Several twists on final path

The Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia both won the old UEFA European Under-16 Championship - but since those nations split up none of their constituent parts have taken the junior continental title. That will change after Russia and the Czech Republic both reached the 2006 U17 final in Luxembourg.

Qualifying round
First to begin their qualifying round campaign were the Czechs in September, and they started by losing 3-1 to Sweden. However, they then defeated Group 6 hosts Andorra 5-0 and a 4-1 win against Iceland took them through behind the Swedes. A month later Russia played in Group 4 in Israel and began well, beating Armenia 4-0. They were held 1-1 by Azerbaijan but a 1-0 win against Israel ensured first place. Aleksandr Prudnikov scored in all three of Russia's matches.

Super performances
Neither the Czechs or Russia were tipped to come through the Elite round, but performed superbly to reach Luxembourg. The Czechs were in Turkey for Group 3, and again got off to a 3-1 defeat, this time against highly-rated France. But the French drew their next two games, while the Czechs beat holders Turkey 1-0 and Denmark 2-0. Russia defeated Bulgaria 5-0 with an Igor Gorbatenko hat-trick to start Group 7, a 0-0 draw against Italy followed and against hosts England, who had never missed a U17 finals, Russia came from behind to win 2-1.

Russian steel
Russia were drawn in Group A for the finals, and showed their steel against Hungary in Mondorf-les-Bains as they defended stoutly and won with a late Sergey Morozov header. A 3-0 defeat by Spain in Hesperange was a blow, but a 2-0 win there against hosts Luxembourg took Russia through, Gorbatenko and Evgeni Korotaev scoring. The Czechs also had a tough opener in Group B but beat Serbia and Montenegro 2-1 in Dudelange thanks to two Tomáš Necid goals. They were fortunate to hold Germany 0-0 in Grevenmacher, but in the same stadium comfortably beat Belgium to seal second place, thanks to an early Petr Wojnar lob and two more Necid goals - though the striker earned a suspension for the semi-finals.

Spain seen off
Without Necid, it seemed the Czechs would struggle in the Ettelbruck semi-final against Spain, scorers of 12 group stage goals. But the Czech backline was resolute, Tomáš Pekhart struck a high-velocity half-volley midway through the first half to open the scoring, and after Roberto García's sending-off just before the break a clever Jan Vošahlík chip with 22 minutes left took the Czechs into the final.

Germans defeated
Russia were also outsiders against Germany at the Josy Barthel stadium. But Germany's strikers were blunted, and second-half substitute Prudnikov recaptured his qualifying form by turning in Dmitry Ryzhov's cross eight minutes from time.