International: Spain qualifies for Euro under-21

With a 3-1 victory after extra time against Switzerland, Spain qualified on Tuesday for the European under-21 championship next summer.

Barcelona central defender Gerard Piqué (21) and Barcelona forward Bojan (18) played the whole match.

Barcelona defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets (20) entered in the 76th minute and got booked. Barcelona wing attacker Pedro (21) got injured during training last week (read more here).

Israel was eliminated yesterday after a 1-3 loss against Italy. Barcelona Atlètic wing attacker Gai Assulin (17) played the whole game.



The draw for the final tournament takes place on Wednesday 3 December at the Svenska Mässan exhibition centre in Gothenburg.

Qualified nations for the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship:
Belarus
England
Finland
Germany
Italy
Serbia
Spain
Sweden

International: Busquets scores in Spain debut

The Spanish u-21 national team lost yesterday with 2-1 against Switzerland.

Barcelona central defender Gerard Piqué (21), Barcelona defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets (20) and Barcelona forward Bojan (18) started the game. Barcelona wing attacker Pedro (21) got injured during training earlier this week (read more here).

Busquets, who made his international debut, scored the 0-1 in the 18th minute with a header out of a corner kick. The Catalan midfielder, who got booked for protesting, was replaced in the 67th minute. Piqué and Bojan played the whole match.

Barcelona Atlètic wing attacker Gai Assulin (17) played yesterday with the Israel u-21 team against Italy. The game ended with a scoreless draw. Gai was replaced in the 81st minute.

On Tuesday, the return games will be played. The winners of the ties qualify for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship that will take place in Sweden in June next year.

International: Piqué, Pedro and Gai

Barcelona central defender Gerard Piqué(21) and Barcelona wing attacker Pedro (21) won yesterday with the Spanish Under-21 national team against Russia with 2-0.

In the 76th minute Piqué, who was the captain of the team, scored the second goal with a header out of a corner kick. Pedro was replaced after 72 minutes (1-0).

Barcelona Atlètic wing attacker Gai Assulin (17) played with Israel 0-0 against Germany. He was replaced in the 62nd minute.

Spain (as group winner) and Israel (as one of four best runner-ups) qualified for the play-offs. The winners from each two-legged tie, that will be played next month, will join hosts Sweden in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in June next year.