UEFA European Under-17 Championship holders Russia must best Portugal, Northern Ireland and Iceland to reach the finals again after the Elite round draw was made in Nyon.
Final rematch
Russia were drawn in Group 3, and in mini-tournament hosts Portugal face the nation that won this tournament in 2003. Group 4 features a rematch of the 2005 final between Turkey and the Netherlands, with Wales and Belarus also involved. Last season's runners-up, the Czech Republic, play neighbours Slovakia, Italy and Ukraine in a competitive-looking Group 2 while Spain, semi-finalists this May in Luxembourg, meet Switzerland, Poland and Sweden in Group 7.
Belgium aim
The Elite round groups will be played as one-venue mini-tournaments in the final two weeks of March with only the first-placed sides joining hosts Belgium in the finals from 2-13 May. The draw was be conducted by UEFA technical director Andy Roxburgh, UEFA Youth and Amateur Committee chairman Jim Boyce and Björn Kopplin of the Fair Play winners at the 2005/06 finals, Germany, who was presented with the trophy today. He picked out the Republic of Ireland, Greece and Scotland to face this season's German squad.
2006/07 UEFA European Under-17 Championship Elite round draw
(hosts in bold)
| Group 1 (21-26 March) | | Germany | | Republic of Ireland | | Greece | | Scotland |
| | Group 2 (24-29 March) | | Ukraine | | Italy | | Slovakia | | Czech Republic |
|
| Group 3 (23-28 March) | | England | | Serbia | | Bosnia-Herzegovina | | Azerbaijan |
| | Group 4 (20-25 March) | | Netherlands | | Turkey | | Wales | | Belarus |
|
| Group 5 (26-31 March) | | France | | Hungary | | Norway | | Finland |
| | Group 6 (19-24 March) | | Portugal | | Northern Ireland | | Russia (holders) | | Iceland |
|
| Group 7 (26-31 March) | | Spain | | Poland | | Switzerland | | Sweden |
|
