Spain thrashed Ukraine 5-1 this Wednesday, at the Steaua stadium, in Bucharest (ROM), and qualified for the final of the U21 European Championship, which will be played on Saturday, in Batoumi, Georgia, against England , which beat Israel 3-0.
In this 2023 edition – organized by Georgia and Romania – the Spaniards will seek their fifth title in this tournament, which they last won in 2019.
A Rojita, with a passing game that is his trademark, took advantage of the defensive errors of the Ukrainians to build the victory. Ukraine scored first, but Spanish number 9 Abel Ruiz equalized in the 17th minute and Oihan Sancet made it 2-1 shortly after, in the 24th minute.
🏁!! ☆ ☆
𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗠𝗢𝗦 𝗘𝗡 𝗟𝗔 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗗𝗘 𝗟𝗔 #𝗨𝟮𝟭𝗘𝗨𝗥𝗢!!
Mᴇɴᴜᴅᴏ ᴘᴀʀᴛɪᴅᴏ ʜᴇᴍᴏs ᴠɪᴠɪᴅᴏ ᴇɴ Bᴜᴄᴀʀᴇsᴛ. Esᴛᴏs ᴄʜɪᴄᴏs sᴏɴ ɪɴᴄʀᴇɪ́ʙʟᴇs.… pic.twitter.com/YO3ilAeoTc
— Spanish Soccer Team (@SEFutbol) July 5, 2023
Goalkeeper Arnau Tenas saved his team before the break and in the second half came a rain of Spanish goals through Antonio Blanco (54′), Aimar Oroz (68′) and Sergio Gomez (78′).
Israel, Spain and Ukraine had already secured passage to the Paris 2024 Games by qualifying for the semifinals.
Earlier, England, who have not conceded a goal in five games in the tournament, showed their strength against an unrecognizable Israeli team.
After missing a penalty in the 17th minute, Nottingham Forrest striker Morgan Gibbs-White opened the scoring with a header (42′).
In the second half Cole Palmer, from Manchester City, made it 2-0, taking advantage of a cross from the right (63′). The bid was first disallowed for offside, but ended up being validated by VAR.
England, who dominated the whole game with authority, closed the duel with a beautiful shot from outside the area by Cameron Archer (90′).
Israel, the surprise team of the tournament, did not exist. His main chance came in the 85th minute, with a header from Anan Khalaili.
The many spectators at the Batoumi stadium even witnessed a surprising sequence after the first English goal: for a few minutes the Israelis refused to play, staying in their field without applying any pressure while the English circulated the ball without difficulty.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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