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UEFA YOUTHS’ SHOWDOWN AS ENGLAND FACE THE NETHERLANDS

Published: 19-05-2014 16:45
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Wednesday’s UEFA 2014 Under 17 final at Ta’ Qali National Stadium should be a mouth-watering climax to an event that has captured the imagination of millions of followers from the old continent, mostly courtesy of Eurosport through which all the matches have been broadcast live on TV.  Malta’s organisation of the whole event was indeed commendable and UEFA should be very satisfied that our small country did an extremely good job. The last primadonnas on the big stage of European youth football are well-established names, England and the Netherlands, two nations that have been in the forefront as exponents of the game. Both teams have shown that their place in the final is deserved, not the least for the quality of football they put up. Their articulate teamwork was evident throughout, with solid defensive set-ups and an attacking edge which was the envy of the other finalists. Indeed, Malta had the distinction of netting two goals against the Dutch and that in itself is an accolade for our boys despite not being able to match the class of our opponents in the three matches we played. The final will be an attraction and it will be very difficult to predict the outcome. The Netherlands’ 2-0 victory over England in the group match should be put into a proper perspective given that both teams had already obtained qualification. The teams have players of quality in their ranks, some of whom will certainly be household names in European and world football in the next few years. The Maltese and the overseas guests from the countries representing the finalists, as well as millions who will follow the match on the television screen, will no doubt be able to enjoy excellent football in this epilogue of the Euro Under 17 finals.