Elite round
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Article summary
The elite round draw split 24 teams into six groups of four, which will produce seven sides to join hosts Israel in the 2015 final tournament.
Article body
Elite round draw (4-9 April)
Group 1: Spain, Finland, Portugal*, Turkey
Group 2: Sweden, Italy, Austria, Serbia*
Group 3: France*, Russia, Iceland, Romania
Group 4: England, Switzerland, Norway, Northern Ireland*
Group 5: Germany*, Belgium, Scotland, Ukraine
Group 6: Netherlands* (holders), Denmark, Czech Republic, Slovenia
*Hosts
11.30CET, 19 November, Nyon
Draw procedure
Games take place on 4, 6 and 9 April. The six group winners and the runner-up with the best record against the teams first and third in their pool qualify to join hosts Israel – who received a bye – in the finals from 15 to 27 July 2015.
Austria, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Northern Ireland, Ukraine and Slovenia are all aiming to reach the finals for the first time. Twenty-five countries have thus far graced the final tournament.