© EuroFootball.com
On Wednesday, the draw for the final stage of the European Under-21 Championship, which will take place in Portugal from May 23 to June 4, took place in the city of Porto, dividing eight teams into two groups.
Group A
Portugal
France
Serbia and Montenegro
Germany
Group B
Italy
Denmark
Ukraine
Netherlands
The Italian youth team, who have won this tournament five times in the past seven European U-21 Championships, will begin their title defense in Group B against the youth teams of Denmark, Netherlands, and Ukraine. Italy famously defeated Serbia and Montenegro 3-0 in the 2004 final in Germany.
Ukraine's football team has qualified for this tournament for the first time since regaining independence and earned their place impressively by scoring three goals in the final 20 minutes of the play-off match against Belgium.
Denmark, who have previously reached the semi-finals in 1992, secured their spot in the tournament by finishing unbeaten in their group, which included Ukraine.
Hosts Portugal, who finished in third place in 2004, are aiming for higher positions. They won all ten qualifying matches and defeated Switzerland in the play-offs. In Group A, they will face France, Germany, and the youth teams of Serbia and Montenegro.
Germany, the hosts two years ago, failed to advance from their group, while France, champions in 1998 and runners-up in 2002, will try to regain their good reputation. Serbia and Montenegro, who finished second in 2004, secured their place in the championship by defeating Croatia 5-2 in the play-offs.
