Next season's WU19 EURO: Destination Slovakia
Monday, July 27, 2015
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Just 50 days after clinching their second title, Sweden will begin their defence in the qualifying round as the road to Slovakia gets under way; runners-up Spain have a bye.
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Just 50 days after clinching their second title, Sweden will begin their defence in the qualifying round as the road to Slovakia gets under way.
Calle Barrling's side will travel to FYR Macedonia in seven weeks' time for matches with the hosts, Northern Ireland and Montenegro in Group 6. Ten of the squad of 18 that helped see off Spain in Netanya will still be eligible.
The holders are one of six of this summer's finalists that will return to to action for the mini-tournaments that take place between 15 and 20 September. Two of them will meet in Group 8, with Israel given a tough task to maintain their momentum after a breakthrough tournament as they take on Norway, Portugal and Estonia.
The top two in each group advance to the elite round, provisionally dated 5-10 April 2016, where top seeds Spain, runners-up for the third time in four years this season, and England await having been given a bye through the qualifying round. Seven teams will eventually qualify for the finals to join Slovakia at the end of next July.
Qualifying round lineup
Group 1: Switzerland*, Iceland, Greece, Georgia
Group 2: France, Czech Republic, Bosnia and Herzegovina*, Faroe Islands
Group 3: Belgium, Wales*, Croatia, Azerbaijan
Group 4: Finland*, Poland, Turkey, Lithuania
Group 5: Germany, Serbia, Hungary*, Kazakhstan
Group 6: Sweden, Northern Ireland, FYR Macedonia*, Montenegro
Group 7: Netherlands*, Italy, Cyprus, Moldova
Group 8: Norway, Portugal*, Estonia, Israel
Group 9: Denmark, Romania, Belarus*, Latvia
Group 10: Republic of Ireland, Russia, Slovenia*, Bulgaria
Group 11: Scotland, Austria*, Ukraine, Albania
*Hosts / Played in 2015 finals
Bye to elite round: England, Spain
Bye to finals: Slovakia (hosts)
Provisional season calendar
Qualifying round: 15-20 September 2015
Elite round draw: 10 December 2015
Elite round: 5-10 April 2016
Finals: 19-31 July 2016