European Under-21 Championship semi-final previews

Premier League / Editor / 18 June 2007 / Leave a Comment

The UEFA Under-21 European Championships in the Netherlands enters its second week, with four nations still in contention to lift the trophy on Saturday.

The first semi-final kick's off at 5.15pm this Wednesday at the Abe Lenstra stadium in Heerenveen. Host's and current champions Holland take on England for a place in Saturday's final.

England secured their place in the last four after a battling 2-0 victory against Serbia on Sunday evening. The Dutch, winners of Group A, are favourites to retain their title at 2.66 and victory against England will secure them a second successive final. The highly rated hosts are 1.62 to reach the final.

England joined Serbia in the last four with a crucial 2-0 win over the Group B leaders. Stuart Pearce's boys have now shortened to 3.65 to win their first Under 21 Championship since 1984 and are available at 2.3 to reach the final.

Leroy Lita and Matt Derbyshire claimed the all important goals against Serbia. That was Lita's second goal of the competition, placing him second favourite for the top goalscorer of the competition at 3.55. The Reading striker's two goals have made up for his missed penalty and open goal earlier in the tournament. Blackburn's Derbyshire, with one goal in the competition so far, can be backed at 6 to be the top marksman.

Preston North End's in demand striker David Nugent scored two goals in the qualifying campaign and has one goal so far in the final tournament. Nugent can be backed at 4 to be the top goalscorer.

The encounter with Serbia was an eventful one, with Tom Huddlestone receiving his marching orders minutes after coming on as a late second half substitute. The Tottenham midfielder will now miss the semi final with Holland and UEFA may decide to impose a longer ban.

The Netherlands are unbeaten in this competition and having qualified as hosts, they have not lost a competitive fixture since losing to Ukraine in the 2006 Championships. They eventually beat Ukraine 3-0 in last year's final. Only three players who appeared in that match, goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer, midfielder Ismail Aissat and striker Daniel De Ridder, are included in the 2007 squad.

The Dutch secured their semi final place with two wins in the opening two matches, they then drew 2-2 in their final group match against Belgium. Maceo Rigters, claimed his second goal of the competition at the weekend. The NAC Brada striker is having quite an impact on this competition, winning man of the match in Holland's 2-1 defeat of Portugal, and is available at 4 to be the tournament's top goalscorer.

Ryan Babel and Royston Drenthe are the other Dutch youngsters to get off the mark. Ajax striker Babel has plenty of experience and has appeared for the full national team no less than fourteen times, scoring four goals. Babel was a member of the Dutch 2006 World Cup squad and aged only 20, is eligible for this Under 21 tournament. He is considered to be one of Holland's bright young talents and is 6.2 to be the tournament's top goalscorer.

The second semi final will take place in Arnhem between Group B winners Serbia, and Group A runners up Belgium - kick off 7.45pm.

Belgium secured their place in the semi finals with a 70th minute equaliser against Holland in the final group match. The Belgians were heading out of the tournament until left back Sebastien Pocognoli drove home to make it 2-2.

Earlier, striker Kevin Mirallas added to his crucial winning goal against Israel in the previous game, by heading Belgium to an early lead. Mirallas is now favourite to be the tournament's top goalscorer at 3.

Belgium are placed as outsiders to win their first ever Under-21 Championship, available at 6.4. Only Serbia stand in the Belgians way of a first final appearance, and the low country are on offer at 2.06 to reach the final. Belgium qualified by winning all their group games and a convincing 5-2 aggregate win against Bulgaria in the play offs.

Serbia, had already won Group B after their first two games, and unsurprisingly made nine changes to the team for their 2-0 defeat against England. The rested players are certain to return for their semi final encounter and Serbia are favourites to go through at 1.63.

As Serbia-Montenegro, they reached the final in 2004 only to slip to a 3-0 defeat to Italy. They are on offer at 4.9 to go one better this year and win their first European Under 21 trophy.

Serbia clinched their first two games 1-0, with goals from Bosko Jankovic against Czech Republic and Dejan Milovanovic against Italy. With one goal each and one behind the leading goalscorer, the midfielders may appeal for top goalscorer, with 21 available for Jankovic and 20 on offer for Milovanovic.

England qualifying for the semi finals has meant that there will now be one additional match to play in the tournament. Italy and Portugal with contest a fifth-place play-off to qualify for the 2008 Bejing Olympics, as England are not represented in Olympic competition. The fifth place play-off will be played at Nijmegen this Thursday, kick off 7.45 pm.