Title holders Netherlands will meet Serbia in the final after penalty shoot-out

The Netherlands team have a chance to successfully defend their UEFA U21 European Championship title. The Dutch will meet Serbia in the final in Groningen on Saturday. The Serbs, who defeated Belgium 2-0 (1-0) in the semi-finals in Arnhem, will contest for the title three years after reaching the final in Bochum, Germany. The "Jong Orange" were victorious against England in a dramatic penalty shoot-out thriller in Heerenveen. The tournament hosts emerged winners after 32 penalty shots on goal ended 13-12 in their favour. The score after 120 minutes was 1-1.

England took the lead through Leroy Lita in the 39th minute. One minute from time, and with elimination looming, Maceo Rigters scored the equaliser for the Dutch with a spectacular overhead kick, and so ensured extra time. However, no further goal was managed in the additional 30 minutes. The match, refereed by German Knut Kircher, finally ended when local hero Gianni Zuiverloon of SC Heerenveen netted the winning penalty past goalie Scott Carson. Prior to this, Anton Ferdinand, brother of English international Rio Ferdinand, had hit the bar with his attempt. The Dutch missed three times during the shoot-out, England four. Six players had to take two penalties. The European Football Association, UEFA, recorded that the total of 27 goals in the match set a new record for UEFA competition matches.

"My players are totally devastated. They gave everything, emotionally as well as physically. It was an incredible football evening. This is probably the proudest moment in my career", said English coach Stuart Pearce. His team showed a strong fighting spirit and suffered several injuries. As three players had already been substituted, Steven Taylor had to continue playing throughout extra time despite an injury. When Nedum Onuoha had to leave the pitch with a groin problem, the English were reduced to ten players.

"A penalty shoot-out is always horrible. There is great tension, and that’s bad for the heart", said a relieved Oranje coach Foppe de Haan. "My team produced a great performance. But we played better last year. That’s why we have to do more to win this year", explained the coach who led his team to their first junior title in the summer of 2006, when the Dutch defeated Ukraine 3-0 in the final in Porto after eliminating France 3-2, after extra time, in the semis.

Goals by Aleksandar Kolarov (4th minute) and Dragan Mrdja (87th) against Belgium ensured Serbia’s second final at a UEFA U21 European Championship within three years. At the 2004 tournament in Germany, Serbia, then still competing together with Montenegro, lost 3-0 to Italy. Last year in Portugal, the team was eliminated in the semi-finals, losing 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out after extra time (0-0) to Ukraine. Should coach Miroslav Djukic’s team, which has defeated former UEFA European junior champions Italy and Czech Republic in the group matches, also triumph over the Netherlands in Groningen on Saturday, it would be a deserved ending. The Serbian juniors would then follow in the footsteps of the Yugoslav players who won the first ever UEFA U21 European Championship in 1978.