Sweden end U17 wait

Sweden and the Czech Republic sealed UEFA European Under-17 Championship Elite round places with final day wins in Group 6 despite a spirited challenge from Iceland in Andorra.

Iceland start well
Iceland showed their intentions on Matchday 1 with a 6-0 win against the group hosts. Viktor Unnar Illugason struck the only goals before the break just prior to the half-hour, but once Rafn Andri Haraldsson converted a 50th-minute penalty, Iceland began to streak away. Gudmundur Reynir Gunnarsson made it 3-0 three minutes later, Aron Einar Gunnarsson added another on the hour, substitute Gylfi Thor Sigurdsson struck in the final minute and there was still time for another Haraldsson spot-kick.

Swedish comeback
A 3-1 win against the Czech Republic set Sweden up nicely. Ivan Lacko struck first in the 25th minute for the Czechs, who narrowly missed out on a 2004/05 finals place having earlier eliminated the Swedes, but Albin Ekdal soon converted a penalty equaliser. Fisnik Shala gave Sweden a 50th-minute lead, and Andreas Landgren claimed the clincher 13 minutes from the end.

Pacesetters draw
The teams on three points met two days later, and twice Iceland came from behind in a 2-2 draw. Ekdal's goal on 33 minutes ensured Sweden led at the break, but half-time substitute Bjorn Jonsson took only eight minutes to level matters. Christoffer Carlsson, who had also been brought on during the interval, scored for the Swedes five minutes later, only for another replacement, Sigurdsson, to claim a 62nd-minute goal.

Andorra out
That allowed the Czechs to move into contention as they overcame Andorra 5-0. Tomas Pekhart's 24th-minute penalty was added to by Martin Zeman before half-time. Pekhart extended the lead early in the second half, Petr Wojnar claimed the Czechs’ fourth in the 54th minute and substitute Radim Reznik completed the scoring.

First place secure
On the final day Sweden knew a point against the eliminated Andorrans would see them past a round in this competition for the first time since it became an U17 event in 2001/02, but victory was in their minds and Carlsson settled early nerves with a seventh-minute goal. It took until the second half for the lead to be increased, but in the final 18 minutes Johan Falkesäter, Axel Johansson, and two Ekdal penalties secured a 5-0 win.

Czechs qualify
That was enough to give Sweden first place as the Czechs came from behind to defeat Iceland 4-1 to clinch second place. Iceland, needing only a draw, led at the break through Aron Einar Gunnarsson's 30th-minute goal. On the hour Tomas Necid equalised and within six minutes Pekhart had given the Czechs the advantage, which they increased through Lukas Vacha and Necid penalties in the final two minutes.