Blistering Germany stun Spain

By Kevin Ashby at the Hyvinkää Sportspark

Germany will play Russia in the semi-finals of the UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship after clinching Group A with a finals record 7-0 victory against Spain.

Rebuild confidence
Silvia Neid's imposing side built on successive 4-0 victories against Finland and Switzerland to end Spain's hopes of finishing at the group summit. Ana Belen's own goal and further strikes from Lena Goessling, Simone Laudehr (2), Anja Mittag - her fifth of the competition, Annike Krahn and Katharina Griessemer mean Germany advance with a goal difference of plus 15, while Spain must rebuild confidence before they play Italy in Thursday's first semi-final.

Winning team
The adage about not changing a winning team rang true for Germany who fielded the same XI for the third match in succession. Spain, in contrast, rested six of the side that sealed qualification with a 4-0 victory against the Finns on Friday. Carmen was one of three Spain players getting a first taste of tournament action, and she passed by a fifth-minute chance to make an early mark when her lob only found the hands of Tessa Rinkes.

Three debutantes
Another debutante, Ana Belen, then made an impression she would rather forget in drilling the ball into her own net after a cross from the right had eluded the diving Mittag. Rinkes saved well again in the 15th minute, diving at the feet of Julia. Germany remained a threat at the other end, though, and increased their lead in the 19th minute when Laudehr latched on to the loose ball following Lucia's low save from a rasping Susanne Kasperczyk shot.

Fierce shot
As if to emphasis burgeoning belief, Anne van Bonn then tried her luck from the halfway line. Kasperczyk was booked for felling Oihana, Spain's third newcomer, in the 35th minute and Rinkes took no chances in tipping Julia's overhead-kick round her post after the forward was first to Miriam's free-kick. Spain found themselves 3-0 down four minutes later when Mittag raced on to a ball over the Spain right-back and cracked a fierce left-foot shot in off the bar from an acute angle.

Goessling goal
Mittag was also involved in her side's fourth goal as she outpaced Ana Belen, wriggled into the box and cut the ball back to Goessling who scored her second of the competition at the second attempt on the cusp of half-time. It proved Goessling's final act as she was substituted along with Melanie Behringer during the interval, Griessemer and Angelika Feldbacher coming on.

Identical finish
Griessemer wasted little time getting involved, her 50th-minute corner headed in at the near post by Krahn, the German captain. Five turned to six 60 seconds later when Laudehr drilled in her second after being played in by Griessemer, whose cool finish from Mittag's assist completed the scoring in the final minute.

Gunning for glory
When Germany ended their group by winning 6-0 against England last year they had just pride to play for, 12 months on European glory is the aim. 

Most Valuable Player: Simone Laudehr (Germany)
Attendance: 550