Friday: Serbia v Spain, FYR Macedonia v Portugal
Thursday, June 22, 2017
Article summary
Spain have their semi-final place assured already but Portugal retain a chance of qualifying as best runners-up if they can earn a big win against FYR Macedonia in Gdynia.
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Article body
How can I follow the games on UEFA.com?
UEFA.com will have reporters on the ground at both of Friday's Group B fixtures, with live analysis, photos, minute-by-minute commentary and reaction in the build-up, during the game and after full time. There will also be extensive coverage on Twitter (@UEFAUnder21) and Facebook (@under21).
Follow here: Serbia v Spain (kick-off 20:45CET)
Follow here: FYR Macedonia v Portugal (kick-off: 20:45CET)
SERBIA V SPAIN
When and where?
Group winners Spain will travel two hours south from their base in Gdansk to Bydgoszcz for Friday night's encounter with third-placed Serbia, whose elimination was confirmed by the results in Group A on Thursday.
Knowledge to impress your friends
Saúl Ñíguez scored an own goal when Spain lost 2-1 to Serbia in Cadiz in the second leg of the nations' qualifying play-off for the 2015 U21 EURO – a result that dethroned the reigning champions and took the Balkan side into the finals as 2-1 aggregate winners.
How do the teams stand in Group B?
Spain have qualified as group winners while Serbia are out of the running for a semi-final place. They would finish second if they overcame Spain and FYR Macedonia beat Portugal but even in such a scenario, they would not be able to eclipse the record of Group A runners-up Slovakia.
Matchday one
Portugal 2-0 Serbia (Gonçalo Guedes 37, Bruno Fernandes 88)
Serbia: V Milinković-Savić; Gajić, V Jovanović, Veljković, Antonov; Grujić (Radonjić 68), Maksimović; Živković, Gačinović; Djurdjević (Ožegović 74), Čavrić (Plavšić 46).
Spain 5-0 FYR Macedonia (Ňíguez 10, Asensio 16 54 72, Deulofeu 35pen)
Spain: Arrizabalaga; Bellerín, Meré, Vallejo, Gayà; Llorente; Suárez, Ňíguez; Deulofeu (Ceballos 63), Ramírez (Williams 74), Asensio (Oyarzabal 81).
Matchday two
Serbia 2-2 FYR Macedonia (Gačinović 24, Djurdjević 90; Bardi pen 64, Gjorgjev 83)
FYR Macedonia: Aleksovski; Murati, Zajkov, Velkovski, Demiri; Nikolov, Bardi; Radeski (Pivkovski 86), Babunski (Elmas 58), Markoski; Avramovski (Gjorgjev 46).
Portugal 1-3 Spain (Bruma 77; Saúl Ñíguez 21, Sandro Ramírez 65, Williams 90+3)
Spain: Arrizabalaga; Bellerín, Meré, Vallejo, Jonny; Llorente; Ceballos, Ňíguez; Deulofeu (Suárez 82), Ramírez (Williams 75), Asensio (Merino 90).
Previous meetings
Played: 12
Serbia: W4 D2 L6 F10 A12
Spain: W6 D2 L4 F12 A10
Who said what?
Nenad Lalotović, Serbia coach: "We won't play with two strikers because we can't be as attacking against a top contender for the title. There will be changes in the team due to injuries and suspensions. Spain play the best football and I think they'll win the trophy. Playing against a team like this, you don't need any extra motivation."
Albert Celades, Spain coach: "We've had two very demanding games in a short space of time and we want to take advantage [of this opportunity] to give everybody some playing time. Whatever the changes, the important thing is how we approach the game. We have very good players who can be starters at any moment. We're quite relaxed about that. It's important we have the right mentality and come away from here in the best mood possible to approach the semi-finals."
Form guide (including friendlies, most recent first)
Serbia: DLLWL
Spain: WWWWD
How can I watch the game?
In Serbia: Arena Sport
In Spain: Mediaset
The full list of broadcast partners is available here. Matches will also be streamed live on UEFA.com and UEFA.tv in some territories.
FYR MACEDONIA v PORTUGAL
When and where?
Portugal take on the tournament newcomers in Friday night's final fixture in the Baltic coastal city of Gdynia, and they will be looking to bounce back from Tuesday's loss to Spain, their first in a competitive international in over five years ... and need a big win to retain hope of a semi-final spot.
Knowledge to impress your friends
FYR Macedonia's David Babunski and Portugal defender Edgar Ié were team-mates in Barcelona's B team for two years from 2013–15.
How do the teams stand in Group B?
To have a chance of finishing as the best runner-up, second-placed Portugal must win and score plenty of goals. With Group A concluded, Slovakia sit in second place with a +3 goal difference and six points, while Portugal currently have a zero goal difference and three points. They would be guaranteed to move ahead of Slovakia as best runner-up if they win by a four-goal margin (4-0, 5-1 etc), or win by a three-goal margin while also scoring four (4-1, 5-2 etc). FYR Macedonia are out.
Matchday one
Spain 5-0 FYR Macedonia: (Saúl Ňíguez 10, Asensio 16 54 72, Deulofeu 35pen)
FYR Macedonia: Aleksovski; Bejtulai, Zajkov, Velkoski, Demiri; Nikolov, Bardi; Radeski, Babunski (Kostadinov 76), Markoski (Gjorgjev 46); Angelov (Elmas 46).
Portugal 2-0 Serbia (Gonçalo Guedes 37, Bruno Fernandes 88)
Portugal: Varela; Cancelo, Ié, Semedo, Rodrigues; Carvalho (Sanches 59), Neves, Fernandes; Guedes, Podence (Medeiros 68), Jota (Bruma 46).
Matchday two
Serbia 2-2 FYR Macedonia
FYR Macedonia: Aleksovski; Murati, Zajkov, Velkovski, Demiri; Nikolov, Bardi; Radeski (Pivkovski 86), Babunski (Elmas 58), Markoski; Avramovski (Gjorgjev 46).
Portugal 1-3 Spain
Portugal: Varela; Cancelo, Ié, Semedo, Rodrigues; Carvalho (Paciência 66), Neves, Sanches (Horta 73); Guedes, Fernandes, Podence (Bruma 57).
Previous meetings
Played: 6
FYR Macedonia: W0 D1 L5 F3 A12
Portugal: W5 D1 L0 F12 A3
Who said what?
Blagoja Milevski, FYR Macedonia coach: "We have played, we do play and we will continue to play offensively. We have some changes planned. One reason for the changes is that most of the players are tired, given they've played two good matches against tough opponents over 180 minutes. We have a problem with two players [Boban Nikolov and Darko Velkoski] and will decide on what to do about them before the match."
Rui Jorge, Portugal coach: "Myself and all the staff, we've had a few attempts on the calculator – some were more optimistic than others, but it's impossible to get a definitive answer as there'll be other matches played after ours. So our first aim is to win this game, and we'll try to win by as many goals as we can. I know this is something that's often said but it really applies here, though that brings with it a risk and that's something we have to calculate."
Form guide (including friendlies, most recent first)
FYR Macedonia: DLWWW
Portugal: LWWWD
How can I watch the game?
In FYR Macedonia: TV Nova and Arena Sport
In Portugal: Sport TV
The full list of broadcast partners is available here. Games will also be streamed live on UEFA.com and UEFA.tv in some territories.