The first U-23 European football championship , also known as the European youth team championship , was held between 1970 and 1972. Selected teams of players under the age of 23 from 23 associations took part in it. After two finals, Czechoslovakia won the European championship against the USSR .
The 23 teams were divided into eight groups. There were two groups of four, three groups of three and three groups of two. It was played back and forth against every other team in the group. The 8 group winners qualified for the quarter-finals. From this round onwards, the matches were played in cup mode with a return leg. There was no “final tournament” in the true sense of the word, the encounters took place in the host's respective countries.
Performance of the German-speaking teams
BR Germany
GermanyGermany met Poland , Albania and Turkey in qualifying group 8 . Five of the six qualifying games could be won (Albania: 2: 0; 2: 0, Turkey: 2: 0; 3: 0, and Poland: 1: 0) Only Poland managed to draw (1: 1) against Germany. Thus, Germany was four points ahead of Poland group winners and made it through the qualification.
Poland 1944Albania 1946Turkey
GDR
The GDR met the Netherlands and Yugoslavia in Group 7 . The GDR could only win one game (Netherlands: 3: 1). The other three games against Yugoslavia (0: 1; 1: 3) and against the Netherlands (1: 2) were lost. Thus, the GDR took third and last place and missed the qualification with three points behind the Netherlands.
Germany Democratic Republic 1949NetherlandsYugoslavia Socialist Federal Republic
Austria
AustriaAustria met Sweden and Italy in Group 6 . Austria could also only win one game (Italy: 2-1). The other three games against Sweden (0: 2; 0: 2) and against Italy (1: 3) were lost. Thus Austria and the GDR took third and last place and clearly missed the qualification with four points behind Sweden.
SwedenItaly
Switzerland
The Switzerland met in a group of two to the sole opponents Greece . After losing the first leg in Switzerland 1-0, Greece also won the second leg 2-0.
SwitzerlandGreece 1970
↑ According to the regulations, two players at a time could already have exceeded this age limit
↑ All final dates according to Günter Simon, Horst Friedemann, Wolf Hempel, Klaus Schlegel: European Championship, European Cup 76 ; Sportverlag Berlin 1976, license number 150 355/51/76, p. 227
Germany met Poland , Albania and Turkey in qualifying group 8 . Five of the six qualifying games could be won (Albania: 2: 0; 2: 0, Turkey: 2: 0; 3: 0, and Poland: 1: 0) Only Poland managed to draw (1: 1) against Germany. Thus, Germany was four points ahead of Poland group winners and made it through the qualification.
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Austria met Sweden and Italy in Group 6 . Austria could also only win one game (Italy: 2-1). The other three games against Sweden (0: 2; 0: 2) and against Italy (1: 3) were lost. Thus Austria and the GDR took third and last place and clearly missed the qualification with four points behind Sweden.
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Czechoslovakia
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Romania
Finland
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Bulgaria
Hungary
Norway
France
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Soviet Union
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Spain
Denmark
Portugal
BR Germany
1: 0 Blochin (49.) 
