Germany and Romania survive

Germany and Romania gained the last two automatic places in the UEFA European Under-17 Championship Elite round – but Sweden must wait to see if they will join them.

Third-place wait
By finishing in the top two in qualifying round Group 6, Germany and Romania joined the other 24 confirmed teams in the 28 November draw. Two further teams will join those sides in the Elite round in spring, where the seven finalists alongside hosts Turkey in May will be decided. Those last spots in the draw will go to the two third-placed teams from the 13 pools with the best record against the leading pair in their group. That will be confirmed this week, with Sweden among the contenders.

New Kroos
Hosting the group as they will the 2008/09 U17 finals, Germany began with an 8-0 win against the Faroe Islands in front of nearly 3,000 fans in Heidenheim. And although Germany can no longer call on their star of the last two tournaments, Toni Kroos, his brother Felix took just 14 minutes to put them ahead. Marco Stiepermann free-kick doubled the lead and after the break Kroos completed his hat-trick and an own goal was added to by Steven Zellner, Muhittin Basturk and Lennart Hartmann. In Donauworth, Adrian Stoian's 28th-minute goal gave Romania a 1-0 victory against Sweden.

Draws
However, two days later Romania were held to a goalless draw in Aindling by the Faroe Islands, but they remained second as Germany's game with Sweden finished 1-1. Robin Söder put Sweden ahead with ten minutes left but Zellner equalised four minutes later in Nordingen.

Pair progress
Another 1-1 draw between Germany and Romania in front of 3,250 fans in Aalen on the final day ensured that the pair took the top two places, with the hosts first on goal difference. Germany led before the break through Kroos but Gabriel Matei equalised eight minutes from time, though in the end either team could have afforded a defeat. Sweden gained third place with a 5-2 victory against the Faroe Islands in Nordlinger, starting well as Kamal Mostafa and Samuel Aziz struck before the break. Aziz added another in the 54th minute and although the Faores pulled one back, Mostafa scored again. Aziz completed his hat-trick with 13 minutes left, though there was a late consolation for the Faroe Islands.