Netherlands successfully defended its European Under 21 Championship crown with a thumping 4-1 victory over Serbia during the final match at the Euroborg stadium on Saturday.

Goals from Otman Bakkal, Ryan Babel, Maceo Rigters and Luigi Bruins were enough for the Dutch team to complete a comfortable victory over Serbia and lift the trophy for the second successive time.

Both the times were on equal footing and were separated by Bakkal's goal in the 17th minute. Daniel de Ridder crossed the ball straight to Bakkal who controlled the ball before shooting past Damir Kahriman to give his team the lead.

The Dutch continued to create openings, with De Ridder getting an easy chance to score, but looped his shot high over the bar. Netherlands ended the first half leading the game, but Serbia were starting to get nearer to spoiling the host team's party.

Serbia very nearly equalized in the opening minute of the second half. Basta took control of the ball from Erik Pieters and drove in the ball but keeper Boy Waterman was alert enough to block the shot.

Netherlands got the second goal they were looking for at the stroke of the hour when Ryan Babel latched on to a low cross from De Ridder and poked the ball into the net. Any hopes for a Serbian revival in the remainder of the match suffered a vital blow in the 62nd minute when Kolorav received his marching orders from the referee after collecting his second yellow card of the match following a foul on Babel.

The Dutch took full control of the match and scored the third goal in the 67th minute, with Rigters went round Kahriman to finish the tournament as the leading scorer of the competition. Things worsened for Serbia after the Dutch were awarded a penalty in the 71st minute. But Babel's attempt was spectacularly saved by Kahriman.

Serbia pulled one back in the 79th minute, when Dragan Mrdja headed home a corner, raising hopes for a late push from his team. However Netherlands restored its 3 goal lead in the 87th minute Bruins came off the bench to score his first goal of the campaign.