U17 five carry European pride

Spain bid
UEFA European Under-17 Championship winners Spain, England, Belgium, France and Germany all earned their places in the continental finals in May and now have the chance to take the global crown in an expanded 24-team event between Saturday and 9 September. Spain have reached the final twice before, including on their last entry in 2003, and begin on Sunday in Group C against Honduras, with Argentina and Syria also involved in Ulsan.

Saturday games
England, runners-up behind Spain in Belgium three months ago, are in this tournament for the first time and are the first of the European teams to kick off when they play Korea DPR in Jeju tomorrow. Three-time winners Brazil and New Zealand make up a tough Group B, while in Saturday’s other games Costa Rica play Togo and the hosts meet Peru in Group A in Suwon.

France aim
France became only the second European nation to win the title in 2001, following the Soviet Union’s success in 1987, and start on Sunday against African champions Nigeria in Gwangyang, where the other Group D teams Japan and Haiti also meet. On Monday, Belgium start in Group E against Tunisia in Changwon where Tajikistan also take on the United States, while Germany compete in Group F in Cheonan, playing Colombia before meeting Trinidad and Tobago and then Ghana. The top two from each group plus the four best third-placed teams move into the last 16, and from then on it is a knockout competition. Holders Mexico did not qualify.

Past winners
1985: Nigeria
1987: Soviet Union
1989: Saudi Arabia
1991: Ghana
1993: Nigeria
1995: Ghana
1997: Brazil
1999: Brazil
2001: France
2003: Brazil
2005: Mexico

(UEFA representatives in bold)