Fifteen places on offer as U17 elite round begins
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
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Holders France and fellow two-time winners England, the Netherlands and Spain are among the 32 teams competing for 15 final tournament places when the elite round begins.
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Holders France and fellow two-time winners Spain, England and the Netherlands are among the 32 teams competing for 15 UEFA European Under-17 Championship final tournament places alongside hosts Azerbaijan when the elite round begins on Friday.
Elite round groups
Group 1 (28 March-2 April): Czech Republic*, Denmark, Switzerland, Scotland
Group 2 (24-29 March): England*, Ukraine, Turkey, Finland
Group 3 (15-20 March): Russia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Georgia*
Group 4 (24-29 March): Germany*, Netherlands, Slovakia, Bulgaria
Group 5 (16-21 March): Portugal, Croatia*, Sweden, Wales
Group 6 (29 March-3 April): France* (holders), Austria, Greece, Iceland
Group 7 (28 March-2 April): Republic of Ireland, Poland*, Serbia, Montenegro
Group 8 (11-16 March): Spain, Belgium*, Israel, Slovenia
*Hosts
• The eight group winners and the seven runners-up with the best records against the teams first and third in their section will join hosts Azerbaijan in the finals draw on 8 April, with the matches from 5 to 21 May.
Preview
• Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Wales all hope to join Azerbaijan in making U17 final tournament debuts.
• France beat Greece 1-0 in their last group game to reach the 2015 quarter-finals on their way to the title.
• The five teams that went through from third place in their qualifying round groups were able to play sides from their sections in that stage: Iceland drew 1-1 with Greece in their group and Slovenia were beaten 2-1 by Belgium.
• Germany, who received a bye to this round as top seeds, have played the Netherlands in three finals. Germany won in 2009 but the Netherlands triumphed in 2011 and 2012.
• Last month, Germany won the prestigious Algarve tournament, beating the Netherlands 1-0 and Portugal 5-0 either side of a 1-1 draw with England. the Netherlands drew 1-1 with Portugal and beat England 2-0 to finish second.
• Portugal boast qualifying round top scorer João Filipe of Benfica.
• Russia defeated Italy on penalties in the 2013 final.