UEFA Wu-16 tourney in VRSA

First round of fixtures:

The first rumblings heard today on the 2020 editions of the 'Youth' International tournaments.

They are U16 Boys and Girls, sometime at end Feb/early March.

Both tournaments being played over at VRSA.

The usual suspects taking part, Portugal, France, Germany, Netherlands, but NO UK entrants. Last years wildcard were the Argentine lads ……. this year the Colombians are being shipped over.

Dates etc will follow at some point.

Portugal 3-1 Colombia. Visitors scored early with a nice training-ground free kick routine, but once Portugal equalised there was only one winner. Maybe around 200 in the crowd, not may Colombians.

Germany 0-2 Netherlands. Fair result, Germans played ok but fizzled out in front of goal. Dutch slightly better all over the pitch imo. Late on, in separate incidents, one player from each team was sent to the sin-bin for an  8 minute sitdown [no, I don't know why its 8 either].

Second round on Saturday, when todays two winners will meet.

The Boys U16 tournament at VRSA came to a head today.

Portugal 3-2 Germany. The locals did well to win this one. Their goalkeeper was sent off early in the second half and two further times saw players sin-binned [8mins a pop] …… so to score the winner, a 25yard screamer, when down to 9 was creditable. The Germans wont be happy at all. The result meant that the Netherlands had to win to secure the title.

The later kickoff …. Netherlands 3-1 Colombia. This went according to the form book as the South Americans have struggled in this competition. Much of their game is ok, plenty of aggression, passion and fitness but confidence has been low. The Dutch were comfortable at 2-0, however Colombia scored next and the game changed. The Oranje horde in the stands were left biting their fingernails as Colombia upped the gears. Several good chances to equalise were saved or missed. Then in the last minute a breakaway by the Dutch resulted in a penalty [for handball, followed by an unlucky red card] and the undeserved third goal.

Netherlands 8pts

Portugal 7pts

Germany 3pts

Colombia not a sausage.

I have been watching these Dutch FA development tournaments for several years now. They are well put together and the organisation is commendable. It serves to set players up in readiness for when the official FIFA competitions start at U17 level. 

They also use Dutch match officials in every game.  

My impression now that they should revisit this. I have empathy to a degree, as I myself have officiated at semi-pro level in UK sport. They may make correct decisions almost every time, these officials are towards the top of their trees already...…. but I notice that more often the sinners [when not Dutch] cast sideways looks at the refs and obviously are struggling to control their own behaviours. Management teams on the touchline shrug their shoulders and smile/laugh. 

There is a problem developing here which can be avoided ….. sort out officials from independent countries.