Groub A - Matchday 1
Netherlands 1-0 Israel (Abe Lenstra Stadion, Heerenveen)The Netherlands got the defence of their European Under-21 Championship title off to a winning start with a 1-0 victory against Israel.
Hedwiges Maduro tapped in the only goal on ten minutes as the hosts picked up from where they left off in Portugal 12 months ago. Captain Ron Vlaar and Ismail Aissati were the only survivors from the side that defeated Ukraine in the 2006 final in Porto, but Foppe de Haan's new-look team had no intention of letting the trophy slip from their grasp. Vlaar fired a free-kick over on two minutes before Ryan Babel shot narrowly wide. The Dutch did not have it all their own way though. The Jong Oranje had lost their opening game against Ukraine a year ago and suffered another early scare here, Eliran Danin crossing low to an unmarked Omer Peretz who, ghosting in from the right, shot wide from 12 metres.
Portugal 0-0 Belgium (Euroborg Stadion, Groningen)
Belgium and Portugal took one point apiece from their first appearance at this European Under-21 Championship, the Group A contest in Gronginen ending goalless.
Both sides have been hailed, in some quarters, as potential winners of this tournament, yet over the 90 minutes it was a strong and lively Belgium team who staked the more convincing claim. Only their inability to convert a flurry of first-half chances preserved the stalemate.
[U21 Euro 2007 Championship Finals Schedule]
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