Under-17 elite round guide

The UEFA European Under-17 Championship elite round kicks off on Friday, with holders Portugal and last season's runners-up Spain both involved in the first group to begin.

• Fixture list
  

Eight groups will be played between Friday 10 March and Tuesday 28 March, deciding the 15 teams to join hosts Croatia in May's finals. Portugal host Group 3 including Spain, whom they beat on penalties in the 2016 final, Greece and Poland. Meanwhile the Faroe Islands and Armenia will make their debuts at this stage in later groups.

Elite round groups
Group 1 (23–28 March): Germany, Turkey*, Finland, Armenia

Group 2 (21–26 March): Russia, Israel, Hungary*, Norway

Group 3 (10–15 March): Spain, Portugal* (holders), Greece, Poland

Group 4 (17–22 March): Scotland*, Switzerland, Serbia, Montenegro

Group 5 (14–19 March): Netherlands*, Italy, Belarus, Belgium

Group 6 (23–28 March): Sweden, France, Austria*, Ukraine

Group 7 (23–28 March): England, Bosnia and Herzegovina*, Slovenia, Czech Republic

Group 8 (15–20 March): Republic of Ireland, Cyprus*, Slovakia, Faroe Islands

*Hosts

• The eight group winners and the seven runners-up with the best records against the sides first and third in their section will join host nation Croatia in the finals from 3 to 19 May, with the draw on 3 April.

• The final tournament will also act as European qualifier for UEFA's five berths at the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup in India, running from 6 to 28 October.

• The Faroe Islands and Armenia feature at this stage for the first time.

• Along with those two teams, Cyprus, Montenegro and Norway are all aiming for U17 finals debuts.

• Previous U17 winners involved: Switzerland (2002), Portugal (2003, 2016), France (2004, 2015), Turkey (2005), Russia (2006, 2013), Spain (2007, 2008), Germany (2009), England (2010, 2014), Netherlands (2011, 2012)