The medal and placement games of the 2024/25 IFAF U19 European Championships get underway this weekend with games in Finland, Germany and Denmark. All games will be broadcast live on IFAF.TV.

The three-team pool of nations that will determine the overall champions and silver and bronze medalists sees Finland host Austria at the ISS Stadion in Vantaa on Sunday at 2pm local time.

Austria earned a bye to the final stages having claimed the bronze medal at the 2024 IFAF U20 Junior World Championships last summer in Edmonton, Canada, by recording the highest-ever placing by a European nation. Finland’s path came through France who they edged 14-17 in the Lille suburb of Villeneuve d'Ascq to qualify from Group A after both nations had beaten Italy.

 “As a team, we have only one goal – the European Championship gold,” said Finland head coach Toni Uusitalo. “Everything we do is aimed at achieving this goal. The players and the coaching staff are one hundred percent committed to this objective, which is evident in everything the team does.

“The past few weeks have been dedicated to intensive preparation so that we are ready to face the challenges and play the best possible game against Austria.”

Finland won the first three championships (1992, 1994, 1996) while four-time silver medalist Sweden, who make up the title-seeking trio, aims for a first tournament win having finished as runners up in 2019 and 2022.

Austria has dominated the competition since 2011, winning six straight titles and boasts strong leaders on both sides of the ball in quarterback Kilian Zivko and linebacker Jakob Scheucher.

“The Finns already won two qualification games last season and play strong football, which means they are well-rehearsed,” said Austria head coach Florien Grein. “But we won’t be intimidated by that. Our mission is clear: we want to continue the proud tradition of the U19 national team and show the world that the road to the European Championship title goes through Austria.”

Sunday, April 20: Finland vs Austria, ISS Stadion, Vantaa, 2pm Saturday, May 10: Sweden vs Finland, Bergshamra IP, Stockholm, 12.30pm September 20/21 Austria vs Sweden TBC (All kickoff times are local)

In the four-team battle to determine fourth through seventh place, two semifinals see three-time European champion Germany host Italy on Saturday (kickoff 2pm CER) and Denmark take on Czechia on Sunday (kickoff 4pm CET). The gold and bronze medal games will be played on the weekend of September 20/21.

“Germany’s junior team is a tough opponent,” said Italy head coach Giorgio Longhi, whose team travels to the Dietrich Lang Sportzentrum in Neu-Ulm. “We know they’ll be hungry, and we’re preparing to match their intensity on every snap.”

Germany head coach Peter Daletzki said: “We just got done with our last practice in preparation for the game against Italy. After a great week with our team, I can say that we are confident to put up a great show on Saturday for the crowd. We’re excited to finally get to play with this great group of guys.”

Czechia heads to the Vejle Atletik Stadion hoping to cause an upset away to a Denmark team that won the bronze medal last time around and before that in 2015.

“It will be a long trip, but our players are motivated and committed to giving their best,” said Czechia head coach Jan Štiegler. “We understand our role as underdogs, but we believe in the path we’ve set few years ago - one that brought us a great win against Belgium last year and Spain and the Swiss national team the year before. This game is another important step in continuing that journey.”

Saturday, April 19: Germany vs Italy, Dietrich Lang Sportzentrum, Neu-Ulm, 2pm Sunday, April 20: Denmark vs Czechia Vejle Atletik Stadion, Vejle, 4pm September 20/21: Winners of Game 1 vs winners of Game 2, TBC September 20/21: Runner-up of Game 1 vs runner-up of Game 2, TBC (All kickoff times are local)

Photo: James Maclennan