For the first time, a host nation was chosen ahead of the competition – the Netherlands, who were also the defending champions, were exempt from qualifying.

[5] After the final, some commotion arose in the Netherlands because several Dutch internationals with Surinamese roots carried the flag of Suriname with them during the trophy presentation.

[citation needed] Dutch coach Foppe de Haan expressed the actions of these players as "inappropriate".

Man of the Match: Ryan Babel (Netherlands) Assistant referees: Manuel Navarro (Switzerland) Tomáš Mokoš (Slovakia) Fourth official: Stéphane Lannoy (France) Scott Carson Paulo Ribeiro Branislav Ivanović Giorgio Chiellini Leighton Baines Steven Taylor Manuel da Costa Gianni Zuiverloon Duško Tošić Jan Vertonghen Ashley Young Royston Drenthe Otman Bakkal Nigel Reo-Coker Miguel Veloso Manuel Fernandes Alessandro Rosina Alberto Aquilani Kevin Mirallas Maceo Rigters Leroy Lita David Nugent Ryan Babel 4 goals 3 goals 2 goals 1 goal The 2007 European Under-21 Championship also served as the European qualifying round for the 2008 Olympic football tournament.

Europe's four places at the Olympics were to be filled by the four semi-finalists; however, because England, one of the semi-finalists, cannot compete independently at the Olympics, a play-off match between Portugal and Italy, the two third-placed teams in each group, was arranged to identify the fourth European team to go to Beijing.