Football Bet of the Day: Spain to be kings of Europe again?

We’ve got an international final to look forward to on Thursday night as the Under-19 European Championship comes to a close. Spain U19 will face off against the Netherlands U19 (19:00 BST) in Bucharest looking to defend the crown they won this time last year in Northern Ireland. 

Below you can find my selection for this key final, which acts as Thursday’s Football Bet of the Day. 

I’m going to back Spain U19 to retain their title in Romania, even though I believe this final looks incredibly well-matched. Spain have been the dominant force at this age bracket for the past two decades - in fact, they have won a ridiculous nine titles since this format was reclassified in 2001/02, with the next most successful team being France with three wins to their name.  

They are looking to defend their title for the third time, having also done so in 2007 and 2012, and they are facing a Dutch team in their first Under-19 final. Netherlands manager Peter van der Veen did win the 2019 Euros with the U17s however, and could be a future manager of the first team if he keeps up this rate of success. 

We have to begin by talking about Spain’s chaotic semi-final with Germany, which genuinely goes down as one of the craziest football matches of all time. The Spaniards went a goal down and missed a penalty before Pablo Garcia scored direct from a corner on the hour mark, before falling behind again in the final 10 minutes. 

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Garcia struck again in injury time to level it at 2-2, before scoring his hat-trick in the 94th minute to seemingly win the game for Spain. However, a shocking own goal in the dying second sent the game to extra time. One goal apiece in the first half of that extra 30 minutes made it 4-4, before Germany’s Max Moerstedt completed a hat-trick of his own to put Germany 5-4 in front. Still with me? Because Spain weren't dead yet. 

Barcelona’s Jan Virgili came off the bench to score the equaliser, before setting up that man Garcia, who rounded the goalkeeper to score his fourth, and Spain’s sixth of a crazy afternoon. Having also scored five past Montenegro and three past Romania in his competition, goalscoring is no issue for Spain and I believe that will carry them to the title. 

Spain U19 vs Netherlands U19 Odds

They’ve won all four matches at this finals tournament, while captain and goalkeeper, Raul Jimenez started last year’s final and that winning experience could be crucial. Given the strength of their attack and the shoddiness of their defence against the Germans, I will back them to concede against the Netherlands, who have also won four out of four.

This should be a belting final, and you aren’t going to want to miss it, but I do think Spain’s experience, and the way they reached this final will just about give them the edge. Last summer the senior team were crowned kings of the continent - this time the U19s are looking just as strong. 

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