"Draw for the Final Round of the 18^th USPE European Police Championship Football Men 2023"

On 23^rd May 2023, the draw for the Final Round of the 18^th USPE EPC Football Men from 21^st to 28^th July 2023 in Newcastle/United Kingdom took place at the USPE Office in Meiningen/Germany via video conference.

According to item 10.4 of the respective Invitation to Enter, United Kingdom as the host is seeded as A1. Germany as the reigning champion, which qualified for the Final Round, is seeded as B1.

In the presence of USPE President Georgios Tzatzakis, USPE Secretary General Andreas Röhner, the USPE Technical Delegate for Football, Mr. Laszlo Gyori, the 2021 Olympics Silver Medallist in 50 km Race Walking and Thuringian police officer, Mr. Jonathan Hilbert, as well as representatives of the qualified countries and the USPE Office, the grouping and position of the remaining six teams were decided by lot with the following result:

"18^th USPE EPC Football Men 2023 – Qualification Round 2 – Match 3"

The Qualification Match 3 of the 18^th USPE EPC Football Men 2023 took place from 8^th to 10^th May 2023 in Monaco - Didier Deschamps Stadium - with the following result:

Monaco: 0 – Denmark: 5

Kick off was on 9^th May 2023 at 12:00. Both teams started cautiously. After ten minutes Denmark scored an easy goal from a counter attack. In the rest of the first half both teams had changes, but there were no more goals.

At the beginning of the second half Monaco did everything to equalise, but they couldn't take their chances. Denmark managed to score the second goal. That decided the outcome of this Qualification Match. Players of Monaco got more and more tired, and in the remaining time Denmark scored three more goals. They deservedly got into the Final Round of this EPC.

Acknowledgement to ASSP Monaco for the excellent organisation and the great hospitality.

"18^th USPE EPC Football Men 2023 – Qualification Round 2 – Match 2"

The Qualification Match 2 of the 18^th USPE EPC Football Men 2023 took place from 21^st to 23^rd March 2023 in Prague/Czech Republic with the following result:

Czech Republic: 3 – Finland: 0

Kick off was on 22^nd March 2023 at 15:00. The Czech Republic took the initiative from the start. The play was mostly on Finland's square, but in the first half they managed to hold up the attacks of the Czechs. In the second half the home team started strong and managed to score in the 52^nd and 56^th minutes. This determined the outcome of the match. The Finnish team led counter attacks, but these were stopped easily. Towards the end of the match the Czech Republic scored their third goal. The teams played a fair game. There were no yellow or red cards given.

Congratulations to the Czech team. They deserve to be in the Final Round. Credit to Finland for their great fight.

Thank you to the Czech Police Sport Federation UNITOP for the high quality organisation.

"18^th USPE EPC Football Men 2023 – Qualification Round 2 – Match 8"

The Qualification Match 8 of the 18^th USPE EPC Football Men 2023 took place from 29^th – 31^st March 2023 in Rungis/France with the following result:

France: 0 – Netherlands: 1

Kick-off was on 30^th March 2023 at 15:00. Netherlands started offensive but soon France followed at the same pace. Both sides were fairly evenly matched with chances to score on both sides. There was a huge opportunity for France in the first half, but a Dutch player was on the right spot at the right time and kept the ball from reaching target. In the first half a Dutch player was sent off after a violation. The Dutch team continued the game with 10 players. The score at half time remained 0-0.

In the second half the teams challenged each other continuously, but no one managed to score. A second violation from a French player led to a second yellow card and he was sent off. The match continued with 10 players on both sides. Both teams were pressing to score as time was running out and it was still 0-0. There continued to be scoring chances, but the strikers either missed the target or the goalkeeper saved.

In added time a Dutch offence was ceased by two French players, just outside the 16 meters line. This led to a free kick from a very hazardous spot. The free kick that followed managed to pass the French wall and finally the ball hit target. The score was 0-1 for the Netherlands. The Dutch team was ecstatic as they knew that little time was left for a French equalizer. A few minutes later the match was sealed by the final blow of the whistle. The Dutch team had claimed their spot for the Final Round later on this year in Newcastle/United Kingdom..

Big credit to a good fighting team from France and congratulations to the team from the Netherlands.

"18^th USPE EPC Football Men 2023 – Qualification Round 2 – Match 4"

The Qualification Match 4 of the 18^th USPE EPC Football Men 2023 took place from 14^th to 16^th February 2023 in Lillestrøm/Norway with the following result:

Norway: 1 – Ireland: 3

Kick-off was at 12:50. Both teams started cautiously. There were a few corners on both sides. From the 30^th minute onwards, Norway took the initiative and had three great scoring chances, but the strikers either missed the target or the goalkeeper saved. As usual in football, after the missed chances, Ireland took the lead in the 41^st minute with the first shot on goal. Half-time score 0:1.

In the second half Norway put their opponents under pressure but Ireland defended well and tried to score from counter attacks. In the 59^th minute, Ireland lost the ball just outside their own penalty area and Norway equalized (1-1). Norway continued to attack, but again could not make use of their chances. For a long time, it looked as if the match would go to penalties, but after a mistake in the Norwegian defense, Ireland took the lead again in the 90^th minute and hardly gave the hosts a chance to equalize (1:2). In added time, the home team tried everything, but the goal in the 93^rd minute sealed the victory for Ireland (1:3).

Big credit to a good fighting team from Norway and congratulations to the team from Ireland.

"18^th USPE EPC Football Men 2023 – Qualification Round 2 – Match 5"

The Qualification Match 5 of the 18^th USPE EPC Football Men 2023 took place from 7^th to 9^th November 2022 in Wohlen/Switzerland with the following result:

Switzerland: 2 – Hungary: 1

The match was played with high intensity, a lot of infights and two equal opponents. Both teams did their utmost during the match. Hungary scored the first goal but short before half time Switzerland also scored.
In second half the Swiss team had a little more ball procession and it seemed they had a little more power than the Hungarian team. After 72 minutes Switzerland scored and both teams had after that some options to score more goals, but two good goalkeepers prevented this.
It was a fair played match and all payed respect to each other and the referees.

Big credit to a good fighting team from Hungary and congratulations to the team from Switzerland.

Approx. 100 spectators watched the game.

"18^th USPE EPC Football Men 2023 – Qualification Round 2 – Match 6"

The Qualification Match 6 of the 18^th USPE EPC Football Men 2023 took place from 30^th November to 2^nd December 2022 in Athens/Greece with the following result:

Greece: 0 – Germany: 3

It was raining in Athens for two days before the match. Fortunately the clouds went away by the day of the match, but the pitch was very deep, so conditions were not ideal.

Germany started the match confidently. Mostly they kept the ball. They had a few corners, but could not create any chances. In the middle of the first half Germany took the lead. After ten more minutes Germany scored the second goal. Towards half time Greece had a chance, but could not score.

The second half was played with high intensity. Greece put pressure on its opponent and they had a couple of opportunities, but they still could not score. Germany defended well and tried to create chances from counter attacks. The third goal from one of these attacks secured the victory for the title holder.

>> Picture Gallery

"18^th USPE EPC Football Men 2023 – Qualification Round 2 – Match 7"

The exciting Qualification Match 7 of the 18^th USPE EPC Football Men 2023 took place from 18^th to 20^th October 2022 in Sofia/Bulgaria with the following result:

Bulgaria: 1 – Slovak Republic: 0

The match was played with high intensity, a lot of infights and two equal opponents. Both teams did their utmost during the match, but two very strong and solid defenses kept the attackers from scoring except the one goal that Bulgaria scored.
The high intensity resulted in a number of yellow cards and one red card after two yellow cards.

Big credit to a good fighting team from Slovakia and congratulation to Bulgaria with the qualification for the Final Round from 21^st to 28^th July 2023 in Newcastle/United Kingdom.

>> Picture Gallery

"Draw for the Qualification Matches of the 18^th USPE European Police Championship Football Men 2023"

On 17^th June 2022 the draw for the Qualification Matches of the 18^th USPE EPC Football Men from 21^st to 28^th July 2023 in Newcastle/United Kingdom took place during the 3^rd USPE EPC Football Women in Trondheim/Norway.

According to point 10 of the respective Invitation to Enter, the 1^st & 2^nd Qualification Rounds were drawn by lot in the presence of USPE President Luc Smeyers, USPE Secretary General Andreas Röhner, USPE General Treasurer Harry Brüngger, USPE Technical Delegate for Football Ole Jacobsen as well as representatives of the registered countries with the following results:

>> Draw for 1^st Qualification Round
>> Draw for 2^nd Qualification Round

The grand Opening Ceremony of the 3^rd USPE EPC Football Women, the first European Police Championship in 2022, from 13^th to 20^th June 2022 in Trondheim/Norway took place on the evening of 13^th June 2022 in the beautiful Lerkendal Stadion with the participation of the qualified countries, representatives of the USPE and the organiser, Norges Politiidrettsforbund, as well as the Chief of the Police of Trondheim.

>> Up-to-date information of this Final Round can be found on the USPE Instagram channel:















Finale





Semi Finale

3^rd Match day









2^nd Match day









1^st Match day