Under-17 final repeat as England draw Spain
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
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Reigning European Under-17 champions England have been drawn with the team they beat in last season's final, Spain, in the elite round that will decide the seven finalists to join Serbia.
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There will be a repeat of last season's final in the 2010/11 UEFA European Under-17 Championship elite round after holders England were paired with Spain during today's draw in Nyon.
The sides that progressed from the qualifying round in September and October have been split into seven groups of four to be played in March, with the winners joining hosts Serbia in the finals from 3 to 15 May. England defeated Spain 2-1 in the 2010 showpiece in Liechtenstein and would have been keen to avoid the two-time champions in this phase. Hosts Belgium and Northern Ireland complete the group.
Germany, who did not qualify for the 2010 finals having been reigning champions, welcome the nation that knocked them out last year, Switzerland, last season's semi-finalists Turkey and Ukraine in Group 4. France, winners in 2004 and beaten in the last four by England last season, host Norway, Georgia and Belarus.
Elite round draw
Group 1 (9-14 March): Italy*, Slovakia, Scotland, Czech Republic
Group 2 (24-29 March): Portugal, Netherlands*, Croatia, Austria
Group 3 (23-28 March): Denmark, Greece*, Republic of Ireland, Latvia
Group 4 (24-29 March): Germany*, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine
Group 5 (26-31 March): Spain, England (holders), Belgium*, Northern Ireland
Group 6 (25-30 March): Norway, Georgia, Belarus, France*
Group 7 (24-29 March): Romania, Hungary*, Iceland, Russia
*Hosts