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Final 8 decided for U21 championship

Jonathan HardingOctober 14, 2014

Germany beat the Ukraine 5-0 over two legs to join seven other sides in qualifying for the 2015 UEFA Euro tournament in the Czech Republic. Three of Europe's top footballing countries failed to qualify though.

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Fußball EM-Qualifikation U21 Deutschland - Ukraine Volland
Image: picture alliance/augenklick/GES

Qualification for the 2015 UEFA U21 Championship in the Czech Republic is complete as football's next generation of international talent secured their places at the tournament. Surprisingly though, France, Holland and Spain failed to qualify.

Germany eventually beat a feisty Ukraine side 2-0 in Essen, sending them through 5-0 on aggregate. For most of the game, Germany were kept at bay before captain Kevin Volland and the impressive Leo Bittencourt scored two in the final two minutes.

Joining them, and hosts Czech Republic, in the final tournament will be six other sides.

Portugal edged out the Netherlands in a goal-rich encounter, winning 5-4 on the night and 7-4 on aggregate. Italy also secured their spot after comfortably beating nine-man Slovakia 3-1 (4-2 on aggregate).

Things weren't quite as easy for England though. Gareth Southgate's team snuck past Croatia 4-2 on aggregate - a 2-1 win in Croatia proved enough.

Things aren't going well for Spain at the moment, and their youngsters can't provide much support either as the missed out on qualification, losing 2-1 on the night (and on aggregate) to Serbia.

Sadly, Iceland's youngsters couldn't follow the heroics of their first team. An injury-time penalty cancelled out Denmark's 90th minute strike, but it was the visitors who progressed on away goals.

Sweden completed a remarkable turnaround to beat France 4-3 over two legs, having lost 2-0 in France.

The U21 championship will be the first held in the Czech Republic. The draw for the groups will be made on November 6th, while the tournament will run between June 17-30 next year.