Dutch juniors retain European title - Italy to the Olympics

Twelve months after their first ever triumph at a UEFA U21 European Championship, the junior team of the Netherlands successfully defended their title in Groningen on Saturday. The "Jong Oranje" defeated Serbia's junior selection 4-1 (1-0) in the final. Otman Bakkal (17th minute), Ryan Babel (60th), Maceo Rigters (67th) and Luigi Bruins (87th) scored the goals for the hosts. Eleven minutes from time Dragan Mrdja scored for the Serbs who were reduced to just ten players after 60 minutes when Aleksandar Kolarov was sent off after a yellow-red card. The Dutch particularly celebrated their coach Foppe de Haan who led the team to their second European title after last year's success at the UEFA U21 European Championship in Portugal.

The Netherlands, Serbia, Belgium and Italy will take part in the Olympic football tournament next year in China as representatives of the European Football Association, UEFA. The Italians qualified for the Olympics by defeating Portugal 4-3 in the penalty shoot-out in Nijmegen on Thursday. The score after 120 minutes in this play-off game for the qualification for the 2008 Olympic Summer Games was 0-0. This play-off match was necessary since England had reached the semi-finals. The English do not compete in the Olympics because only all-British teams are allowed in the team sport events.