After a thrilling final Tech United wins the European title in robot soccer again. The team of VDL Robot Sports is beaten with a convincing result of 13-1. Subsequently, Tech United plays a match against the professional womans team of Guimarães, Vitória SC. Tech United managed to suprise the women with a strong series of penalties. Read here everything on the tournament week of the European cup.

It is great to finally be at the European championship again after a break of almost three years. The team members could not wait to explore the match location after the flight.The past years we did not play matches, but we did not do nothing. A lot of developments from the past years wait for further integration in the hard- and software of our soccer players. Some of these new developments are the swerve-platform of our robot, estimating bouncing balls better and the "human dribble", where the robots play the ball in front of them and control them again, so they can dribble over long distances.

It was also an honor to provide a demonstration during the opening ceremony. There were many enthusiastic volunteers that tried to stop a penalty, among them alsoNelson Felgueiras (Minister of Sport from Guimarães).

At the day of the finals Tech United played with fast combinations, clean passes and well aimed shots. Our players "de Moer" and "van der Tandwiel" scored quick goals. After also a few good saves of our goalkeeper "van Sleutelen" we went into half time with 7-0. In the second half the match was a bit more equal and VDL scored a goal. The end score was 13-1.

After the final the robots play a match against the professional ladies team of the local soccer clubVitória SC. The five ladies begin the match very strond and score three goals with good combinations which our robots had difficulty defending. Then the ladies gave our robots a bit more space to also show their abilities. The match ends in a 4-4 draw, so we had to take penalties. The intense penalty training of our robots payed off: Tech United scored 4 out of 5 penalties, while Vitória SC scored 3. Despite the fact that the ladies did not play at full power, this match was a milestone in the RoboCup history. A great step towards the goal to win from the human world champions in 2050.

The team now looks forward to the World Cup in Bangkok which begins in only a few weeks (10-17 July).

Watch the news item of the European Cup from SIC Channel 3 here:

'