Parejo the hero as Spain reign again

Spain became the first nation to successfully defend the UEFA European Under-19 Championship as Daniel Parejo's clever first-half free-kick proved enough for victory against a spirited Greece side in Linz.

Quick thinking
The holders had won three of the first five editions of the U19 event and, on the back of a unbeaten run stretching back 15 competitive matches, began as favourites although Kostas Mitroglou and Sotiris Ninis both failed to convert fine early opportunities for their opponents. The decisive moment arrived seven minutes before half-time, Real Madrid CF midfielder Parejo curling in an opportunist free-kick from the left, and the Iberian side held firm in the face of a determined Greek effort, particularly in the opening stages of the second half, to become only the second country to win both UEFA youth competitions in the same year after the Republic of Ireland's triumphs at U16 and U18 level in 1998.

Mitroglou miss
Both teams were without two key players through suspension and initially it appeared Greece would miss Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Vassilis Pliatsikas more than Spain would Javier Martínez and Ángel Montoro, Aarón Ñíguez and César Azpilicueta both fizzing shots into the midriff of goalkeeper Kyriakos Stratilatis inside the opening ten minutes. Greece gradually played their way into the match, however, and spurned a golden opportunity to take the lead as Giannis Papadopoulos's pass set Mitroglou clear only for the striker – who missed a penalty in the sides' Group A meeting on Saturday – to hurry his shot too high.

Parejo delight
The Spain offside trap was sprung again nine minutes before half-time, Georgios Ioannidis supplying the pass to set Ninis clear, but the midfielder's first touch was heavy and goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo timed his sliding challenge perfectly on the edge of the area. Greece were made to pay dearly for those misses four minutes later as Aarón, a lively presence throughout, was brought down by Georgios Siakas near the corner flag and Parejo, on his first start of the tournament, deceived Stratilatis to curl his free-kick in at the near post.

Greece on top
Sergio had to punch away Manolis Moniakis's long-range effort in added time, and the Spain goalkeeper was scrambling again early in the second half as substitute Dimitrios Siovas flashed a shot wide of his left-hand upright. That proved a sign of things to come as Greece kept Spain pressed back, Siovas sending in a cross that was just too high for Athanassios Papazoglou – on for Ninis – and Mitroglou before the former sliced another presentable opening wide. Clearly concerned, Spain coach Juan Santisteban made a double change just past the hour, introducing José Zamora and Carlos Martínez, although within seconds Papadopoulos was forcing another diving stop from Sergio.

Spain success
Yet Spain weathered the storm and Aarón's cross which deflected on to the top of the Greece net was the sign that opponents who had made much of the inspiration of UEFA EURO 2004™ in the pre-match build-up had finally run out of steam. Santisteban's side, who added the U19 crown to the U17 title they won in Belgium less than three months ago, held out with Siovas's drilled shot which whistled over their only cause for concern.