Spain’s U19 men retain Euros with 2-0 win over Germany, completing double over DFB juniors
Hugo Lopez and Mario Rivas scored either side of half-time at Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground as Spain secured a tenth men’s Under-19 European title and a clean-sheet tournament.
The final in Wrexham
Spain controlled the opening half and took the lead in the 44th minute. Hugo Lopez had earlier clipped the crossbar with a lob but was first to the rebound when Daniel Yanez’s deflected shot came back off the post, stabbing in from close range. Germany’s best first-half chance fell to Otto Stange of Hamburger SV, who forced a save from goalkeeper Manu Gonzalez in the 30th minute. Lopez’s goal separated the sides at the break.
- Otto Stange’s shot saved by Manu Gonzalez; Germany’s best chance of the first half.
- Hugo Lopez scores from close range after Daniel Yanez hits the post.
- Mario Rivas heads in Yanez’s corner to double Spain’s lead.
- Jykese Fields forces a save from Gonzalez.
- Montrell Culbreath’s chance is kept out.
- Fields has another effort saved as Spain hold on.
Three minutes after the restart Spain doubled the advantage. Mario Rivas rose to meet a Yanez corner and headed past the German goalkeeper to make it 2-0. The goal punished a German side that had struggled to clear set-pieces effectively during the first period. Daniel Yanez, who had already struck the post and delivered the corner for the second goal, was central to Spain’s most dangerous sequences.
Germany’s response
Germany, coached by Christian Wörns, improved midway through the second half and created three clear opportunities to reduce the deficit. Jykese Fields had two chances in the final twelve minutes, one in the 78th minute and another in the 87th, while Montrell Culbreath went close in the 79th minute. None beat Manu Gonzalez. Captain Francis Onyeka led the German side, which had lost 4-0 to the same opponent in the group stage but was far more competitive in the final.
We said before the match we would try to keep the favoured Spaniards in check with physicality.
A flawless tournament for Spain
Paco Gallardo’s team completed the eight-team tournament in north Wales without conceding a single goal. Spain scored 19 times across their five matches, combining the strongest attack and the tightest defence of any competitor. Their semi-final victims Ukraine and Croatia, along with beaten finalists Germany, had already secured berths at the 2027 FIFA U20 World Cup in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. Denmark defeated Italy on penalties earlier in the week to enter the inter-confederation play-offs for the same tournament.
- Goals scored
- 19 goals
- Goals conceded
- 0 goals
- Games played
- 5 goals
A double defeat for German youth football
The men’s result came one day after Germany’s Under-19 women also lost to Spain in their European final, played in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Paco Gallardo’s men retained the trophy they won in 2024 and took Spain’s tally in the age group to ten titles, twice that of Germany, England, and Italy, each of whom have won two. Germany’s most recent men’s U19 title dates back to 2014, when a side featuring Joshua Kimmich, Julian Brandt, Niklas Stark and Davie Selke triumphed just 18 days after the senior World Cup victory in Rio de Janeiro.
What the result unlocks
All four semi-finalists at the tournament qualify for the 2027 FIFA U20 World Cup, co-hosted by Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. Germany, Spain, Ukraine and Croatia are therefore assured of a place. The two-year cycle means Spain’s current crop will have a chance to convert their continental dominance into a global title at under-20 level.
