Spain miss out by narrow margin

Spain missed out on a place in the UEFA European Under-17 Championship final tournament in Italy next month despite completing their Elite round Group 1 programme with victory over Poland on Saturday.

Bueno winner
Alberto Bueno got the only goal of the game on 18 minutes as Spain ended their Group 1 campaign undefeated on seven points, but the mini-tournament hosts finish as runners-up behind Switzerland who defeated Denmark 2-1 in the day's other match.

Packed house
A huge turn-out at Mallorca's Nou Camp d'Inca welcomed Juan Santisteban's Spain, who entered the match on equal points with group leaders Switzerland, but needing to better their two goal advantage to progress. And it did not look good when Switzerland went 1-0 up four minutes in against Poland.

Poland hold firm
Real Madrid CF forward Bueno gave the locals a glimmer of hope when he struck the opener past Gliwa Michal, but the size of the task had a detrimental effect on the hosts for much of the rest of the game and Poland stood their ground. Nine minutes from the end of the two games, Denmark equalised against the Swiss, but the 2001/02 champions restored their lead three minutes from time, meaning Spain would have needed a 3-0 victory.

Unprecedented exit
It is the first time Spain, runners-up in 2003 and 2004, have failed to reach the latter stages of the competition since its inception in 2001/02, and indeed Santisteban had never before failed to qualify for a U16 or U17 finals in his reign lasting more than 15 years. Defeat left Poland bottom of the group on goal difference with one point from their three matches.