European Under 21 Championships in Denmark

• zocoss

  11 Jun 11, 13:23

  Team-by-team guide to the European Under 21 Championships in Denmark
  

   

   

   

   

   

  Just when you thought the football season was over…

  There may be no World Cup or European Championship to showcase the finest talent over the summer, but the stars of tomorrow take over as they contest UEFA’s European Under 21 Championships in Denmark.

  The competition has increased in popularity over the years and has provided the springboard to the careers for some of the game’s finest players including Rudi Voller, Laurent Blanc, Luis Figo, Fabio Cannavaro and Petr Cech.

  If that’s not enough, England are actually capable of winning it and will be amongst the leading contenders to taste glory this time around.
  

  Here's our definitive guide to who are they up against when the tournament begins on June 11...

   

   

  GROUP A

  Denmark

  Best performance
  In the same year the full Denmark team won Euro 92, the Under 21s reached the semi-finals before losing 3-0 on aggregate to eventual winners Italy.
  

  FIXTURES
  

  June 11
  Switzerland (Aalborg, 7.45pm)
  June 14
  Belarus (Aarhus, 7.45pm)
  June 18
  Iceland (Aalborg, 7.45pm)

  Manager
  Keld Bordinggaard
  A Danish international during the 80s, the former midfielder’s highest profile role came as assistant to Morten Olsen for the full national side during Euro 2004. This summer will mark his fifth year in the job.

  Star man
  Christian Eriksen (Ajax)
  Arguably one of the finest players that will be on show.
  A regular for Ajax already, the forward was the youngest player to feature at last summer’s World Cup and left many of the full England internationals on their backsides in a friendly earlier this year. Set for big things.

   

  

  Great Dane: England fans are already familiar with Christian Eriksen after he shone against Fabio Capello's senior side during a friendly in Copenhagen last year

   

   

  Danger rating: 3/5
  The inclusion of Eriksen is a big plus for the hosts they haven’t had it all their own way with club sides. Star defender Simon Kjaer was not released by Wolfsburg, but with home advantage to boost them they could be dark horses for the tournament.

  Squad
  Jonas Lossl (Midtjylland), Nicklas Hojlund (Lyngby), Mikkel Andersen (Reading), Anders Randrup (Brondby), Mads Fenger (Randers) Lasse Nielsen (Aalborg), Mathias Zanka Jorgensen (Copenhagen), Andreas Bjelland (Nordsjaelland), Jesper Juelsgaard (Midtjylland), Nicolai Boilesen (Ajax), Daniel Wass (Brondby), Kasper Povlsen (Aarhus), Mads Albaek (Midtjylland), Mike Jensen (Brondby), Thomas Delaney (Copenhagen), Christian Eriksen (Ajax), Matti Lund Nielsen (Nordsjaelland)' Nicki Bille Nielsen (Villarreal), Nicolai Agger (Brondby), Nicolai Jorgensen (Bayer Leverkusen), Bashkim Kadrii (Odense),Soren Frederiksen (Sonderjyske), Henrik Dalsgaard (Aalborg).

   

   

  Switzerland

  Best performance
  After qualifying for the 2002 competition, Switzerland were chosen to host the tournament but despite progressing through a difficult group containing Italy, Portugal and England, were knocked out by France in the semi-finals.
  

  FIXTURES

  June 11
  Denmark (Aalborg, 7.45pm)
  June 14
  Iceland (Aalborg, 5pm)
  June 18
  Belarus (Aarhus, 7.45pm)

  Manager
  Pierluigi Tami
  In charge since July 2009, Tami has been on the coaching staff of the full Swiss team under the reign of experienced Ottmar Hitzfeld. He doesn’t ask much of his young players only that they play ‘bravely in attack and compact in defence. I ask of my players that they are capable of adapting to variable systems. I want to see 11 people working in attack as well as defence.’ Tough customer.

  Star man
  Xherdan Shaqiri (Basel)
  Has twice run England’s full team ragged in the Euro 2012 qualifiers and will be the creative spark in Switzerland’s midfield. The boy looks good enough to hold down a spot in the full national side so look out for some left-foot wonder whacks from the Basel hot-shot. 
  

  

  Enter Shaqiri: Xherdan Shaqiri starred in Switzerland's recent 2-2 draw with England at Wembley

   

  Danger rating: 2/5
  The future looks bright for Swiss football and Tami is aiming at least for a semi-final spot to secure a place at next summer’s Olympics. Six of the squad have appeared for the full national team and that will provide some valuable experience.

  Squad
  Benjamin Siegrist (Aston Villa), Kevin Fickentscher (Sion), Yann Sommer (Basel), François Affolter (Young Boys), Gaetano Berardi (Brescia), Fabio Daprelà (Brescia), Timm Klose (Thun), Jonathan Rossini (Sassuolo), Philippe Koch (Zurich), Daniel Pavlovic (Grasshopper), Amir Abrashi (Grasshopper), Moreno Costanzo (Young Boys), Frank Feltscher (Bellinzona), Fabian Frei (St Gallen), Xavier Hochstrasser (Padova), Pajtim Kasami (Palermo), Fabian Lustenberger (Hertha Berlin), Xherdan Shaqiri (Basel), Granit Xhaka (Basel), Nassim Ben Khalifa (Nuremberg), Innocent Emeghara (Grasshopper), Mario Gavranovic (Schalke), Admir Mehmedi (Zurich).

   

   

  Iceland

  Best performance
  Just by making it to the last-eight this year is a best-ever performance. Defeated Scotland 4-2 on aggregate in the play-offs after two convincing displays saw them win 2-1 home and away.
  

  FIXTURES

  11 June
  Belarus (Aarhus, 5pm)
  14 June
  Switzerland (Aalborg, 5pm)
  18 June
  Denmark (Aalborg, 7.45pm)

  Manager
  Eyjolfur Sverrisson
  An experienced player, winning the Bundesliga with Stuttgart as well as the Turkish league title with Besiktas. Capped 66 times for his country, this is his second spell in charge of the Under 21s after a failure to lead the full team to Euro 2008 saw him return back to the role he last held in 2005.

   

  Star man
  Gylfi Sigurdsson (Hoffenheim)
  Reading fans will remember the name fondly, Liverpool fans not so much. Sigurdsson was the star of the show as he helped the Championship club famously knock the Reds out of the FA Cup at Anfield in 2010. Has since joined Bundesliga side Hoffenheim where he continues to shine. Five goals in five qualifying games.

   

  

  Royal seal of approval: Former Reading star Gylfi Sigurdsson (R) is the pick of Iceland's promising young bunch

   

  Danger rating: 2/5
  Certainly no push-overs. Iceland have been smashing goals in for fun in the qualifiers, hitting 14 past San Marino and eight past Northern Ireland. Their biggest scalp though was defeating Germany 4-1 who seemed a little lost without the likes of Mesut Ozil and Thomas Muller. Sverrisson’s team at least promise to be entertaining.

  Squad
  Haraldur Bjornsson (Valur), Arnar Darri Petursson (Sonderjyske), Óskar Petursson (Grindavik), Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson (West Ham), Eggert Jonsson (Hearts), Hjortur Valgardsson (Gothenburg), Skuli Jon Fridgeirsson (KR Reykjavik), Jon Gudni Fjoluson (Fram Reykjavik), Elfar Freyr Helgason (Breidablik), Thorarinn Ingi Valdimarsson (Vestmannaeyjar), Bjarni Vidarsson (Mechelen), Birkir Bjarnason (Viking), Andres Mar Johannesson (Fylkir), Johann Gudmundsson (AZ Alkmaar), Gylfi Sigurdsson (Hoffenheim), Gudmundur Kristjansson (Breidablik), Aron Gunnarsson (Coventry City), Almarr Ormarsson (Fram Reykjavík), Rurik Gislason (Odense), Kolbeinn Sigthorsson (AZ Alkmaar), Alfred Finnbogason (Lokeren), Arnor Smarason (Esbjerg), Bjorn Bergmann Sigurdarson (Lillestrom).

  
  

   

  Belarus

  Best performance
  Have reached the finals twice in 2004 and 2009, but it was the former in Germany where they nearly caused a shock. Despite defeating Italy in their first game, a draw to Croatia and defeat to Serbia and Montenegro meant they crashed out of the group in third spot.
  

  FIXTURES
  

  11 June
  Iceland (Aarhus, 5pm)
  14 June
  Denmark (Aarhus, 7.45pm)
  18 June
  Switzerland (Aarhus, 7.45pm)

  Manager
  Georgi Kondratyev
  A Russian international in the 80s, the 51-year-old has remained largely anonymous in his coaching career and the tournament represents a chance for him to showcase his coaching skills he has developed at various clubs in Belarus over the last 13 years. Has been in his current role since 2008.
  

  Star man
  Andrei Voronkov (Kryvbas, on loan from Dynamo Kiev)
  Belarus were rank outsiders as it was before play-off hero Vladimir Yurchenko was ruled out for six months on the eve of the tournament. Goal scoring duties will fall to Voronkov who has full international caps and will need to make his 6ft frame count from set-pieces.
  

  

  Head boy: Andrei Voronkov is Belarus' bright hope

   

  Danger rating: 1/5
  The tournament’s ‘whipping boys’. Kondratyev has stated on his selections: ‘I have chosen the players I trust, the players who were with me in difficult situations and who would never let me down’. No flamboyance here, it’s all-for-one and one-for-all as he aims to build a team strong in spirit and belief…he does not have much else but it can so often prove a potent weapon.

  Squad
  Aleksandr Gutor (BATE), Dmitri Guschenko (Vitebsk), Artyom Gomelko (Lokomotiv Moscow), Oleg Veretilo (Dinamo Minsk), Denis Polyakov (Shakhtyor), Yegor Filipenko (BATE), Sergei Politevich (Dinamo Minsk), Sergei Matveychik (Gomel), Evgeni Savostyanov (Neman Grodno), Yuri Ostroukh (Vedrich), Yuri Ryzhko (Torpedo Zhodino), Vitali Gayduchik (Dinamo Brest), Stanislav Dragun (Dinamo Minsk), Dmitri Baga (BATE), Mikhail Sivakov (Wisla Krakow), Nikita Bukatkin (Naftan Novopolotsk), Pavel Nekhaychik (BATE), Dmitri Rekish (Polonia Warsaw), Mikhail Gordeychuk (BATE), Maksim Skavysh (BATE), Aleksandr Perepechko (Dinamo Minsk), Andrei Voronkov (Kryvbas Kryvyi), Vladimir Khvoshchynski (Dinamo Brest).

   

  GROUP B
  

  England

  Best performance
  Winning the tournament in 1982 against West Germany and retaining it two years later against Spain. Not that it helped the full squad who would not reach the knock-out round of any subsequent European championship on foreign soil until Portugal in 2004.
  

  FIXTURES
  

  12 June
  Spain (Herning, 7.45pm)
  15 June
  Ukraine (Herning, 7.45pm)
  19 June
  Czech Republic (Viborg, 7.45pm)

  Manager
  Stuart Pearce
  A passionate, authoritative England international in his heyday, Pearce has tried to hone his coaching skills since retiring. After leaving his first post as Manchester City manager in 2007, he has taken over the Under 21s full-time and is being groomed to take over the full national side.

  Star man
  Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea)
  Spent the first half-season picking up splinters on the Chelsea bench and the second-half banging in goals like crazy at Bolton. If he can keep that sort of form up, England have a great chance of going one step further than their final defeat to Germany two years ago.

  
  

  

  Leading the charge: Stuart Pearce will rely on Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge for goals

   

  Danger rating: 4/5
  Pearce will be gutted to be without star players Andy Carroll and Jack Wilshere but there is enough talent in the squad to still give England a realistic chance of winning the tournament. With much of the full national side being criticised, this is an opportunity for players to put forward their case for a call-up to Fabio Capello’s squad.

  Squad
  Frank Fielding (Derby), Jason Steele (Middlesbrough), Alex McCarthy (Reading), Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Michael Mancienne (Hamburg), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Kyle Walker (Tottenham), Marc Albrighton (Aston Villa), Jack Cork (Chelsea), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Henri Lansbury (Arsenal), Fabrice Muamba (Bolton), Jack Rodwell (Everton), Danny Rose (Tottenham), Scott Sinclair (Swansea), Nathan Delfouneso (Aston Villa), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United), Connor Wickham (Ipswich).
  

   

  Ukraine

  Best performance
  In their one and only appearance back in 2006, Ukraine made it all the way to the final where they were defeated 3-0 by a Dutch side they had already defeated in the group stages. A certain Klaas-Jan Huntelaar grabbed a brace for Holland.
  

  FIXTURES
  

  12 June
  Czech Republic (Viborg, 5pm)
  15 June
  England (Herning, 7.45pm)
  19 June
  Spain (Herning, 7.45pm)

  Manager
  Pavlo Yakovenko
  After returning in 2008, this is the second time the 46-year-old has been in charge of the Under 21s following a spell between 2002 and 2004. A dynamic player in the mid-80’s, he won the European Cup-winners’ Cup in 1986 with Dynamo Kiev before starring for Russia at the World Cup in Mexico that summer.

  Star man
  Andriy Yarmolenko (Dynamo Kiev)
  A star in Dynamo Kiev’s Europa League run, the 21-year-old can play either as a forward or as a winger where at over 6ft he boats pace, power and trickery. Will be keen to show some of his talent that had Manchester City in a twist earlier this season.
  

  

  Tricky winger: Andriy Yarmolenko (R) will prove a handful for his opponents in Denmark

   

  Danger rating: 3/5
  One of the stronger teams in the tournament but they are in a ridiculously tough group where they will do well just to reach the semi-finals. They have a killer instinct though, gaining revenge for their 2006 final defeat by knocking out Holland on away goals in the play-offs.

  Squad
  Denys Boyko (Dynamo Kiev), Dmytro Nepogodov (Metalurh Donetsk), Anton Kanibolotskiy (Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk), Oleksandr Matvyeyev (Vorskla Poltava), Yaroslav Rakitskiy (Shakhtar Donetsk), Temur Partsvaniya (Dynamo Kiev), Yevhen Selin (Vorskla Poltava), Bohdan Butko (Volyn Lutsk), Serhiy Kryvtsov (Shakhtar Donetsk), Oleksiy Kurilov (Vorskla Poltava), Artem Putivtsev (Metalist Kharkiv), Mykola Morozyuk (Metalurh Donetsk), Vitaliy Vitsenets (Shakhtar Donetsk), Denys Garmash (Dynamo Kiev), Taras Stepanenko (Shakhtar Donetsk), Yevhen Konoplyanka (Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk), Volodymyr Chesnakov (Vorskla Poltava), Valeriy Fedorchuk (Kryvbas Kryvyi), Oleg Golodyuk (Karpaty Lviv), Maxym Biliy (Zorya Luhansk), Andriy Yarmolenko (Dynamo Kiev), Artem Kravets (Dynamo Kiev), Roman Zozulya (Dynamo Kiev).
  

   

  Spain

  Best performance
  Twice winners. The first in 1986 saw them overcome Italy on penalties, while in 1998 they defeated Greece 1-0 in Romania to lift their second title. It’s all gone flat since though with no semi-final appearances going back to 2000.
  

  FIXTURES
  

  12 June
  England (Herning, 7.45pm)
  15 June
  Czech Republic (Viborg, 5pm)
  19 June
  Ukraine (Herning, 7.45pm)

  Manager
  Luis Milla
  Impressive playing CV that includes spending much of his career at Real Madrid sandwiched in between spells at Barcelona and Valencia. After taking charge of the Under 17s and Under 19s, the 45-year-old took the reins of the Under 21s last year and this tournament could provide a big case for him to take control of the full squad in the future.

   

  Star man
  Bojan Krkic (Barcelona)
  His talent is undeniable but he is at the right place at the wrong time in a star-studded Barcelona squad. Can finally step out the shadow of Lionel Messi, David Villa and Pedro to show Europe just what he can do and all of the continent’s top clubs will be monitoring him closely.

   

  

  The boy from Barca: Spain boast the services of Bojan Krkic - rated one of the most talented striker's in Europe

   

   

  Danger rating: 5/5
  The talented Spaniards keep coming through the system like they are on a conveyor belt but they are not as untouchable as the full squad. They remain favourites but they too will be without some stars including Sergio Busquets and Sergio Canales. Milla is already quoted as saying this will be ‘extremely difficult’…but he would say that.

   

  Squad
  David De Gea (Atletico Madrid), Ruben Mino (Barcelona), Diego Marino (Villarreal), Mikel San Jose (Athletic Bilbao), Álvaro Domínguez (Atletico Madrid), Alberto Botía (Sporting Gijon), Martin Montoya (Barcelona) Jose Ángel Valdes (Sporting Gijon), Cesar Azpilicueta (Marseille), Didac Vila Rosello (AC Milan), Victor Ruiz (Napoli), Ander Herrera (Real Zaragoza), Diego Capel (Sevilla), Daniel Parejo (Getafe), Emilio Nsue (Real Mallorca), Thiago Alcantara (Barcelona), Ruben Perez (Deportivo), Javi Martínez (Athletic Bilbao), Bojan Krkic (Barcelona), Adrian (Deportivo), Juan Mata (Valencia), Iker Muniain (Athletic Bilbao), Jeffren (Barcelona).
  

   

  Czech Republic

   

  Best performance
  A stunning performance from Petr Cech ensured Czech Republic held France to a 0-0 draw in the 2002 final before prevailing 3-1 on penalties to record their first championship win in Switzerland. Victory was made even sweeter knowing that their opponents had comfortably beaten them 2-0 in the opening game of the tournament.
  

  FIXTURES
  

  12 June
  Ukraine (Viborg, 5pm)
  15 June
  Spain (Viborg, 5pm)
  19 June
  England (Viborg, 7.45pm)

  Manager
  Jakub Dovalil
  Moved into coaching at the relatively young age of 24, Dovalil has made his way up the Czech coaching system, taking control of the Under 17s, Under 19s and now the Under 21s. He isn’t doing too badly either with eight out of eight wins so far, albeit he missed two of the qualifying games.

  Star man
  Tomas Pekhart (Nuremburg)
  The former Tottenham protege was destined for big things at White Hart Lane until injury hampered his progress and he never played a first-team match. The injury ridden striker finally looks like getting back to his best after signing for Bundesliga side Nuremburg. Top scorer in qualifying with nine goals from just six games.
  

   

  

  Hot spur: Former Tottenham star Tomas Pekhart (L) will play a prominent part in the Czech Republic's hopes for glory

   

  Danger rating: 4/5
  The form team. The only undefeated side in qualifying with just one draw at home to Germany in 10 games. Even the defence keeps strikers under lock and key, conceding a measly four goals in that period – the least of anyone. It seems likely one of England or Spain will be going home in the group stages with their tails between their legs.

  Squad
  Jan Hanus (Slavia Prague), Marek Stech (West Ham), Tomas Vaclik (Viktoria Zizkov), Ondrej Celustka (Slavia Prague), Jan Hosek (Teplice), Jan Lecjaks (Anderlecht), Ondrej Mazuch (Anderlecht), Radim Reznik (Banik Ostrava), Marek Suchy (Spartak Moscow), Lukas Vacha (Slovan Liberec), Milan Cerny (Slavia Prague), Borek Dockal (Slovan Liberec), Marcel Gecov (Slovan Liberec), Adam Hlousek (Kaiserslautern), Tomas Horava (Sigma Olomouc), Jan Kovarik (Jablonec), Lukas Marecek (Anderlecht), Jan Moravek (Kaiserslautern), Jan Chramosta (Mlada Boleslav), Vaclav Kadlec (Sparta Prague), Libor Kozak (Lazio), Tomas Pekhart (Nuremberg), Michael Rabusic (Zbrojovka Brno).

   

   

   

• jonchao72

  11 Jun 11, 21:26

  erm why is phil jones already listed as a united player? :D