Women's U-19 European Championships Final as well as Men's U-21 competiton for the future.

Well in Italy, the Final of what has been a really exciting tournement is taking place. Three-time champions Germany have made quite evident their title credentials: Germany beat Norway 1-8 in the Final of the Women's European U-19 Championships! It all started to go downhill for the Nordic women in the 29th minute when Luisa Wensing slotted home for Germany to put them 0-1 into the lead. However, that was the only goal of the first half as the Norwegians held firm (their goalkeeper Ane Fimreite put in a great perofrmance) while the Germans missed some opportunities. Thus, the two sides went in at half time seperated by the one goal. However, everything changed in the second half. Isabella Schmid was the first to score, striking in the 50th to make it 0-2 for the Germans. The next goal came 5 minutes later, through Lena Lotzen who scored yet another beauty for Germany. Seeing that their opposition was in tatters, the Germans continued their assaults and reaped the fruits as Germany's captain Ramona Petzelberger scored only 3 minutes afterwards, in the 58th minute! At this point, approaching the hour mark, things looked pretty bad for the Norwegians: they were down 0-4 to an opponent that has looked strong at the back throughout the game and the tournement. Things got worse on the hour, as Lotzen struck her second, beautiful just as the first, to put Germany 0-5 into the lead. Shortly after this fifth goal the workhorses and playmakers Kathrin-Julia Hendrich and Eunice Beckmann were subbed off. Germany still dominated though, as Ivana Rudelic (who came in for Beckmann) struck in the 70th to much acclaim. Afterall, it was 0-6 now! Norway weren't totally out of it though, as Melissa Bjanesoy and her teammates showed a lot of heart and determination to bring themselves one goal back: in the 72nd minute. It was never going to be enough, the scoreline was now 1-6, and the defensive lapse by the Germans wasn't much of a big deal as it didn't happen often enough, but the goal did illustrate why the Nowegians were in Final. Schmid's second goal and Anja Hegenauer's first for Germany were just the icing on an eight-story cake. It was a great game for the Germans and while Norway will be disappointed, they did make it to the Final. Maybe next time they will take the final step and become Champions. Thank you to all the teams because I know I am not the only one who enjoyed watching this action packed tournement. There is another tournement to look forward to this summer though, as the men compete in the U-21 Championships! Look for it!