The record European champions Spain and Italy started the U21 European Championships in Slovakia with arduous favorite victories.
Spain was 3-2 (2-0) down on Wednesday evening at the tournament kick -off, then Italy also won 1-0 (1-0) against Romania. Both nations have won the European Championships five times so far, in group A the top teams are now tied.
In Group C, the favorites neutralized each other. France and Portugal separated 0-0, the duel between Poland and Georgia ended 1: 1 (0: 0). The German selection will start its start in Group B on Thursday (9:00 p.m./SAT.1) in Nitra against Slovenia. Afterwards, the team of DFB coach Antonio di Salvo is still against the Czech Republic (June 15) and defending champion England (June 18).
Spain started strongly, took the lead through Marc Pubill (16th) and Mateo Joseph (18th) with a double strike. Slovakia, with Holstein Kiel’s defender Dominik Javoryk in the starting eleven, also came back in a short time after the break. Samuel Kopasek (48th) and Tomas Suslov (53.) equalized the game with a penalty, Cesar Tarrega (90th) still ensured the successful start of the Spaniards shortly before the end.
Tel plays draw with France
Italy only hit Romania through the goal of Tommaso Baldanzi (25th), but the duel between France and Portugal was one with plenty of Bundesliga participation. Castello Lukeba (RB Leipzig), Chrislain Matsima (FC Augsburg) and Kiliann Sildillia (SC Freiburg) ran in the French chain of four from the start, also Bavaria Munich Mathys Tel, borrowed to Tottenham Hotspur. Tiago Tomás from VfL Wolfsburg stormed for the Portuguese.
Video: Wanner and Co. have “Bock” on the U21 European Championship
The two best teams from the four groups of four reach the quarter -finals of the EM. The final will increase in the capital Bratislava on June 28th.