Holland crushed Serbia 4-1 to retain the European Under-21 Championship title with a blistering display of attacking football on the soggy pitch in Groningen. Goals from Otman Bakkal, Ryan Babel, top scorer Maceo Rigters and sub Luigi Bruins sealed back-to-back titles for the Dutch in the one sided final.

Bakkal’s strokes home the first after 16 minutes

Holland’s 2nd of the day thanks to Ryan Babel in the 59th minute.

Top scorer Maceo Rigters adds the third for the Dutch in the 66th minute.

Serbia consolation’s goal through Mrdja’s headed effort.

Bruins’s tap in to complete and easy days work for the Dutch in the 86th minute.

Italy sealed a place in the 2008 Beijing Olympics after seeing off Portugal 4-3 on penalties in their European Under-21 championship play-off in Nijmegen last night.

England Under-21s lost a marathon shoot-out 13-12 to Holland after both sides were level 1-1 after normal time in the semi-final of the European Under-21 Championship.

Penalty Drama For Both Sides

Italy hopes of reaching the semi-finals of the European Under-21 championship were in tatters last night despite a 3-1 win over the Czech Republic.

England qualified for the semi-finals of the European Under-21 Championship after beating Serbia 2-0 thanks to goals from Leroy Lita and Matt Derbyshire.

Belgium reached the semi-finals of the European Under-21 Championship after Sebastian Pocognoli’s thunderbolt earned his side a 2-2 draw to finish second and crucially ahead of Portugal in Group A.

Kevin Mirallas was on target for the Belgians early on with a deft header before Maceo Rigters equalised with aplomb in the 13th minute with a low finish. Royston Drenthe then put the Dutch ahead in the 37th minute with a curling free-kick before Pocognoli vicious left-foot strike twenty minutes from time secured the vital point for the Belgians to qualify.

Portugal missed out on a place in the semi-finals despite romping to a 4-0 win over Israel in Groningen on Saturday.

Goals from ex-Everton loanee Manuel Fernandes, Bolton’s Ricardo Vaz Te, Miguel Veloso and Man Utd’s Nani weren’t enough to pip Belgium in second place following their 2-2 draw with Holland last night.

Italy staged a comeback from two goals down to draw with England 2-2 in an entertaining Group B clash in Arnhem.

Sunderland target Dave Nugent was first on the scoresheet with a deft header in the 24th minute before Leroy Lita doubled his side’s advantage two minutes later.

Italy got a goal back through leftback Giorgio Chiellini following a goalmouth scramble before Alberto Aquilani scored the game’s equaliser with a low drive in the 69th minute to keep alive Italy’s faint hopes of reaching the semi finals.

Bosko Jankovic’s header deep into injury time sealed all three points for Serbia and a place in the semi finals following their 1-0 win over the Czech Republic on Thursday.

Holland became the first side to qualify for semi finals of the European Under-21 Championship after beating a Nani led Portugal 2-1 in Groningen last night. A penalty from Ryan Babel and Maceo Rigters smart finish sealed all three points for the Dutch to remain on top of Group A with 6 points.