Johannesburg - UEFA president Michel Platini has praised Europe's three World Cup semifinal teams for promoting young, creative players.

Platini says Germany, the Netherlands and Spain have also been the three most successful nations in European youth tournaments in recent years.

The former France great says the continent's success in South Africa is "a victory for the beautiful game" and is not down to good luck.

Platini says it's a reward for the long-term efforts by three associations to invest in education and training.

Under Platini's leadership since 2007, UEFA has promoted a 'homegrown player' rule encouraging clubs to select under-23 players who were trained in that home country.

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