Toulon Tournament
The Tournament of Toulon and Le Festival International de Toulon et du Var espoir is in addition to the U-21 European Championships, the most important football competition in this age group. The tournament is not organized by UEFA competition. It is held annually. With the best team of the best shooter, players and goalkeepers are determined. The games in the southern French region of Var discharged, with the finals taking place in Toulon. Four times the tournament was held with German participation.
History
Back in 1967, the forerunner of this traditional tournament was held for the first time. At that time, but still six club teams. RSC Anderlecht won the final against ŠK Slovan Bratislava 1-0. Former French representative was Olympique Nimes, which reached number three.
Since 1974, the junior teams play (U -20, U -21 or U -23 ) of the various countries about the triumph in this tournament. Former winners were the guests from Poland, who could prevail against the Hungarian selection. After 1974 only started four teams in 1975 increased the number to eight. A year later, the host stood for the first time in the final. But there was terminus against the team from Argentina, which thus also the first non-European winners were. 1977 were the French the cup then for the first time to call their own and secured with a 1-0 victory trophy. The USSR in 1979 was the first team from the Asian continent, who won the tournament in Toulon. The mid to late 80s it abolished the junior selection of Le Bleus six times to the finals and won it five games. Only the Bulgars in 1986 were the French team then Offerings Control and beat them 1-0. At this time the German youth team managed the best ever placement. In 1983 the team finished fourth under the supervision of Berti Vogts. At that time were players like Axel Brummer, Thomas Brunner, Thomas Herbst, Ralf Loose, Alfred Schön and Rüdiger Vollenborn in the squad of the later German A- national team coach selection. In the 1990s, a new over opponents built on. Between 1990 and 1994 the English team reached four playoff appearances and won all comparisons. Only in the final of 1992 stood with Portugal and Yugoslavia, two other teams over. The Portuguese set up by then and won their first title in Toulon. In 1995, as Brazil won the final, a South American dominance loomed until 2002. In addition to the Brazilians triumphed during this time that the teams from Argentina and Colombia for the first time. In 1998, the German team was invited for the second time. Uli Stielike reached with the later internationals Robert Enke, Frank Fahrenhorst and Ingo Hertzsch but only a disappointing seventh place. Already in 2002, came the next invitation, but this time managed the then coach Hannes Löhr no success. However, players like Thomas Hitzlsperger and Benjamin Lauth contributed to the achievement of fifth place. Since 2004 the French are regaining strength and won four consecutive competition. Italy only in 2008 broke the winning streak of the host. At the last tournament with German participation in 2007 was for the troops by then- coach Dieter Eilts already after the first round with just a point and a goal difference of 2:6 circuit. Patrick Ebert and Ashkan Dejagah were the only two scorers for the U -21- DFB. Finals with German participation so far failed to materialize.
Honors
Only Rainer Ernst, the team of the German Democratic Republic, was elected in 1982 as the best player. Other future stars like the outfield Didier Deschamps, Jean -Pierre Papin, Alan Shearer, Rui Costa, Thierry Henry, Juan Román Riquelme and the goalkeeper Taffarel, Grégory Coupet showed in this junior tournament already their skills and were honored. The players Gérard Soler, Alan Shearer, Rui Costa, Florian Maurice, Thierry Henry, Tressor Moreno and Kevin Gameiro were the only previous, both the trophy for the top scorer, as well as the best players received. The goalkeeper Boris Manolkov, Nuno Santos and Fabio were the only previous participants who were able to defend their title as the best player or goalkeeper in the coming years.
Game rules
Playing time is twice 40 minutes. The half -time break is only ten instead of 15 minutes. Is it after the regular season is still a tie, it goes straight to a penalty shoot-out, and not only into overtime. Otherwise, it is played with the official rules of world football governing body FIFA.