Holders progress with Wales

UEFA European Under-17 Championship holders Spain are safely through to the Elite round after they and Wales progressed from qualifying round Group 4 in Andorra.

Pacheco hat-trick
None of the players from Juan Santisteban's 2006/07 squad that won the European title in Belgium and reached the subsequent FIFA U-17 World Cup final are still eligible at this age group but the veteran coach's new lineup began their campaign with a comfortable 6-0 defeat of San Marino. Liverpool FC striker Dani Pacheco scored on 15 and 39 minutes befote Thiago made it 3-0 in first-half stoppage time. Thiago and substitute Edu Valle added goals befote Pacheco completed his hat-trick in the dying seconds. The hosts gave Wales a tougher test but Andorra were beaten by a 61st-minute Craig Mason goal.

Duo through
Spain took nine minutes to take the lead against Andorra two days later through Vidal, but were only able to add two more goals in the second half by Thiago and Keko Gontán. Their progress was sealed and Wales also ensured an Elite round berth as they saw off San Marino 4-1. Keiron Howard, Steven Davey and Zacharia Evans put Wales in control in the opening half tour and Evans scored again late on befote a Davide Dolcini penalty.

Unbeaten campaign
Having both dispatched Andorra and San Marino to seal qualification with a game to spare, Spain and Wales drew 2-2 to finish the section unbeaten, though it was the holders who won the group due to a superior goal difference. In the other game to decide who would finish third, Andorra defeated San Marino 3-0.