Euro Championships Day 2 – Sunu & Özyakup In Action

Day two of The UEFA European Under 17 Championship’s got under way this afternoon, with Gilles Sunu’s France looking to build on their 2-1 win over Ireland, against the Tournament favourites Spain. While Arsenal’s other representative new signing Oguzhan Özyakup was also involved as his Dutch team took on an impressive Serbia side which boasted top scorer Danijel Aleksić.

Oguzhan Özyakup started from the bench, and did not feature as Castillion scored a stunning goal to win Holland the game against Serbia.

Gilles Sunu also started from the bench, but played the final 18 minutes as France drew with Spain 3-3 in a hugely entertaining affair, between the two tournament favourites.

Scroll down for full reports on both fixtures.

Oguzhan Özyakup – Holland 1-0 Serbia

Oguzhan Özyakup was again left on the substitutes bench, as Holland coach Albert Stuivenberg stuck with the same side that lost 3-0 to Turkey ahead of the important clash with Serbia.

A win for either side was vital, if Serbia got the points they were in the knock out stages, and the Dutch were out, but a win for the Netherlands would blow the group wide open. Despite the Serbians having three points over there opponents, it was the Dutch that started better and had the first chance.

Castillion swiftly forcing Vilson Čaković into a save with a close-range angled shot. But the fore mentioned Danijel Aleksić then tried to snatch his side a lead, with two early shots that worked keeper Jeroen Zoet, as both teams cancelled each other out in a hugely entertaining affair.

Ajax’s Castillion looked the danger man for Holland, and after being called a “disappointment” by his manager he stuck home a powerful drive, after bursting in from the left wing he placed the ball in the tiny gap between the stopper and the post to give the Dutch a 33 minute lead. One they would take into the half time break.

Half Time – Holland 1-0 Serbia

The Serbians came out for the second period with a fresher mentality, Vuk Mitošević hit stunning effort which rebounded off the post. Before Aleksić curled in a free-kick that Zoet dived to save in a dominant spell. Then came more chances for Serbia and there skipper Aleksić, he crashed a header at the Dutch keeper before substitute Lorenzo Ebecilio raced clear but slipped his shot wide for Holland.

It was not enough, and it finished 1-0, Özyakup did not get off the subs bench.

Full Time – Holland 1-0 Serbia

Gilles Sunu – France 3-3 Spain

Having been replaced in France’s 2-1 win over Ireland on Sunday, Gilles Sunu found himself on the bench as holders Spain took on the French in a fixture many say was between the two best Under 17 teams in the world.

Yannis Tafer was restored to the starting lineup, and it was his goal that gave France an 11th minute lead. But Thiago nearly hit back for Spain following a free kick situation, then came more chances for both sides in an end to end encounter between both teams, before the Spanish hit back through Thiago just after the half an hour mark.

Half Time – France 1-1 Spain

Immediately after the restart France had restored their lead. Oriol conceded a free kick on the edge of the box, and Lyon wonder kid Clement Grenier smashed home a stunning effort. But before France had time to celebrate the goal Spain had levelled in a hugely exciting contest.

Thiago’s corner was converted by defender Pulido to level the game at two a piece. Then France hit back 3 minutes later as Lacazette’s corner worked its way to Remy who crashed home on 48 minutes. Then the goals dried up, but the chances did not with Kakuta coming close on various occasions.

Gilles Sunu was brought in on 62 minutes in place of Lacazette, as France aimed for a fourth to seal the win and put themselves in the next phase of the competition. But they were caught out in spectacular fashion as Thiago smashed home a free-kick on 67 minutes to level the game at 3-3.

Then came a period of changes for both times, and the game lost its flow. Finally petering out in a share of the spoils.

Full Time – France 3-3 Spain

Article By – J.Sanderson

13 thoughts on “Euro Championships Day 2 – Sunu & Özyakup In Action

  • May 7, 2008 at 7:10 pm
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    Let me guess… Sunu ran around doing f all productive.

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  • May 7, 2008 at 7:44 pm
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    Farrukh

    Even though he came on with about 20 minutes to go he only touched the ball a couple of times, i just do not get what Arsene Wenger sees in the kid, as for the game there was lots of goals in it but the quality was average at best and the only player who stood out and had that X-Factor about his game was Chelsea’s Geal Kaktuka

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  • May 7, 2008 at 8:01 pm
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    Its difficult to come on in a game like this, and adapt to the pace quickly

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  • May 7, 2008 at 8:32 pm
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    Are these player’s actually that good? I mean, I would expect them to be starting but they seem to have minor roles, usually coming off the bench to amass to nothing spectacular, or even that good.

    I’m not meaning to play down their talents, but just wondering if they have enough to succeed at Arsenal in the future?

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  • May 7, 2008 at 8:40 pm
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    Ozyakup is only 15 mate, all the other players here are 17, So its a credit to himself for getting this far.

    Sunu started the first game, so todays games do not offer a fair reflection

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  • May 7, 2008 at 8:42 pm
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    Thanks again for the excellent reports Sanderson. Great read.

    I really appreciate your work here on the blog, there’s no other blog that gives as much insight as yours.

    Regarding Sunu: the guy is only 17!!! and is still very much in the process of not only developing his game but also adapting it to the english game, so he’s probaly going through some growing pain so to speak. Personally I’m a fan of Sunu as he has got tremondous qualities: he’s a hard worker, runs the channels, quick and has very good technique. Wenger wouldn’t have given the greenlight to sign him, for 1 million plus add-ons, if he didn’t think he kid had a special talent. I think Grimandi has found a great player in Sunu.

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  • May 7, 2008 at 8:56 pm
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    In his defence, I thought Sunu had a very good match against Ireland. He showed very good touch, spacial awareness and technique. This was the first time I have ever seen Sunu play, so forgive me if I’m wrong, but I thought his main fault as a striker, was his sheer work ethic; he was never in goalscoring positions due to his determination to drop back, tackle back and receive the ball from deep positions.

    He definitely looked as though he had potential, but he still has a lot of work to do.

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  • May 7, 2008 at 10:39 pm
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    Faruk’s a pr*ck.

    Thats the way to go innit. Diss a 17 year old player.

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  • May 7, 2008 at 10:45 pm
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    “Yannis Tafer was restored to the starting lineup”
    Restored suggests he wasn’t in the starting lineup in the previous games, when he was.

    Lacazette was the player who replaced Sunu in the lineup :)

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  • May 7, 2008 at 11:39 pm
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    What I have seen from Sunu is that he looks like a really frustrating player. He obviously has a lot of quality but he just seems to lack something to reach the next level. Maybe he is one of those who play okay and then one day they just bloom (Adebayor anybody). Just because Sunu is not as good as Henry was at the same age, doesn’t mean he is no good. I’m not saying he is going to make it, but he still has the potential. I would like to see: Who do you all think is better, Sunu or Fonte?

    JS. Do you know if Oguzhan is born in ’92 or ’93?

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  • May 7, 2008 at 11:51 pm
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    Right now, Fonte is better, but Sunu is already physically ready, so he can just focus on his technical game, where Fonte needs really work very hard on both.

    Sunu could make it, Fonte won’t, not with us anyway

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  • May 8, 2008 at 8:49 pm
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    This lads seems to belong to the future and they don’t need to be rushed ….Hopefully they can learn from the big boys and be greater and maybe the will learn to love the team not another team in Italy or rather they will not play for money but for the love they have for the club and the fans…any soccer lover who will like to interact with other fans and dicuss any soccer related issues should check out Soccer fan base dot com it is free to join.

    Reply

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