Czechs still in with a chance

The Czech Republic recovered from losing their opening UEFA European Under-17 Championship Elite round Group 7 game with victory today against the Netherlands that keeps both sides' hopes of qualification alive.

First-half goals
Group hosts Germany defeated the Czechs 2-1 on Saturday as the Dutch were winning 4-0 against Latvia, meaning Augustin Chromý's side had to win in Forst to have any chance of reaching May's finals in Italy. And the Czech Republic went ahead on 21 minutes through Marek Suchý, before with four minutes left in the first half Jirí Valenta converted a penalty to double the lead. Anita Vurnon pulled a goal back 13 minutes into the second period, but the Czechs held on for the points.

Wednesday matches.
However, for the Czechs to top the group they must defeat eliminated Latvia in Weingarten on Wednesday by at least four goals and hope the Dutch overcome Germany by either a 1-0 or 2-1 scoreline due to the potential three-way head-to-head tiebreaker. The Netherlands, meanwhile, will be through if they defeat Germany in Sandhausen unless their win is sufficiently narrow and also the Czechs gain a big enough victory margin.