Today is the final in Batumi! It’s U21 England vs Spain – the teams will play for the title at the Dinamo Arena, although the overall mood in the city is subdued.
The reason is clear – the defeat of the Georgian U21 team against Israel in quarterfinal in Batumi has created an unfavourable atmosphere. However, it’s expected to be a full house for the final.
No Georgia, no hype. This situation is quite natural, but two of the top favourites of the championship will compete in the final.
England vs Spain is an exciting match-up for true football fans. Most of these players will obviously play for their respective National teams in a short span of time.
U21 final – what to expect from the match
Who will dominate possession? This is the main question before the match. Both England and Spain excel at controlling the ball, as demonstrated in the current European Championship.
Spain is likely to have more control of the ball, but England’s mobility and quick counterattacks could make them even more dangerous in such situations.
The coaches have also promised to showcase high-quality football. Lee Carsley has touted his team’s remarkable level of play. He even used the term “Hell of Performance”.
Spain had lack time for the rest and they have flown to Batumi from Romania, but Spain U21 head coach trusts his physios and players also, and says that La Rojita knew this conditions in advance.
U21 Final – Tickets
UEFA resumed ticket sales yesterday evening. Due to the previously suspended process, football fans assumed that all the tickets had already been sold.
That’s why, like me, many people pursued an alternative option. By purchasing a corresponding football menu at McDonald’s branches in Batumi, buyers received one ticket per menu as a gift.
After the resumption of the ticket sales, there has been a surge in demand, and now all the tickets are sold out.
In a tournament where several records have been broken, the most notable being the attendance record, it would be fitting if today’s final match is played in front of a packed stadium and a vibrant atmosphere.
Regarding the fans of the teams participating in the finals, there aren’t many of them in Batumi. That’s why I spoke to journalists from both countries. Media representatives from both sides are being cautious and refraining from making specific predictions.
U21 England vs Spain – Facts
England will be aiming to win the tournament for the third time in their history, while it would be the sixth victory for Spain.
England previously won the European Youth Championship twice in 1982 and 1984. Since then, the young lions have only reached the finals once, in 2009.
Spain last won the tournament in 2019, with Abel Ruiz Ortega being named the best player of the tournament. If he plays in today’s final, Ruiz has the chance to become the most capped player in Spain’s youth teams, as he currently has 87 appearances.
England is considered a slight favourite as they played most of the matches in Batumi, while Spain had to travel from Romania to Batumi for the final. Moreover, the younger Furia Roja had less time to rest.
La Rojita has previously defeated the players of this England team. In addition to coach Santi Denia, players such as Tonio Blanco, Sergio Gomez, Juan Miranda, and Abel Ruiz have the opportunity to win their third European title if they emerge victorious today. They have already won U17 and U19 European championships in 2017 and 2019 respectively.
Ben Johnson and Max Aarons have returned to England from suspension, but Jacob Ramsey is still injured. The Spanish team has all their players available for selection. It’s worth noting that the final will feature the tournament’s best attack against the best defence. Spain has scored 13 goals, while England has reached the final without conceding a single goal.
The match will kick off in Batumi on Monday at 20:00, local time.
