Spain start their U17 Euro title defence with a win after first round of games

Sunday 06 May 2018
Spain lifted the European U17 Championship trophy in 2017, beating England in the final on penalties

Defending champions Spain made a winning start to their European U17 Championship campaign with a 1-0 win over Serbia in Burton. 

Both sides had chances in a tight game, but captain Eric García Martret made the difference with a header on 68 minutes after Lazar Slavkovic had made a superb save to deny Ismael del Alamo earlier on. 

Spain had their goalkeeper, Arnau Tenas to thank for a good save late on and ensure an opening game win. 

UEFA European U17 Championship
  • Group Stages
  • 4-5 May 2018
  • By Alex Marrow

 

The other game in Group D saw the Netherlands cruise to a comfortable 3-0 win over Germany in Walsall thanks to two goals from Daishawn Redan and one from Crysencio Summerville.

The Dutch take on Spain on Tuesday in what looks set to be a battle for top spot in the group. 

The hosts also enjoyed a positive start as Matthew Daly finished off a flowing England move to secure a 2-1 win over Israel

Thomas Doyle and Dan Lugassy traded first-half penalties and Israel kept England at bay until the 61st minute in Chesterfield. 

Elsewhere in Group A, England’s next opponents, Italy, beat Switzerland 2-0 in Burton, with goals from Jean Freddi Pascal Greco and Edoardo Vergani.

The game of the round came at Loughborough, where Bosnia and Herzegovina came from behind to beat Denmark 3-2, Nemanja Nikolic scoring the winner four minutes from time. 

Nikolas Dyhr had given the Danes the lead at half time and they looked very comfortable, but Bosnia and Herzegovina hit back through Malik Memisevic on 47 minutes.

An Andreas Kirkeby penalty on 71 minutes looked like Denmark had done enough to win, but Memisevic popped up to equalise again, before substitute Nikolic smashed home the winner.

Nikolic said: “It’s my pleasure to be here and I’d like to thank my teammates and everyone in Bosnia and Herzegovina – this is for them. 

“I was nervous coming on, it was really hard to watch my teammates struggle, but I was able to give my best.” 

Belgium joined Bosnia in winning their opener, with Sekou Sidibe finding the net on his 17th birthday as they defeated Ireland 2-0. 

Yorbe Vertessen added a second to send the Belgians top of Group C ahead of their clash with Bosnia and Herzegovina in Rotherham on Tuesday. 

And in Group B, Fredrik Hammar and Benjamin Nygren scored to give Sweden a 2-0 win against Slovenia, while Portugal and Norway played out a 0-0 draw. 

By FA Staff