UEFA Under-19 Futsal EURO: Exciting Fixtures Await as Tournament Begins in Croatia

Young Futsal Talent Gears Up for Intense Competition in Poreč

Poreč, Croatia – The eagerly anticipated UEFA European Under-19 Futsal Championship finals are set to kick off this Sunday at the Žatika Arena in Poreč, Croatia, promising fans an enthralling display of talent and sportsmanship. Among the most talked-about fixtures on the opening day is a rematch of the thrilling 2022 final between Portugal and Spain, which is sure to set the stage ablaze.

(Main picture source: UEFA)

The tournament’s inaugural matches on Sunday, September 3rd, will commence with a clash between two first-time qualifiers, Finland and Slovenia, as they square off in Group B. This encounter will be followed by a face-off between 2022 semi-finalists Ukraine and Italy, a team that fell short in the group stage last year.

In Group A, the action heats up with reigning champions Spain taking on Portugal, the team they faced in last September’s final. The 6-2 victory after extra time that Portugal claimed in Jaén to retain the title still lingers in the memory, making this rematch a must-watch spectacle. Rounding off the day’s excitement, host nation Croatia, who lost to Spain in the 2019 final in Riga, will face France. Both Croatia and France were eliminated in the group stage of the 2022 competition.

Žatika Arena in Poreč, Croatia is the venue for the tournament – Source of the image: futsalplanet

The tournament’s format sees both groups in action again the following day, with Croatia concluding the action against Spain. The group stage is scheduled to conclude on September 6th, and from there, the top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, set to take place two days later. The grand finale is scheduled for September 10th, where the ultimate champion will be crowned.

It’s important to note that the age limit for players participating in this competition was determined based on their birthdate being on or after January 1, 2002. Originally scheduled to conclude with a final tournament in September 2021, the biennial competition has now returned to odd-numbered years for future editions.

Venue of the draw in Croatia – Source of the image: UEFA

The groups for the UEFA Under-19 Futsal EURO are as follows:

Group A:

Croatia (hosts)
Portugal
Spain (holders)
France

Group B:

Ukraine
Finland
Slovenia
Italy

Here’s a quick overview of the opening fixtures:

Sunday, September 3rd:

Group B: Finland vs. Slovenia (13:00)
Group B: Ukraine vs. Italy (15:30)
Group A: Portugal vs. Spain (18:00)
Group A: Croatia vs. France (20:30)

Monday, September 4th:

Group B: Slovenia vs. Ukraine (13:00)
Group B: Italy vs. Finland (15:30)
Group A: France vs. Portugal (18:00)
Group A: Spain vs. Croatia (20:30)

Wednesday, September 6th:

Group B: Ukraine vs. Finland (13:00)
Group B: Slovenia vs. Italy (15:30)
Group A: Spain vs. France (18:00)
Group A: Croatia vs. Portugal (20:30)

The knockout phase, featuring the semi-finals, will take place on Friday, September 8th. The matchups for the semi-finals (SF1: Winners Group A vs. Runners-up Group B and SF2: Winners Group B vs. Runners-up Group A) will be determined after the conclusion of the group stage.

Finally, the tournament will culminate in the grand final on Sunday, September 10th, where the winners of SF1 and SF2 will compete for the coveted championship title. Futsal enthusiasts and fans alike are in for a thrilling ride as the UEFA Under-19 Futsal EURO unfolds in Poreč. Stay tuned for the latest updates and highlights from this exciting event.

Author of the Interview 

Stephen McGettigan was born in the Republic of Ireland but grew up in Belfast. He is the founder of Futsal Focus and a Football Industries MBA graduate from the University of Liverpool Management School. Stephen has worked in the Football and Futsal industries for 15 years.

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