Greece national under-18 football team
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| Nickname(s) | Εθνική Νέων ("Youth National Team") |
|---|---|
| Association | Hellenic Football Federation |
| Head coach | Giannis Goumas |
| Captain | Efthimis Koulouris |
| Most caps | Giorgos Katidis (30) |
| Top scorer | Dimitris Diamantakos (10) |
| UEFA U-19 Championship | |
| Appearances | 5 (first in 2005) |
| Best result | Runners-up (2007, 2012) |
| FIFA U-20 World Cup | |
| Appearances | None |
The Greece national under-19 football team is the national football team of Greece and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation. In July 2007 the Under-20/19 Football Team finished second in the 2007 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship in Linz, Austria. They also reached the final of the 2012 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship .
Greece Under-19 Team started the campaign leading to the 2007 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship in October 2006. During the First Qualifying Round the team was seeded in the Group 1, with Bulgaria (hostess), Ukraine and Kazakhstan being the other participants in the group. Greece finished at the top of the Group 1, after two wins against the hosts Bulgarians (2–0 on October 20, goals by Lambropoulos and Vallianos) and Ukraine (2–1 on October 25, goals by Vasileios Pliatsikas and Lambropoulos). The team also lost 4–2 to Kazakhstan (October 22, goals by Kostantinos Mitroglou and Pliatsikas).
Greece hosted the next phase, called Elite Round, facing now stronger opponents. Against Croatia on June 1 of 2007, Greece was held to 2–2 by a late equaliser despite two goals from the Greek promising attacker Kostantinos Mitroglou. Two days later Mitroglou stroke against and lead the team to a 2–0 win against Italy, Siovas scoring the other goal. Finally, on June 6, Greece crushed Sweden 4–0, with goals from Papadopoulos, Mitroglou, Ath. Papazoglou and a late own-goal from the Swedish team. Again, Greece U-19 Team sealed the first place of the group.
Greece was seeded in the Group A with Austria, Portugal and Spain. The team started with a precious victory against Portugal (16 July 2007), in a close encounter with lots of opportunities from both sides. Sotiris Ninis and Kostantinos Mitroglou were a constant danger and finally the second scored on the 52nd minute. Two days later, Greece faced the hosting Austria team and also the crowd that filled the stadium in Pasching. Ninis showed great vision breaking the Austrian defense with a through ball that brought Mitroglou alone against the opponent goalkeeper. Mitroglou scored again but the hosts scored a second half goal from penalty and the match ended 1–1. On July 21 Greece faced holders and favourites Spain. Both teams qualified after a goalless draw, despite a good second half performance from the Greek side and a lost penalty by Mitroglou.
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