U17 Elite hope for tour of Belgium

The five previous winners of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship are among the 28 contenders battling for seven places in the 2007 finals as the Elite round begins today.

Russia in Portugal
There are seven four-team mini-tournaments which will each produce one qualifier for May's finals in Belgium, and in the first pool to begin holders Russia take on Group 6 hosts Portugal, who won this competition in 2003. Northern Ireland and Iceland are also involved, while 2005 champions Turkey will begin their bid to win back that crown tomorrow at home in Group 5, when their final victims two years ago, the Netherlands, form the opposition along with Wales and Belarus.

Mini-tournaments
On Wednesday, 2006 semi-finalists Germany welcome Greece, the Republic of Ireland and Scotland in Group 1, and Group 3 gets under way on Friday involving hosts Bosnia-Herzegovina, England, Serbia and Azerbaijan. From Saturday 2006 runners-up the Czech Republic, neighbours Slovakia and Ukraine will be in Italy for Group 2, and the remaining mini-tournaments commence on Monday with two former winners in the hunt. France, triumphant in 2004, stage Group 5 against Finland, Hungary and Norway, and 2002 victors Switzerland feature in Group 7 as do Poland, Sweden and home team Spain - who won the predecessor U16 event a record six times.

Final draw
Matches end on 31 March, and four days later the draw for the final tournament is made in Brussels at 12.45 CET. The finals run from 2 to 13 May in Belgium will host the 2007 in Tubize/Tubeke, Ronse, Verviers, Visé/Wezet, Eupen and Tournai/Doornik.

2006/07 UEFA European Under-17 Championship Elite round draw (hosts in bold)