Elite contenders eye Lithuania finals
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
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The UEFA European Under-19 Championship elite round kicks off on Wednesday, with 28 teams aiming to join hosts Lithuania in this summer's eight-team final tournament.
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The 2012/13 UEFA European Under-19 Championship elite round kicks off this week with seven nations bidding to join Lithuania in this summer’s final tournament.
Group 7, in Russia, is the first to kick off on Wednesday, with Turkey, Ukraine and 2003 champions Italy joining the hosts, while Belgium is the venue for Group 6 from 24 May, Scotland, England and Georgia also competing.
The remaining five sections are played in June, with holders Spain in Group 4 – to be played in Poland – alongside Greece, who they beat in last year’s final in Tallinn, Estonia.
The winners of each section will advance to join hosts Lithuania in the finals from 20 July to 1 August 2013, with the draw in Kaunas on 14 June.
Elite round draw
Group 1 (5-10 June): Austria*, France, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sweden
Group 2 (6-11 June): Serbia*, Republic of Ireland, Slovakia, Switzerland
Group 3 (4-9 June): Denmark, Portugal*, Czech Republic, Bulgaria
Group 4 (5-10 June): Spain (holders), Croatia, Poland*, Greece
Group 5 (5-10 June): Netherlands, Germany, Norway*, Cyprus
Group 6 (24-29 May): Scotland, England, Belgium*, Georgia
Group 7 (22-27 May): Turkey, Ukraine, Russia*, Italy
*Hosts
