the penalty shootout between Italy Vs Portugal

http://footballocks.net/index.php/294/port...-21-highlights/

Italy U21s snatch Olympic spot

Italy Under-21s sealed a place at the Olympics in Beijing next year after beating Portugal 4-3 on penalties at De Goffert Stadion in Nijmegen.

Both sides failed to reach the semi-finals of the European Championships in Holland but an extra place in China was up for grabs as England had qualified for the last four.

After the teams could not be separated, Manuel Fernandes and Antunes failed to convert their spot-kicks, with Italy scoring four from four attempts.

There was less drama during the 120 minutes of open play.

Giuseppe Rossi fired an early chance over the crossbar when he was found at the near post, before going on a mazy run which Giampaolo Pazzini failed to finish off.

The Manchester United forward was dismissed in the 75th minute for picking up two bookings, the second for dissent after giving away a foul.

Portugal had glorious chances to snatch victory in extra-time but Joao Moutinho had a header deflected wide and Yannick Djalo fired over the crossbar with just the goalkeeper to beat, sending the match to penalties.

Teamtalk

Taylor: Gabby and Bentley messed up

Steven Taylor reckons Gabriel Agbonlahor and David Bentley will be "kicking themselves" after watching the England Under-21s shine in Holland.

Agbonlahor could not be contacted to confirm his call-up while Bentley pulled out to leave Stuart Pearce a man down for the tournament in Holland - but England still came within a minute of reaching the European Championship final.

Bentley cited fatigue as his reason for staying home while Taylor's pride in representing his country meant he refused to leave his team a player short against Holland despite suffering an ankle ligament injury.

The 21-year-old could barely walk but England had used their substitutes and Nedum Onuoha's injury left them down to 10 men, so Taylor carried on.

"There was a lot of pain," he said. "The main thing in my head was that this was the semi-finals of European Championships, there's no way on earth I would walk off that pitch leaving 10 men.

"No chance of that happening. We had used all our subs up. I had to play."

Taylor then became a central figure in the crazy penalty shoot-out, with Holland coach Foppe De Haan storming onto the pitch to tell the referee the limping defender had to take a spot-kick.

"As I walked off, their manager came up to me, shouting to me 'coward' and 'cheat'," Taylor said. "I couldn't believe he called me that.

"I went up and took the penalty, grabbed the ball straight away, and got on with it. There was no better feeling than sticking it in back of net.

"I wish Holland all the best, good luck to them, but there's no way he's going to call me a cheat or a coward. It's not in my character."

Taylor's emotional celebration turned to heartache when Holland eventually won 13-12, but his efforts were acknowledged by senior boss Steve McClaren in the dressing room.

And reward for his show of character is likely to be the Under-21 captaincy if he is not involved in McClaren's full squad.

"After I had the drugs test after the game, he [McClaren] came in afterwards and was really encouraging," said Taylor. "The Under-21s is a great honour, but to play in the senior side would be the icing on the cake, a dream come true."

The epic shoot-out capped an eventful tournament. England started with questions over whether it was worthwhile travelling to Holland but ended up with high praise from McClaren.

"You could see the rest of the lads worked so hard, and stuck together," said Taylor, who is likely to be out for a month now.

"The players who didn't come are probably kicking themselves now, wishing they were involved because we were so close to getting to the final.

"They had their own reasons, it's up to them. But I don't think there's any bigger honour than representing your country. I don't care if it's a friendly game, but especially the European Championship.

"It's the biggest stage, you are playing for England, and you have to express yourself."

Teamtalk

Jong Oranje clinch European crown

Netherlands......4
Bakkal 17 , Babel 60 , Rigters 67 , Bruins 87

Serbia.............1
Mrdja 79

'Foppe'
Cries of "Foppe de Haan" rang round the Euroborg after goals from Otman Bakkal, Ryan Babel, Maceo Rigters and Luigi Bruins ensured victory, though an entertaining game was only made safe after Aleksandar Kolarov had been dismissed for a second bookable offence two minutes past the hour. The scoreline was tough on Serbia, who impressed throughout the competition less than a year after being granted full UEFA membership. But this was the Netherlands' night, and in particular that of De Haan. Before he was appointed coach in 2004 the Netherlands had never won a UEFA competition at youth or U21 level. Now winning has become a habit.

Sense of occasion
After a fortnight of heavy rain, the fiercest downpour was fittingly saved for the final and the ball skimmed quickly off the surface as lightning flashed overhead. A sizeable and vocal Serbian contingent for once gave the home support some competition and the match a sense of occasion an enjoyable tournament merited. The irrepressible Royston Drenthe was soon into the thick of the action. On nine minutes he was booked for a late challenge on Antonio Rukavina, then turned Rigters' cross over the bar. The Netherlands were beginning to edge possession and they went ahead on 17 minutes. Daniël de Ridder, the sole survivor from the side that beat Ukraine in the final last year when he was a substitute, scooped a high ball into Bakkal who held off Rukavina to shoot beyond Damir Kahriman.

Netherlands control
Serbia hit back with Du an Basta and Bo ko Janković creating chances from both wings, but the Netherlands had the clearer openings. On 22 minutes Bakkal wriggled free and crossed to De Ridder who shot over with the goal gaping. FC Groningen defender Arnold Kruiswijk, at his home ground, made light of the absence of injured captain Ron Vlaar as the Netherlands approached half-time in command. Their good work, though, was nearly undone on 35 minutes when Boy Waterman came for and missed Kolarov's right-wing free-kick. Dutch anxiety gave way to relief as the ball bounced back off the post to safety.

Serbia press
Seconds after the restart Waterman made amends. Basta pounced on hesitancy from Erik Pieters and released a quick shot that the sprawling goalkeeper palmed away. Serbia had stepped up a gear and suddenly the Netherlands did not look so assured. De Haan was quickly off the bench, umbrella in hand, to voice his displeasure and his anger rose soon after when De Ridder's loose pass let in Kolarov. He pulled the ball back for Janković who could only shoot tamely at Waterman. Serbia were made to pay for that miss on the hour, De Ridder crossing low into the centre where Babel swept into the net, and their problems were compounded two minutes later when Kolorav was shown a second yellow card for a late challenge on Babel.

Rigters relish
Worse was to come, Rigters rounding Kahriman to score his fourth goal of the competition on 67 minutes. It equalled Klaas Jan Huntelaar's mark last year and ensured he finished as the tournament's leading scorer. Kahriman restored some pride for Serbia when he kept out Babel's 71st-minute penalty and Dragan Mrdja raised spirits further when he headed in with eleven minutes to play. It was nowhere near enough to temper Dutch delight, however, which increased still further when substitute Bruins added the fourth late on.

Hosts Holland retain Under-21 title

Maceo Rigters won the golden boot as Holland Under-21s retained their European Championship crown by crushing 10-man Serbia 4-1 in Groningen.

Rigters scored his fourth goal of the tournament hosted by the Dutch but the damage had already been inflicted by Otman Bakkal and Ryan Babel before the NAC Breda forward edged ahead of Leroy Lita in the goalscoring charts.

After Rigters slotted in his goal, Aleksandar Kolarov was dismissed, Babel had a penalty saved and Dragan Mrdja pulled one back in a one-sided final which meant back-to-back titles for Foppe De Haan's youngsters. Substitute Luigi Bruins completed the scoring with a late tap-in.

Referee Damir Skomina was told to halt the final if there was a repeat of the racist chants that marred Serbia's clash with England earlier in the tournament. Although flares were lit just after the interval, play at Euroborg Stadion went on uninterrupted.

Skomina was kept busy early on with matters on the pitch as tackles flew in on the slick surface, with Roysten Drenthe given a ninth-minute yellow card for clipping Antonio Rukavina.

Drenthe, Holland's player of the tournament, missed a chance at the far post in the opening stages, but Jong Oranje were ahead in the 17th minute.

Daniel De Ridder dribbled in from the right flank and flicked the ball over the Serbia defence, with Bakkal holding off Rukavina and stabbing home.

Bakkal had a chance to double his tally but had an effort saved, while De Ridder sliced a glorious opportunity over when he was found at the far post.

Despite looking good value for their lead, the hosts were given a huge let-off nine minutes from the break when goalkeeper Boy Waterman totally mis-judged a tame free-kick from Kolarov, with the ball rebounding off the upright.

Waterman also missed a corner but Dusko Tosic could not direct his header in.

The Holland goalkeeper made saves after the interval from Dusan Basta and Bosko Jankovic, yet Babel doubled the lead on the hour mark. Serbia failed to clear De Ridder's low cross from the right and Babel steered the ball.

It got worse for Serbia as Kolarov was dismissed for two bookings, the second for sliding in on Babel just after he scored.

Babel set up Rigters to round Damir Kahriman in the 67th minute and finish for his goal, but Kahriman then clawed away Babel's spot-kick.

Mrdja's consolation came from a near-post header with 11 minutes remaining, and Bruins tapped in to complete the scoring.

Teamtalk

season over
should close dis topic

Match highlights from the fianl between Holland Vs Serbia

http://footballocks.net/index.php/306/holl...-21-highlights/