Football

Euro U19 qualifiers.

The U19 format is strange, but it is what it is. Two separate qualifiers are played at the same time, first the Q stage and then the Q stage, so both of these teams played two matches within 3 days. In this group, the Czechs celebrated a 3-0 victory against Latvia, while Belgium played a 0-0 draw against Denmark. In the other group, Belgium won 2-0 against Estonia, and their youth team also defeated Cyprus 4-0. As always, I never trust the youth teams as they often have mistakes in defense, but the Danish offense is top class. When playing against each other, these youths only play friendly matches, but the tendency for high scoring games is evident since 2006 (according to statistics). These teams have played 7 times, with 6 matches ending with 4+ goals being scored, and 4 of them ended with 5+ goals. In 6 out of 8 of these matches, the scoring started in the first period with 2+ goals. The trend cannot be denied, no matter how rare or important the matches may be, so once again I am waiting for an over game between these two high-scoring teams.

In the first match, the Serbians managed to defeat the English with a score of 2:0, while the Portuguese struggled against Peru before ultimately winning against the Polish team. I had the opportunity to watch the Poland-Portugal game, and the Portuguese were not very effective against Peru. The Poles attacked and had many chances, while the Portuguese were more reserved and gained a bigger lead without showing a strong desire to attack. In the final stages, only one team will advance to the U19 championship, and both teams have a chance against Peru. I hope that both teams will play cautiously, and based on their performance in the first match, it seems logical to bet on the Serbians +1.0.

I think there will be a lot of action here, more than what the odds suggest. The Scots are euphoric after qualifying for the tournament, and they will be fired up for their first game and also at Hampden Park, where they don't hold back and play passively unless the situation calls for it. Overall, the team has had some trouble with defense, but they have looked solid lately in the attack, especially at home, and that has earned them a spot in the tournament. I would say that the Japanese are also a good opponent, and we can expect another exciting offensive match. The visitors are not known for their defensive walls. They like to attack and score, but they often struggle with defense, especially against physical teams. They also have some weaknesses in defense. Overall, this could lead to a mismatch of styles where it will be difficult for either team to contain the other's strengths. In short, I don't think this will be a boring or dull match. Both teams are in good form and have offensive weapons that have performed well this season, so a total of three goals doesn't seem unreachable.

Friendl