Holders Spain don reach semi-final of UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship again, and dem go face Sweden for Zenica on Tuesday. Germany go meet Austria for Sarajevo. All four teams dey fight for Friday final for Grbavica Stadium.
Spain don win all four editions since competition resume after COVID for 2021/22. Dem top Group B despite drawing 2-2 with Switzerland for Matchday 1. Dem beat Iceland 4-0 and Austria 2-1. Nine veterans from last season dey inside squad, eight of them also win 2024 WU17 EURO. Knockout football no dey fear dem.
Sweden be three-time champions and dey semi-final for first time since 2022, when dem lose to Spain. Dem go through from Group A with game to spare, beating Poland 1-0 and hosts Bosnia and Herzegovina 5-0. Dem lose 2-0 to Germany on Friday fall to second place. Sweden dey play pacy counterattacking game wey fit trouble Spain possession style. But dem go miss Tilde Karlsson wey see red card against Germany, and Filippa Andersson Widén absent through illness.
Spain coach David Aznar talk say: “A lot of teams for this tournament dey good for counterattack. Spain dominate with ball. I hope for same as against Austria, to dominate with ball for attacking moments. But Sweden dey very dangerous for counterattack.” Sweden forward Agnes Ekberg say: “It go be amazing. These games you love to play so e be fantastic wey we get to play am.”
Germany dey wait 15 years since dem win sixth title for 2011. Spain don overtake dem as most decorated nation. But Germany top Group A, beating hosts Bosnia and Herzegovina 5-0, drawing 1-1 with Poland, and defeating Sweden 2-0. Zoe Schick injure for Matchday 1, and dem lose several key players before finals. Luzie Zähringer suspend after two group stage bookings.
Austria dey hope make dem reach only second UEFA national-team decider, after 1997 men’s U16 EURO. Dem go through from Group B with game to spare, beating Iceland 3-0 and Switzerland 3-1. Dem lose 2-1 to Spain fall to second place. Sara Grabovac go off with serious knee injury near end, adding to loss of Anna Osl for Matchday 1.
Germany coach Melanie Behringer say: “I rate Austria at similar level to us. Dem be strong players and very well-coordinated. Some of dem don dey play together for club level for long time. Dem no go give us anything and go enter semi-final highly motivated.” Austria coach Markus Hackl say: “Germany be good team but I think we go get our chances too and we go try to win am.”
