strong track record at this level, having reached the semi-finals of the last two U21 European Championships. Portugal, with their exciting attacking players, will also be looking to make a statement and challenge England for the top spot.
Italy, with their traditional defensive solidity, will be no pushovers, while Croatia and the Czech Republic will be looking to cause an upset. With five teams all capable of qualifying for the knockout stages, this group promises to be one of the most competitive in the tournament.
Group B
Group B pits together the heavyweights of Spain and Germany, along with the Netherlands, Poland, and Romania. Spain, with their tiki-taka style of play and abundance of technical talent, are the favorites to top the group. They have a strong recent record at this level, having won the U21 European Championship in 2019.
Germany, with their physicality and efficiency, will be looking to challenge Spain for first place. The Netherlands, with their own brand of attacking football, will also be in the mix for a top-two finish. Poland and Romania will be looking to spring a surprise and qualify for the knockout stages.
Group C
Group C is headlined by France, who are the clear favorites to top the group. With a wealth of talented players coming through their youth system, France will be looking to make a statement and win the tournament. Denmark, with their organized style of play, will be looking to challenge France for top spot.
Russia, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands will be looking to cause an upset and qualify for the knockout stages. With three teams all capable of qualifying for the next round, this group promises to be an exciting one to watch.
U21 Euro Qualification: Predictions
Group Winners
– England, Spain, France
The group winners of the U21 Euro qualifiers are likely to be the teams that have the most experience and talent. England has a strong history in the tournament and will be looking to build on their success in recent years. Spain is always a contender for the title, and they will be looking to win their first U21 Euro title since 1986. France is another strong team with a lot of potential, and they will be looking to make a statement in this tournament.
Semi-Finals
– England vs. France
– Spain vs. Germany
The semi-finals will likely feature some of the most exciting matches of the tournament. England vs. France is a classic rivalry, and it will be sure to be a close match. Spain vs. Germany is another intriguing matchup, as both teams have a lot of talent and experience. These two matches will be key in determining who reaches the final.
Final
– England vs. Spain
The final of the U21 Euro qualifiers is likely to be a match between England and Spain. These two teams have been the most consistent performers in the tournament in recent years, and they both have a lot of talent. England will be looking to win their first U21 Euro title since 1984, while Spain will be looking to win their fourth title in the last six tournaments. This match will be a close fought affair, and it could go either way.
Other Contenders
– Germany, Portugal, Italy
While England, Spain, and France are the favorites to win the U21 Euro qualifiers, there are a number of other teams that could make a run in the tournament. Germany is always a threat, and they will be looking to improve on their performance in the last tournament. Portugal is another team with a lot of potential, and they will be looking to make a statement in this tournament. Italy is also a strong team, and they will be looking to make a run in the tournament. These three teams will be looking to upset the favorites and make a run to the final.
Dark Horses
– Ukraine, Czech Republic, Romania
There are a number of dark horses in the U21 Euro qualifiers that could make a run in the tournament. Ukraine is a team with a lot of potential, and they will be looking to make a statement in this tournament. The Czech Republic is another team with a lot of potential, and they will be looking to make a run to the final. Romania is also a strong team, and they will be looking to upset the favorites and make a run to the final. These three teams will be looking to surprise everyone and make a run in the tournament.