Finals in sight as qualifying resumes

Holders Russia must eliminate Finland, Portugal and Israel if they are to progress to the 2005/06 UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship, with the second qualifying round getting under way on Tuesday and concluding on Sunday.

Seven groups
Ten group winners, as many runners-up and the five best third-placed teams who won through from the previous stage were joined by the seeded trio of Germany, France and Spain in the draw for this stage, and then divided into seven groups of four teams. Mini-tournaments will take place this week, with the seven section winners advancing to Switzerland.

First title
Valentin Grishin's Russian side defeated France in last season's showpiece in Hungary to claim their first European crown, and will hope to repeat that success in Switzerland this summer. Finland, in particular, represent stiff opposition, having reached the last four in 2005. Group 1 sees a repeat of the 2003 final in Leipzig as France, the winners on that occasion, take on Jarl Torske's Norway. Poland and Serbia and Montenegro complete the section.

Former winners
Two more former winners, Spain and Sweden, were paired together in Group 6, while perennial favourites Germany will be the team to beat in Group 5, which also features the Republic of Ireland, Scotland - qualifiers last season - and Slovenia. The final round gets under way in Switzerland on 11 July and concludes eleven days later.