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2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Final

Published

01In brief

The 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship final was a football match played on 18 June 2013 at Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem, Israel, which served as the culmination of the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. Spain defeated Italy 4–2, with Thiago Alcântara scoring a hat-trick and Isco adding a penalty, to claim their second consecutive European Under-21 title. The tournament was the first time since the 2000 UEFA European Under-16 Championship that UEFA had staged a final tournament in Israel, and Teddy Stadium became the first stadium in the country to host the final of a major UEFA competition.

02Background

The 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship was held in Israel from 5 to 18 June 2013. Before play began, it was billed as one of the most prestigious sporting events ever staged in the country.[1] Eight teams competed: Israel participated automatically as the host nation, while England, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Norway, Russia, and Spain qualified through the preceding qualifying rounds.[2] The competition was structured around two groups of four teams, with the top two sides from each group advancing to the semifinals before the final in Jerusalem.[2]

More than 150,000 tickets had reportedly been sold before the tournament began, according to the Israel Football Association.[1] Matches were played across Tel Aviv, Netanya, Petah Tikva, and Jerusalem. Teddy Stadium, which had capacity for more than 30,000 spectators, was the final's venue.[3][2]

03Course of Events

Spain advanced to the final by defeating Norway in the semifinal, while Italy reached the decider after eliminating the Netherlands.[3] The final itself was played on 18 June 2013 in front of approximately 30,000 spectators at Teddy Stadium.[3]

Spain dominated the match, winning 4–2. Thiago Alcântara was the decisive individual, scoring a hat-trick, while Isco added a fourth from the penalty spot. Italy's goals came from Ciro Immobile and Fabio Borini.[3][4] Álvaro Morata started for Spain, though he was characterized in subsequent analysis as a secondary attacking figure behind Thiago and Isco within the lineup. Morata nonetheless finished the tournament as its leading scorer.[5][6]

The victory gave Spain its second consecutive European Under-21 championship title.[4] Across the entire tournament Spain won all five of its matches, scoring 12 goals and conceding just two—a perfect record described as unprecedented in the Under-21 European Championship since the competition adopted a group-stage format in 2000.[4] Isco was identified as the tournament's Most Valuable Player.[4]

04Aftermath

Teddy Stadium's hosting of the final made it the first stadium in Israel to stage the concluding match of a major UEFA tournament.[7] Spain's 4–2 victory secured its second consecutive title and completed a campaign in which it won all five matches.[3][4]

05Historiography

Contemporary analysis treated Spain's campaign as exceptional, comparing its perfect record with Brazil's 2002 FIFA World Cup run, which was identified as the most recent comparable senior-tournament success achieved without extra time or a penalty shootout.[4] A 2023 retrospective presented the final as a moment when Thiago Alcântara, Álvaro Morata, and Isco appeared poised to extend Spain's senior-level dominance, while judging that their subsequent careers did not fully match those early expectations.[6] The Jerusalem Post characterized the tournament's conclusion as a victory for soccer as a peace builder.[7]

06Political Controversy Surrounding the Tournament

Israel's hosting of the tournament was contested before and during the competition. Pro-Palestinian activists called for the championship to be moved from Israel, and a conference of Freedom Flotilla Italia held in Florence in February 2013 listed a campaign to prevent the European Under-21 Football Championship from being held in Israel among its agenda items.[8] Separate pressure centred on Israel's detention without trial of three Palestinian footballers.[9]

UEFA nevertheless confirmed Israel as host. UEFA President Michel Platini wrote to Israel Football Association President Avi Luzon acknowledging "a certain amount of pressure being put on us" while affirming the decision to keep the tournament in Israel.[9] Heightened security arrangements were reported for teams, spectators, and transportation throughout the competition.[2]

Sources

  1. 1The Times of Israel, Rising Soccer Stars, accessed on September 22, 2026.
  2. 2Ynet, Israel hosts Euro U21s amid tight security, accessed on September 22, 2026.
  3. 3Walla! Sport, ספורט, accessed on September 22, 2026.
  4. 4Walla! Sport, ברזיל, הגרסה המשופרת: על זכיית הנבחרת הצעירה של ספרד - וואלה ספורט, accessed on September 22, 2026.
  5. 5ONE, ללא מוראטה: המשחק המיוחד של חלוץ ספרד, accessed on September 22, 2026.
  6. 6Walla! Sport, עין לציון צופיה: ספרד שואפת לזכות שוב ביורו לנבחרות צעירות - וואלה ספורט, accessed on September 22, 2026.
  7. 7The Jerusalem Post, International soccer stars kick around in Israel, accessed on September 22, 2026.
  8. 8Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, accessed on September 22, 2026.
  9. 9The Times of Israel, Israel to Host Under-21, accessed on September 22, 2026.

IsraelPedia Question & Answers

  • What was the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship final?

    The 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship final was a football match played on 18 June 2013 at Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem, Israel, which served as the culmination of the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. Spain defeated Italy 4–2, with Thiago Alcântara scoring a hat-trick and Isco adding a penalty, to claim their second consecutive European Under-21 title.

  • Who scored for Spain and Italy in the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship final?

    Spain's goals in the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship final came from Thiago Alcântara, who scored a hat-trick, and Isco, who added a fourth from the penalty spot. Italy's two goals were scored by Ciro Immobile and Fabio Borini.

  • How did Spain perform across the entire 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship?

    Spain won all five of its matches across the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, scoring 12 goals and conceding just two. This perfect record was described as unprecedented in the Under-21 European Championship since the competition adopted a group-stage format in 2000. Isco was identified as the tournament's Most Valuable Player, while Álvaro Morata finished as its leading scorer.

  • What was the significance of Teddy Stadium hosting the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship final?

    Teddy Stadium's hosting of the final made it the first stadium in Israel to stage the concluding match of a major UEFA tournament. The 2013 tournament was also the first time since the 2000 UEFA European Under-16 Championship that UEFA had staged a final tournament in Israel.

  • What political controversy surrounded the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Israel?

    Israel's hosting of the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship was contested before and during the competition. Pro-Palestinian activists called for the championship to be moved from Israel, and separate pressure centred on Israel's detention without trial of three Palestinian footballers. UEFA nevertheless confirmed Israel as host, with UEFA President Michel Platini writing to the Israel Football Association President acknowledging "a certain amount of pressure being put on us" while affirming the decision to keep the tournament in Israel.