Tuesday 14 October 2014 21:40, UK
Spain will not defend their European Under-21 Championship title in the Czech Republic next summer after they were beaten in the qualification play-offs by Serbia.
The Spaniards had won the tournament in 2011 and 2013 but, after a goalless draw in the first leg in Serbia, they lost 2-1 in Cadiz on Tuesday night and will miss out on the showpiece next summer.
A Jose Gaya own-goal had given Serbia a vital away goal in the first-half before Sergi Roberto and Filip Kostic traded goals in stoppage-time.
England will join Serbia and the hosts next summer after they beat Croatia 4-2 on aggregate, with Italy completing a 4-2 win over Slovakia over two legs.
Germany won 2-0 on the night to see off Ukraine 5-0 on aggregate, Portugal beat Holland 5-4 in a thriller to advance 7-4 and Denmark overcame Iceland on away goals after a 1-1 draw. Nicolaj Thomsen's last-minute goal for Denmark proved as good as a winner - Iceland did equalise with an injury-time penalty, but the damage had been done.
Sweden claimed the final spot available in the eight-team tournament as they overturned a 2-0 deficit from the first leg of their tie against France to advance 4-3, with Isaac Thelin and Oscar Lewicki both scoring twice in Halmstad.
