Oranje U19 Crowned European Champions for the First Time

 

The Netherlands Under-19 team has written history by winning the UEFA European U19 Championship for the very first time. In a heated final in Bucharest, Romania, Oranje beat Spain 1-0 after a dramatic own goal from Spanish goalkeeper Raúl Jiménez Latorre, who deflected a fierce cross from Feyenoord’s Givairo Read into his own net.

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💪 A Hard-Fought Battle in Bucharest

Unlike earlier dominant wins over Germany, Norway, England, and Romania, the final was chaotic and tense. Both sides hit the woodwork, and neither could control the midfield.

Kees Smit (AZ), the tournament’s standout player, wasn’t the playmaker this time, and narrowly avoided giving away a penalty in stoppage time. But the 19-year-old showed his maturity, grinding through to help secure the victory.

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⚽ The Match-Winning Moment

The only goal came when Givairo Read, praised by coach Peter van der Veen as the team’s natural leader, burst into the Spanish penalty area and delivered a dangerous cross. Spanish keeper Jiménez stepped forward and deflected the ball into his own net. Oranje led 1-0.

The Spanish team, devastated, protested furiously at the final whistle. But the Dutch bench erupted in celebration. Oranje were champions.

“We weren’t always the better team, but we showed heart, unity, and defensive discipline when it mattered.”
— Coach Peter van der Veen

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🧠 Coaching & Tactical Discipline

Van der Veen, who starts as assistant at VfL Wolfsburg next week, emphasized defensive organization throughout the tournament. Along with Ibrahim Afellay and Alexander Palland, he built a flexible system.

Midfielder Mark Verkuijl (Jong Ajax) anchored the midfield behind five attacking talents:

• Aymen Sliti (Feyenoord)
• Don-Angelo Konadu (Ajax)
• Ayoub Oufkir (Sparta)
• Tygo Land (PSV)
• Kees Smit (AZ)

Verkuijl, already booked, was subbed off in the final minutes for Mats Rots (Heracles). Oufkir risked a red card after multiple fouls—reminding everyone that youth football still comes with nerves and inexperience.

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🧤 Defense Wins Championships

Goalkeeper Joeri Heerkens (Sparta Prague), reportedly on Ajax’s radar, nearly made a costly error but recovered. His Spanish counterpart wasn’t so lucky.

At the back, Dies Janse (Ajax) and Precious Ugwu stood firm. Ugwu, who announced this week he’s leaving Ajax, ends his youth career as a European champion.

From the stands, Gheorghe Hagi, Romanian legend, watched the Dutch hold off a determined Spanish attack in the final moments.

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🇳🇱 A Proud Moment for Dutch Football

This is a major milestone for the KNVB. While youth development is the priority, winning a title like this is something special. Oranje showed off a balanced identity:

• attacking wingers,
• a classic No. 10,
• overlapping full-backs,
• a ball-playing keeper,
• and disciplined center-backs.

In the final minutes, Oufkir had the chance to score a second goal, but the team chose structure over risk—a sign of real growth.

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🏁 Conclusion

For the first time in history, Netherlands U19 are European Champions. The future looks bright for players like Smit, Read, Heerkens, and Ugwu.

This victory is not just about the trophy—it’s a signal that Dutch youth development is working. And for the players, it’s a memory and momentum that will follow them into their professional careers.

Kees Smit Player of the tournament

Kees Smit was one of the standout performers for the Netherlands at the UEFA U19 European Championship in Romania. The 19-year-old AZ Alkmaar midfielder played a key role in Oranje’s historic title run, showcasing both his technical skill and tactical intelligence throughout the tournament.

Known for his vision and calmness on the ball, Smit was the heartbeat of the Dutch midfield. He dictated tempo, found passing lanes others couldn’t see, and contributed both defensively and offensively. In the group stage and knockout rounds, he often looked a step ahead of his peers, earning praise from fans and pundits alike.

Interestingly, in the final against Spain, Smit had a quieter game. He wasn’t the dominant playmaker as in earlier matches and narrowly escaped conceding a penalty in stoppage time. Yet, his resilience and work rate were crucial in securing the 1-0 win.

Smit’s performances in Romania confirmed his status as one of the top young prospects in Dutch football. While development is the main goal at this level, lifting the trophy adds a special layer to his progress. With maturity beyond his years, Kees Smit leaves the tournament as a European champion and a name to watch for the future.