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20 April 2024

Spain beat Swiss 2-0 in Euro U21 final

Ander Herrera (L) Javi Martinez (2L) Alberto Botia (2R) and Alvaro Dominguez (R) lift the winning trohy after their 2-0 victory during the UEFA European Under-21 Championship Final match between Spain and Switzerland at the Arhus Stadium in Arhus, Denmark. (GETTY)

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By AP

Spain won the European Under-21 Championship for the first time since 1998 by beating Switzerland 2-0 in the final on Saturday.

Ander Herrera's bullet header in the 41st minute was followed in the 81st by a free kick from Thiago Alcantara, who caught Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer too far out.

They were the first goals conceded in the tournament by the Swiss, who were chasing their first Euro Under-21s title in their first final.

It was another triumph in the international arena for Spain, whose senior team are world and European champions.

Favored Spain won its first Euro Under-21s in 1986, and its three titles are second only to Italy's five in tournament history.

Switzerland failed to trouble Spain goalie David de Gea, although the Swiss sped up the pace in the second half. Pajtim Kasami and Timm Klose gave Switzerland its best chances in the 78th but the shots were wide.

Both sides entered the final unbeaten, the Swiss the first side to make the final without conceding a goal.

Belarus grabbed third place after winning 1-0 against a 10-man Czech Republic in Aalborg, northern Denmark. Yegor Filipenko's volley of Oleg Veretilo's cross came in the 88th.

A last-minute attempt by Libor Kozak failed, allowing Belarus to compete at the London Olympics for the first time.