Spain national under-21 football team
The Spanish U-21 national football team is a national team of Spanish football player. It is subject to the Real Federación Española de Fútbol and represents him on the U-21 level, in friendly matches against the national teams of other national associations, but also at the European Championships of the continental federation UEFA and the Football World Cup FIFA. Be eligible, players who have not yet completed their 21 years and have Spanish nationality. In tournaments, the age at first qualifier is relevant.
European Championships
1980-1986: Development under Luis Suárez Miramontes
To date, the Spanish U- 21 team has qualified nine times for the European Championship finals. Five times the team stood in the final of the competition, where they decided for themselves could this twice. The first title there was in 1986 in the game against Italy. After it had stood by return match 3-3, penalty kicks had to decide. This won the Spaniards 3-1.
Gate
Defense
Juan Carlos Ablanedo
Jesús Solana Manuel Sanchis Hontiyuelo Genar Andrinúa Quique Sánchez Flores Juan Carlos Rodríguez
Midfield
Storm
Eusebio Sacristán Ramón Calderé Roberto Fernández Bonillo Eugenio Bustingorri Francisco Llorente Gento Miguel Pardeza Gabino Rodríguez Rodríguez Txetxu Gallego
Michel Pineda Eloy Olaya Ramón Vázquez García
- In parentheses matches and goals (S / T)
1982 abolished the Spanish U- 21 team for the first time to participate in the European Championship. In the preliminary round Group 8, the Iberians had to deal with the teams of the Netherlands and Luxembourg. After two wins in return games, the team qualified for the quarterfinals sure where they met Germany. After a 1-0 first-leg win the Spaniards failed in the second match 0-2 and dropped out.
1988-1998: Repeated participation in the European Championships and second title win
In the final of the European Championship trophy in 1998 we faced the team of Greece and was able to prevail 1-0. During the tournament later top players like Guti, Michel Salgado, Juan Carlos Valeron and Roger García Junyent could make in the limelight. The decisive goal in the final game scored Iván Pérez Muñoz.
Gate
Defense
Francesc Arnau Esteban Suárez
Míchel Salgado Aitor López Rekarte José Antonio García Calvo Luis Carlos Cuartero Ballesteros
Midfield
Storm
Josico Felipe Guréndez Roger Ito Juan Carlos Valeron Guti Víctor José Félix Guerrero Benjamín Zarandona Marcos Vales
Iván Pérez Muñoz Miguel Ángel Angulo Salva Ballesta
- In parentheses matches and goals (S / T)
1998-2009: Development in the New Millennium
In qualifying for the 2006 European Championship, the Spaniards were dissolved together with Belgium, Serbia, Bosnia - Herzegovina, Lithuania and San Marino in Group 7. Here are the Southern Europeans were considered favorites to progress to the final round. After a good start in the first game, there were in the two subsequent games against Lithuania and Belgium a setback and the Spanish junior came as no two draws out. On February 8, 2005 against San Marino, they underwent a 14-0 victory over the disappointment of the previous point loss away again. It was the largest margin of victory in the history of the U-21 national team. However, this euphoria did not last long after had to be plugged in the first defeat on Matchday 5 of the quality. With 0:1, the Spaniards left against Serbia the place as losers. The team then launched a series of three consecutive victories and established himself in the top field of the table. By a further defeat on 7 October 2005 against the Belgian team, the team was three days later, on the final day of qualification, dependent on assistance from Lithuania shooters who played against Serbia, and Bosnia - Herzegovina, against Belgium to still one of the first places that qualify for finals appearance to achieve. However, neither Serbia nor the Belgians gave themselves nakedness and won their games.
Since the next European Championship not only the usual two years later, but in 2007 took place after the 2006 European Championships, the appropriate qualification was played in a summary trial. Starting with a preliminary round, over a short group stage with three teams and the play-off games. Spain needed only to go into the group stage. The team teams from Albania and Slovakia still be drawn. There was only one game against each team, so that the teams away and once had home advantage once each. Both matches survived the Spaniards without much effort. In the next round, however, one difference against Italy after a 0:0 and a 1:2 on home turf from.
After five missed qualifications, it should work again for the European Championship 2009. By luck of the draw, the Spaniards received an easy group and won all eight matches in the qualifying and attracted by it to drop a point in the play- off round one. Only two goals conceded the team there. In the second round the Switzerland were the opponents. After a 1-2 defeat on October 11, 2008 the team was in the second leg in a tight spot. They picked on the result and it was 2-1 after 90 minutes for Southern Europeans. For this reason, the extension had to decide. This decided the Spaniards for himself and moved to nine years back in the finals of the U-21 European Championship. There, the team ultimately failed in the preliminary round at the two later finalists England and Germany and retired as the third in Group B of the tournament.
2010 to present: Current Development
Two years later, the team took part in the European Championships in Denmark. Without a defeat, the team became the first in their group and moved as one in the semi-finals of the competition where they met the Belarusian team. After they went out at the first -half lead, Adrián López Álvarez equalized in the 89th minute only, brought his team so into overtime, where they eventually prevailed 3-1. In the final match the team of coach Luis Milla then played against Switzerland. This game decided the Spaniards 2-0 for themselves and were thus first time since 1998 to win the trophy. In addition, Thiago Alcántara was named the best player of the final match.
Gate
Defense
David de Gea (5/ 0) Diego Mariño (0/ 0) Rubén Miño (0/ 0)
Alberto Botía (5/ 0) Álvaro Domínguez Soto (5/ 0) Mikel San José (0/ 0) Víctor Ruiz Torre (0/ 0) Dídac Vilà (5/ 0) José Ángel Valdés (0/ 0) Martín Montoya (5/ 0)
Midfield
Storm
César Azpilicueta (1/ 0) Daniel Parejo (4/ 0) Diego Capel ( 4/ 0) Javi Martínez ( 5/ 0) Juan Mata ( 5/2) Thiago Alcántara ( 5/1) Rubén Pérez del Marmol (0/ 0)
Bojan Krkić (3/ 0) Jeffrén Suárez ( 3/1) Adrián López Álvarez (5/ 5) Ander Herrera (5/2 ) Emilio Nsue (1/ 0) Iker Muniain (4/ 0)
- In parentheses matches and goals (S / T) during the European
With Adrián López Álvarez, the Spaniards also introduced the best attacker of the tournament. The striker scored five goals, thus securing the award of the Golden Boot.
Participation in U-21 European Championships
Note: Between 1978 and 1992, the final was a U- 21 Championship not played in a country, but completed by return games in the participating nations.
Former player and well-known
(Selection)
- Ignacio Camacho Barnola
- Daniel Jarque
- Javi Martínez
- Fran Mérida
- Sergio Ramos
- Jonathan Soriano
- Fernando Torres
- Andrés Iniesta