Under-17 finals lineup complete
Friday, March 27, 2015
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Former winners Spain, the Netherlands and Russia are among the seven best runners-up joining the eight group winners, including holders England, in the finals.
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Holders England and fellow former winners France, Spain, Russia, the Netherlands and Germany are among the sides that have qualified for the expanded 16-team UEFA European Under-17 Championship final tournament in Bulgaria – but 2003 victors Portugal have missed out.
Through to final tournament
Group 1: France, Spain
Group 2: Croatia
Group 3: Belgium, Netherlands
Group 4: Greece, Republic of Ireland
Group 5: Austria, Russia
Group 6: England (holders), Slovenia
Group 7: Czech Republic, Scotland
Group 8: Germany, Italy
Hosts (bye to finals): Bulgaria
The size of the final tournament has been doubled for this season, meaning that 15 rather than seven slots were available in the elite round, which has been running for the last fortnight. Hosts Bulgaria were already assured of a place, their debut in a U17 finals, making them the 36th of UEFA's 54 member nations to take part since the first edition of this age group in 2001/02.
All eight group winners, including England, automatically qualified, and are joined by the seven runners-up with the best record against the sides first and third in their sections, a number which includes Spain and the Netherlands, but not Portugal who were second in Group 2.
The final tournament draw is made in Pomorie at 13.00CET on Thursday. The teams will be split into four groups of four for the finals staged from 6 to 22 May. The tournament will act as a qualifier for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile from 17 October to 8 November, with six berths on offer.
