BUCHAREST, June 26, 2025 – Tonight the curtain will fall on the UEFA European Under-19 Championship 2025, with Spain and the Netherlands—undisputedly the two standout teams of the tournament—set to clash in the final at Giulești Stadium. It will be the fourth-ever meeting between these sides, with the Dutch still chasing their first win over La Rojita.
PERFECT PATH TO THE FINAL Both teams advanced flawlessly from the group stage, winning all three of their matches before claiming victory in the semifinals.
Spain had the tougher route to the final, needing extra time to edge out Germany in what was arguably one of the most exhilarating matches in tournament history, a breath-taking 11-goal thriller.
The Netherlands, by contrast, secured a more composed 3-1 win over hosts Romania, booking their place in the final with clinical efficiency.
SPAIN EYE BACK-TO-BACK GLORY Defending champions Spain are aiming to retain their title after lifting the trophy in 2024. With nine titles to their name, they are the most decorated team in the tournament’s history.
Coach Paco Gallardo’s squad features three returning champions—captain Raul Jiménez, Daniel Díaz, and Daniel Muñoz—who are now chasing consecutive titles.
Since winning the first edition of the rebranded Under-19 Championship in 2002, Spain has added eight more titles and finished as runners-up once (in 2010, in France). Their impressive track record—nine titles from just 14 appearances—speaks to the enduring legacy and winning mentality of La Rojita.
DUTCH DREAM OF A FIRST TITLE The Netherlands, meanwhile, are writing a new chapter in their footballing story. Ahead of the tournament, coach Peter van der Veen revealed that his inspiration came from the documentary The Playbook, which follows the Boston Celtics’ 2008 NBA championship journey.
Motivated by that example, the Dutch squad has carried a symbolic image with them throughout the tournament: a photo of the empty trophy cabinet at their federation’s headquarters, waiting to be filled with their first UEFA U19 title.
This spirit and unity have powered the Netherlands to their first-ever final. Their previous best performance came in 2017, when they were eliminated in the semi-final by Portugal. Remarkably, this is also their first qualification for the tournament since then, having missed five consecutive editions (2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2024).
GOAL-SCORING SHOWDOWN As well as the title, there’s a race for the Golden Boot. Spain’s Pablo García had not scored until the semi-final, but burst into form with a stunning four-goal performance against Germany, playing a decisive role in his team’s dramatic win.
On the Dutch side, Kees Smit has been the picture of consistency, scoring in every match so far—four goals in four games.
Germany’s Said El Mala and Max Moerstedt also finished the tournament with four goals each, making the race for top scorer an extra storyline to follow in tonight’s final.
