U-19 European Championship 24.07

[McFly]

very questionable penalty what i could see, who cares tho

[slipkid]

2-2, come on Germany....

[kimera]

64'

2ND

[B1] Germany(U19)(N)*

2 - 2

Greece(U19)

Ben-Hatira on a penalty! Phew, a typical german match in the U-19 this one...

[kimera]

89'

2ND

[B1] Germany(U19)(N)*

2 - 3

Greece(U19) [A2]

This is sad, just sad...

[slipkid]

Blimey, strange match that one. Come on Spain...

[allthethings]

Originally Posted by slipkid

Blimey, strange match that one. Come on Spain...

I'll say. Damn.

[kimera]

Originally Posted by allthethings

I'll say. Damn.

Yeah, you could say that again! Had to calm down a bit after the match, looking at it in perspective thinking about the scenarios mentioned in former posts, this being one of the strangest matches I have seen in many months. Being young players without the right experience cross my mind heavily... Well, can`t be dwelling about this one, those who could have spotted this match picture would have gotten the status of a saint in my eyes.

Looking forward to Spain playing now, clearing my mind doing some push-ups...

[allthethings]

Originally Posted by kimera

Yeah, you could say that again! Had to calm down a bit after the match, looking at it in perspective thinking about the scenarios mentioned in former posts, this being one of the strangest matches I have seen in many months. Being young players without the right experience cross my mind heavily... Well, can`t be dwelling about this one, those who could have spotted this match picture would have gotten the status of a saint in my eyes.

Looking forward to Spain playing now, clearing my mind doing some push-ups...

Naturally when I write all that stuff about what is more likely, it turns out in this case the overs were good insurance. Of course, had I known about Greece playing with a more offensive lineup I might have taken the better odds on the overs and left the side alone...

oh well.

I see odds on Spain better now than before...? I really wonder what's going on here, as this was the match I felt really good about...I expected the money to move toward Spain, instead it's going to France...

[allthethings]

You'll think this is insane, but I just added over 2 (-143)...goes against what I was saying earlier, but I think France needs to play a more open game and this seems a very generous line to me. If one team scores, the other will press, and I'd think 2-0 or 1-1 must be the minimum. I wouldn't take this at 2.5.

C'mon Spain!

[kimera]

Originally Posted by allthethings

Naturally when I write all that stuff about what is more likely, it turns out in this case the overs were good insurance. Of course, had I known about Greece playing with a more offensive lineup I might have taken the better odds on the overs and left the side alone...

oh well.

I see odds on Spain better now than before...? I really wonder what's going on here, as this was the match I felt really good about...I expected the money to move toward Spain, instead it's going to France...

Been looking around a bit. Seeing the odds rise a little yes, but no remarkably much though. The exchancges offering around 2.50 now, while other bookies have an average about 2.30

Monnet-Paquet is playing as expected for France while Spain have their best starting eleven possible. Now, lets hope the spanish side do put some effort winning this!

[kimera]

Originally Posted by allthethings

You'll think this is insane, but I just added over 2 (-143)...goes against what I was saying earlier, but I think France needs to play a more open game and this seems a very generous line to me. If one team scores, the other will press, and I'd think 2-0 or 1-1 must be the minimum. I wouldn't take this at 2.5.

C'mon Spain!

Nah, might be a good one thinking about scores earlier and its somewhat unpredictfullness so far, believe you need a 1st half goal with Spain good defending a lead when they hopefully get one. Spain blowing away an enormous chance in the first five hitting the crossbar and missing a one on one right after...

[allthethings]

Well, it was between this game and the Schalke game...

[allthethings]

Originally Posted by kimera

Spain blowing away an enormous chance in the first five hitting the crossbar and missing a one on one right after...

Looks like a goal taken away by an offsides call too...

[allthethings]

I think I've aged 5 years here...at this point I'll take a Spain win in regulation...I'd break even as opposed to losing my shirt. It seems they've really scaled back their aggressive tactics since about the five-minute mark. Sigh.

[kimera]

Originally Posted by allthethings

Looks like a goal taken away by an offsides call too...

FT

[A1] Spain(U19)(N)*

0 - 0

France(U19)

Not good, and I strongly believe the offside call was wrong, but it won`t matter now anyway...

[allthethings]

Well, I lost more than I should have because of my last-minute tinkering. I'm sure Spain will score here two minutes into extra time, never fails.

[jibby6]

having watched both semi finals spain should beat greece in the final. spain played greece in the group stages and drew 0-0 they both needed a point to qualify. having watched that game spain were the much better team and could have easily won but played it safe for the draw. so the final 8/10 stakes spain to win 2.50 stan james.

[modo]

Better or no better Spain we will see in the final.Final is final and for me under 2.5.7/10.

[kimera]

The final in the U-19 are played tonight and Greece vs. Spain will fight for the trophy. After two very strange semi-finals where Greece was very effective beating Germany 3-2 and Spain finishing of France on penalties in a 0-0 draw they now will try to improve their skills winning the final.

Greece will miss two key players tonight. They lost Vassilis Pliatsikas who was red carded and captain and centre-back Sokratis Papastathoupoulos got his 2^nd yellow. Otherwise they will use their best players which include very creative Ninis and Mitroglu. Both players being the ones making Germany sweat every time they had the ball. I saw the match and sometimes it looked like it was those two playing alone against the germans. The funny thing with Greece is that they actually have not used any strikers their last matches. Both Ninis and Mitroglu are rated as offensive midfielders but have adapted to the role of strikers very well. Anyways, losing Sokratis today will be a major loss, he played outstanding in the semi, totally neutralizing the ever dangerous Özil, which ended in he being subbed in the middle of 2^nd half.

The Spain side will also have some key missings. Midfielder and captain Javier Martinez got the same verdict as Sokratis getting his 2^nd yellow and will be a big loss for the Spaniards. He has been playing the key role in the defensive part of the midfield, a role which is somewhat invisible to viewers doing a lot of work without the ball positioning and stopping opposition getting easy balls forward. Being in front of the defensive four his main job is to control the space in front of them. The chances France got in the semi were counter-attacks and free-kick/corners, which in all likelihood mean Martinez doing his job well. Also important goalie Phillipe Ramos had to leave the semis with an ankle injury, his sub, Sergio Arenjo, did make a good impression replacing him, but now he will play his 1^st match from the start and that will be a different issue for him. Another missing will be fellow midfielder Angel Montoro who was sent-off In the last seconds of extra-time. It means that Spain has to field a new pairing in the middle. Against France they had about 4-5 big chances which they did not convert, coincidence or not, they need to capitalize today. Key offensive players like Aaron and especially Emilio must show more than they have so far being very ineffective.

With both teams having severe problems with players which have been very consistent throughout the tournament the match picture will be interesting to look at. I don’t know the qualities in the subs, but there will probably be a difference. Especially in the Spain side where both midfielders have played the whole time together. My thoughts is that the suspensions will open up the match where Ninis, who tended to thrive around the area Martinez used to control, will get the ball a lot today. Surely the Spaniards will be aware of him, but the Germans must have been to, and they didn’t manage to have any control of him.
Traditionally Spain has a great history in this tournament winning three times since 2002. Greece on the other side is playing their first final and has been an outsider all around this championship. Their former final results have been 1-0, 1-0 and beating Scotland 2-1 last year. Greece will go out playing with enthusiasm being glad they have reached this far, against Germany we all saw a greek side which suddenly turned things around when all expected the Germany finishing them off.

It is a difficult match to predict this one, but I do see some goals though. Key missings which make a well organized Spain somewhat unstable and the most important defensive player in the Greece out will lead to chances. The Spain strikers Aaron and Emilio have to provide tonight and important players Ninis and Mitroglu in Greece showing form are also factors when thinking goals will come. It might be a long shot looking at Spain throughout the tournament, but this is the final and Greece are a totally different team than France, showing some great motivation and desire against Germany. And I can not see them going out on the pitch with that attitude changed.

I take the over bet tonight, good value in it, this being the final makes me though enter it with small stakes. After all, I have been surprised in this tournament before. I also take Spain because of tradition even if they have a weaker team suspecting their tactics might be superior to the Greece team.

• Pick: Over 2.5
• Odds: 2.26
• Stake: 4/10
• Bookie: Betsson

• Pick: Spain
• Odds: 2.22
• Stake: 2/10
• Bookie: Betsson

[kimera]

HT

W [A1] Spain(U19)(N)*

1 - 0

Greece(U19

Been a good match so far, both teams having some chances... Looking forward to the next half where Greece have to push forward.