Time to kick off – at last!

Newsletter
No. 6 – June 2009
Time to kick off – at last!
T
he first thing we want to say is – welcome!
After almost two years of planning and
preparing, at last it is time for the 2009
UEFA European Under-21
Championship to begin. We
are delighted to have players,
officials, media and spectators from across Europe
as our guests here, and
we are looking forward to
enjoying bright June days
and exciting football in your
company.
Any visitor to the four
host cities will not be able
to miss that south-western
Sweden is where Europe’s
premier international
football tournament this
year is being held. Göteborg, Halmstad, Helsingborg and Malmö have
been draped in flags
and banners promoting the tournament.
All cities also offer funfilled Fan Zones, with
games, music, food,
drinks – and of course
live matches on giant
screens.
We have always
hoped for and
worked towards
large crowds attending the matches, but
even we have been bowled over by
the response from football fans. A week before a ball has
been kicked, 144,000 tickets were already sold. Clearly,
we are well on our way of reaching another milestone
of a total tournament attendance of 150,000. Even on
Midsummer’s Eve, Sweden-Italy in Helsingborg is nearly
sold out. A remarkable achievement for a holiday steeped
in Swedish tradition, when most people flee the cities to
spend time with friends and family. Apparently, quite a lot
of people will take their loved ones
to watch live football this year.
The start of the tournament
does not mean that work ends
for us organisers. It does however mean that the players take
centre-stage. In promoting the
tournament we have used the
slogan “Stars of today, superstars of tomorrow”. The coming weeks in Sweden will be
remembered for a long time
by football fans as the time
that they first saw the players
sure to dominate European
football for many years to
come.
All teams have now
finalised their squads
(presented on pages 2
and 3 of this Newsletter) and also completed
their preparations. So
get ready for fifteen actionpacked matches on the way
to the final in Malmö on 29
June. We find it impossible
to guess who will lift the
winners’ trophy, but we are
certain that the journey
will be an enjoyable one.
See you at the matches!
Björn Ahlberg
Chairman, Org. Committee
Swedish FA
Karl-Erik Nilsson
Tournament director
Swedish FA
All the squads for the UEFA European
GROUP A
BELARUS
Serbia
Goalkeepers: 1. Željko
Brkić (FK Vojvodina),
12. Bojan Šaranov (OFK
Beograd), 23. Živko
Živković (FK Metalac).
Defenders: 2. Marko
Jovanović (FK Partizan), 5. Nikola Petković
(Eintracht Frankfurt), 13. Ivan Obradović (FK
Partizan), 14. Nenad Tomović (FK Crvena
Zvezda), 15. Nemanja Pejčinović (FK Crvena
Zvezda), 16. Jagoš Vuković (FK Rad), 19. Rajko Brežančić (FK Partizan), 21. Milan Vilotić
(FK Čukarički).
Midfielders: 3. Ljubomir Fejsa (FK Partizan),
4. Gojko Kačar (Hertha BSC Berlin), 6. Nikola
Gulan (ACF Fiorentina), 7. Milan Smiljanić
(RCD Espanyol), 11. Zoran Tošić (Manchester United FC), 17. Nemanja Matić (MFK
Košice), 18. Marko Milinković (MFK Košice),
20. Dušan Tadić (FK Vojvodina), 22. Ne­ma­n­
ja Tomić (FK Partizan).
Forwards: 8. Rade Veljović (CFR 1907 Cluj),
9. Filip Dordević (FC Nantes), 10. Miralem
Sulejmani (AFC Ajax).
SWEDEN
telli, Italy.
Anton Putilo, Bela
rus.
Goalkeepers: 1. Johan
Dahlin (FC Lyn Oslo), 12. Pär
Hansson (Helsingborgs IF),
23. Kristoffer Nordfeldt (IF
Brommapojkarna).
Defenders: 2. Mikael Lustig
(Rosenborg BK), 3. Mattias
Bjärsmyr (IFK Göteborg), 4. Rasmus Bengtsson (Trelleborgs FF), 5. Emil Johansson
(Hammarby IF), 6. Per Karlsson (AIK),
17. Martin Olsson (Blackburn Rovers FC),
22. Joel Ekstrand (Helsingborgs IF).
Midfielders: 8. Andreas Landgren (Helsingborgs IF), 11. Robin Söder (IFK Göteborg),
13. Gustav Svensson (IFK Göteborg),
14. Guillermo Molins (Malmö FF), 15. Labinot Harbuzi (Malmö FF), 16. Pierre Bengtsson (AIK), 18. Rasmus Elm (Kalmar FF),
20. Emir Bajrami (IF Elfsborg), 21. Gabriel
Özkan (AIK).
Forwards: 7. Ola Toivonen (PSV Eindhoven), 9. Marcus Berg (FC Groningen), 10.
Denni Avdic (IF Elfsborg), 19. Pontus Wernbloom (IFK Göteborg).
Marcus Berg
, sweden.
ITALY
Goalkeepers: 1. Andrea
Consigli (Atalanta BC),
12. Salvatore Sirigu (Ancona Calcio) 22. Andrea
Seculin (ACF Fiorentina).
Defenders: 2. Marco Motta
(AS Roma), 3. Marco Andreolli (US Sassuolo Calcio), 4. Domenico Criscito (Genoa CFC), 6. Lino Marzoratti (Empoli FC), 11. Paolo De Ceglie (Juventus),
13. Andrea Ranocchia (AS Bari), 14. Francesco Pisano (Cagliari Calcio), 15. Salvatore
Bocchetti (Genoa CFC).
Midfielders: 5. Piermario Morosini (Vicenza Calcio), 7. Ignazio Abate (Torino FC), 8.
Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), 16. Antonio
Candreva (AS Livorno Calcio), 17. Andrea
Poli (US Sassuolo Calcio), 18. Alessio Cerci
(Atalanta BC), 21. Luca Cigarini (Atalanta
BC), 23. Daniele Dessena (UC Sampdoria).
Forwards: 9. Robert Acquafresca (Cagliari
Calcio), 10. Sebastian Giovinco (Juventus),
19. Alberto Paloschi (Parma FC), 20. Mario
Balotelli (FC Internazionale Milano).
Mario Balo
Goalkeepers: 1.
Pavel Chesnovski
(FC Vitebsk), 12.
Artyom Gomelko
(FC Lokomotiv
Moskva), 22. Anton Kovalevski (FC Naftan
Novopolotsk).
Defenders: 2. Nikolai Osipovich (FC MTZRIPO Minsk), 3. Aleksandr Martynovich (FC
Dinamo Minsk), 4. Igor Shitov (FC BATE
Borisov), 5. Maksim Bordachov (FC BATE
Borisov), 16. Oleg Veretilo (FC Dinamo
Minsk), 18. Dmitri Verkhovtsov (FC Naftan
Novopolotsk), 19. Aleksei Yanushkevich (FC
Shakhtyor Soligorsk).
Midfielders: 6. Sergei Balanovich (FC
Shakhtyor Soligorsk), 7. Sergei Kryvets
(FC BATE Borisov), 8. Aleksandr Volodko
(FC BATE Borisov), 11. Mikhail Afanasiev
(FC Amkar Perm), 13. Aleksandr Sachivko
(FC Minsk), 14. Anton Putilo (FC Dinamo
Minsk), 15. Sergei Kislyak (FC Dinamo
Minsk), 17. Sergei Gigevich (FC Dinamo
Minsk), 21. Mikhail Sivakov (Cagliari
Calcio), 23. Andrei Chukhlei (FC Dinamo
Minsk).
Forwards: 9. Leonid Kovel (FC Saturn
Moskovskaya Oblast), 10. Dmitri Komarovski (FC Naftan Novopolotsk), 20. Vladimir Yurchenko (FC Saturn Moskovskaya
Oblast).
n Under-21 Championship in Sweden
GROUP B
ENGLAND
, Spain.
Bojan Krkić
Theo Walcott,
England.
Goalkeepers: 1. Joe Hart
(Manchester City FC),
13. Joe Lewis (Peterborough United FC), 22. Scott
Loach (Watford FC).
Defenders: 2. Martin Cranie (Portsmouth FC), 3. Andrew Taylor (Middlesbrough FC), 5. Richard
Stearman (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC),
), 6. Nedum Onuoha (Manchester City FC),
16. James Tomkins (West Ham United FC),
17. Micah Richards (Manchester City FC),
18. Michael Mancienne (Chelsea FC), 19.
Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal FC).
Midfielders: 4. Lee Cattermole (Wigan
Athletic FC), 7. James Milner (Aston Villa
FC), 8. Craig Gardner (Aston Villa FC),
10. Mark Noble (West Ham United FC),
11. Adam Johnson (Middlesbrough FC),
12. Fabrice Muamba (Bolton Wanderers
FC), 15. Jack Rodwell (Everton FC), 20. Andrew Driver (Heart of Midlothian FC),
23. Daniel Rose (Tottenham Hotspur FC)
Forwards: 9. Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston
Villa FC), 14. Theo Walcott (Arsenal FC),
21. Frazier Campbell (Manchester United
FC).
FINLAND
a
Marko M
any.
rin, Germ
Goalkeepers: 1. Anssi
Jaakkola (AC Siena),
12. Jon Masalin (HamKam),
23. Jukka Lehtovaara (FC
TPS Turku).
Defenders: 2. Ville Jalasto
(Aalesunds FK), 3. Jukka
Raitala (HJK Helsinki), 4. Jonas Portin (FF
Jaro), 5. Tuomo Turunen (FC Honka Espoo),
13. Pyry Kärkkäinen (HJK Helsinki), 14. Jo­
ni Aho (FC International Turku), 21. Petri
Viljanen (FC Haka), 22. Joona Toivio (AZ
Alkmaar).
Midfielders: 6. Tim Sparv (Halmstads BK),
7. Kasper Hämäläinen (FC TPS Turku),
8. Per­parim Hetemaj (AEK Athens FC),
10. Nicholas Otaru, (FC Honka Espoo),
15. Ilari Äijälä (MyPA-47), 16. Mehmet
Hetemaj (Panionios GSS), 17. Juha Hakola
(Heracles Almelo), 18. Jussi Vasara (FC
Honka Espoo).
Forwards: 9. Berat Sadik (DSC Arminia
Bielefeld), 11. Jarno Parikka (HJK Helsinki),
19. Aleksandr Kokko (FC Honka Espoo), 20.
Teemu Pukki (Sevilla FC).
GERMANY
Goalkeepers: 1. Manuel Neuer (FC Schalke
04), 12. Florian Fromlowitz (Hannover 96),
23. Tobias Sippel (1. FC
Kaiserslautern).
Defenders: 2. Andreas Beck (TSG 1899
Hoffenheim), 3. Sebastian Boenisch
(Werder Bremen), 4. Benedikt Höwedes
(FC Schalke 04), 5. Jerome Boateng (Hamburger SV), ,6. Dennis Aogo (Hamburger
SV), 15. Mats Hummels (BV Borussia Dortmund), 16. Daniel Schwaab (SC Freiburg),
21. Marcel Schmelzer (BV Borussia Dortmund).
Midfielders: 7. Patrick Ebert (Hertha BSC
Berlin), 8. Sami Khedira (VfB Stuttgart), 10.
Mesut Özil (Werder Bremen), 14. Fabian
Johnson (TSV 1860 München), 17. Dennis
Grote (VfL Bochum 1848), 18. Daniel Adlung (VfL Wolfsburg), 19. Änis Ben-Hatira
(MSV Duisburg), 20. Gonzalo Castro (Bayer
04 Leverkusen),
Forwards: 9. Ashkan Dejagah (VfL Wolfsburg), 22. Chinedu Ede (MSV Duisburg), 13.
Sandro Wagner (MSV Duisburg), 11. Marko
Marin (VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach).
SPAIN
Goalkeepers: 1. Roberto Jiménez (RC
Recreativo de Huelva),
13. Sergio Asenjo
(Real Valladolid CF),
23. Antonio Adán
(Real Madrid CF).
Defenders: 2. Miguel Torres (Real Madrid
CF), 3. Nacho Monreal (CA Osasuna),
5. Marc Torrejón (RCD Espanyol), 12. César
Azpilicueta (CA Osasuna), 14. Sergio Sánchez (RCD Espanyol), 15. Chico (UD Almería), 16. Iván Marcano (Real Racing Club).
Midfielders: 4. Javi García (Real Madrid
CF), 6. Javi Martínez (Athletic Club Bilbao),
7. Sisi (RC Recreativo de Huelva), 8. Raúl
García (Club Atlético de Madrid), 10. José
Manuel Jurado (RCD Mallorca), 11. Esteban
Granero (Getafe CF), 17. Diego Capel (Sevilla FC), 18. Mario Suárez (RCD Mallorca),
22. Pedro León (Real Racing Club).
Forwards: 9. Bojan Krkić (FC Barcelona),
19. Xisco (Newcastle United FC), 20. Jonathan Pereira (Real Racing Club), 21. Adrián
López (Málaga CF).
THREE PROMINENT VOICES
about the UEFA European
under-21 Championship
The first UEFA European Under-21 Championship was won by Yugoslavia in 1978, followed
by the Soviet Union two years later. Since then,
Europe has changed – and so has the tournament. How do different federations approach
the tournament? Here are some prominent
voices.
S
weden missed out on the past two final
tournaments, but made it to the semi-final stage in 2004. Lars Richt is Head of the
Swedish national teams.
”The Under-21 Euros have grown both in
terms of media attention and status since
UEFA decided to stage the final tournament
during odd-numbered years. Previously, the
Under-21 teams could suffer from losing
players to a senior championship the same
summer. This year, Spain and Italy can be affected due to the
Confederations Cup, but all others can bring their best teams.
The aim for the Swedish Under-21 team is the same as for the
seniors – to win.”
T
revor Brooking is Director of Football
Development at the English FA. Twotime champions England were knocked out
in the semis two years ago, after an epic
penalty shoot-out against the Netherlands.
“For potential senior players it is crucial to
experience tournament football and see how
they cope. During tournaments, matches
come in quick succession and many queries about players and
their potential become clearer: Who travels well? Who reacts
badly to being on the substitute bench? Who is a good ‘impact
player’ off the bench? The Under-21s in Sweden could help us
identify one or two players worthy considering for FIFA World
Cup 2010, if hopefully we qualify for South Africa. In this age
group, the object of winning becomes a definite factor. The
earlier years of U17 and U19 place more emphasis on the development stage, and now players need to add that competitive edge.”
N
o European nation wins more titles
than Italy – World Cups and Under-21
titles. Italy coach Pierluigi Casiraghi is in
Sweden to live up to a winning tradition
this summer.
“The UEFA European Under-21 Championship has always been important in Italy. In the
group of 23 players who won the World Cup
in 2006, most had played for the Under-21s.
The focus on winning is part of Italian sports
culture. It’s something you learn as a young child. Results are
as important as technical and tactical development. Being the
Under-21 coach requires passion. Just training the guys on the
pitch is not enough, you have to help them grow even outside
the pitch for them to become great players.”
the most successful nations in the uefa
european under-21
championship
Italy – 5 titles
England, Netherlands,
Spain, USSR – 2 titles.
The Netherlands won the
UEFA Under-21 Championship both 2006 and 2007.
Match Schedule –UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2009
GROUP A
Malmö
Tuesday 16/6 Sweden–Belarus
18.15
Friday 19/6 Belarus–Serbia
18.15
Tuesday 23/6 Serbia–Sweden
20.45
Friday 26/6
Monday 29/6 FINAL
20.45
Helsingborg
Italy–Serbia
Sweden–Italy
Belarus–Italy
SEMI-FINAL
20.45
16.00
20.45
20.45
GROUP B
Göteborg
Halmstad
Monday 15/6
Thursday 18/6
Monday 22/6
Friday 26/6
Spain–Germany
Spain–England
Finland–Spain
SEMI-FINAL
England–Finland 18.15
Germany–Finland 18.15
Germany–England 20.45
20.45
20.45
20.45
18.00