Georgia and Kazakhstan complete U17 Elite
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
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Georgia and Kazakhstan have taken the last available berths in the UEFA European Under-17 Championship Elite round alongside the likes of holders Spain after being confirmed as the two best third-placed teams.
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Holders through
All the sides finishing first and second in the 13 qualifying round groups have gone into the draw for the next stage at 10.00CET on 4 December in Nyon. Among their number are Spain, aiming for a third consecutive U17 title, 2008 runners-up France, and having made progress by virtue of results for the first time in any UEFA youth competition, Luxembourg.
Duo progress
Alongside them in the Elite round, to be played in spring, are Georgia and Kazakhstan, who had the best record of all the third-placed teams against the top two in their group, pipping the likes of 2006 champions Russia and last season's first-time qualifiers, the Republic of Ireland. The 28 Elite round contenders, will be drawn into seven groups of four, with the teams finishing top after the one-venue mini-tournament progressing to join the hosts in the finals in Germany from 6-18 May.
Teams progressing from qualifying round
Group 1: Austria, Belgium
Group 2: Denmark, Romania
Group 3: Czech Republic, Hungary, Georgia*
Group 4: Portugal, Wales, Kazakhstan*
Group 5: Greece, Luxembourg
Group 6: Croatia, Serbia
Group 7: Norway, Switzerland
Group 8: Poland, Azerbaijan
Group 9: Netherlands, Italy
Group 10: Finland, Belarus
Group 11: France, Scotland
Group 12: Turkey, Slovenia
Group 13: Spain (holders), England
*Kazakhstan and Georgia through as best third-placed teams