U17 contenders set sights on 2012 finals

The 2011/12 UEFA European Under-17 Championship begins on 21 September with the first of 13 qualifying round groups.

Hosts Slovenia will play in the finals next May and seven of the 52 contenders are to join them after two sets of mini-tournaments. The qualifying round will run from 21 September to 2 November, with the first games in Group 8 as hosts Moldova play Sweden and Georgia face Bulgaria.

Following their maiden U17 title win in Serbia last May, the Netherlands kick off their defence in Group 6, hosted by Bosnia and Herzegovina, and also containing Latvia and the nation the Dutch beat in the 2011 semi-finals to depose as champions, England.

The top two in each group plus the two third-placed teams with the best record against the leading pair in their pool progress to the elite round draw on 29 November, with the seven groups in spring 2012 to produce the finalists to join Slovenia.

Qualifying round groups (*hosts)
Group 1 (23-28 September): Norway, Hungary*, Andorra, Belarus

Group 2 (24-29 October): Portugal*, Romania, Russia, Finland

Group 3 (24-29 October): Scotland, Turkey, San Marino, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*

Group 4 (19-24 October): Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland, Kazakhstan*, Liechtenstein

Group 5 (12-17 October): Italy, Austria, Denmark*, Cyprus

Group 6 (28-31 October): England, Netherlands (holders), Latvia, Bosnia and Herzegovina*

Group 7 (25-30 October): Belgium, Croatia*, Ukraine, Azerbaijan

Group 8 (21-26 September): Georgia, Sweden, Bulgaria, Moldova*

Group 9 (17-22 October): Wales, Serbia*, Armenia, Lithuania

Group 10 (28 October-2 November): Northern Ireland, France, Luxembourg*, Faroe Islands

Group 11 (19-24 October): Spain, Poland, Montenegro*, Malta

Group 12 (13-18 October): Slovakia, Germany, Albania, Estonia*

Group 13 (12-17 October): Greece, Switzerland, Israel*, Iceland