Group 3 mini-tournament preview

The Group 3 mini-tournament begins on Tuesday with Austria, F.Y.R. Macedonia and hosts Spain all vying for a place at the UEFA European Under-17 Championship finals.

Impressive pedigree
Spain have an impressive pedigree at youth levels - having won the UEFA European Under-16 Championship (the direct forerunner of the Under-17 tournament) no less than six times. They are also the defending champions, having lifted the trophy last year by beating France 1-0.

Team guide:

Austria
Form guide 2000/01: Eliminated in the qualifying group stage after coming second (out of four) in Group 2.

Squad: Markus Berger, Martin Dorner, David Haselmayer, Michael Langer, Thomas Lechner, Michael Liendl, Rene Messinger, Rainer Moosbauer, Philipp Netzer, Patrick Osoinik, Thomas Prager, Martin Six, Daniel Sobkova, Michael Stifter, Stephan Stuckler, Christian Thonhofer, Michael Wojtanowicz, Daniel Wolf.

Spain
Form guide 2000/01: Competition winners after beating France 1-0 in the final.

F.Y.R. Macedonia
Form guide 2000/01: Eliminated in the qualifying group stage after coming third (out of four) in Group 7.

Squad: Vasko Nikolov, Zoran Grosev, Marjan Pasev, Toni Dzangarovski, Vancce Sikov, Lazo Karakolev, Cvetan Trifunovski, Kuitim Salihu, Toni Panov, Toni Brnjacevski, Ostoja Stjepanovic, Muharem Bajrami, Dejan Stojcev, Aleksandar Gogov, Aleksandar Dzangov, Hristijan Kirovski, Minas Osmani, Blagoja Todorovski.

Match schedule:
5 March: Austria v Spain.
7 March: F.Y.R. Macedonia v Austria.
9 March: Spain v F.Y.R. Macedonia

All kick-offs are local time.

N.B.: The form guide refers to games played in the 2000/01 UEFA European Under-16 Championship, the direct forerunner of the Under-17 event.