Home success
Philippe Bergeroo's team claimed the European U17 Championship on home soil in summer 2004 and began their U19 campaign in imperious fashion, winning all three qualifying round fixtures to take the Group 7 honours by five points. Two-time European U19 champions Spain received a bye into the Elite round - as did England and the Czech Republic by virtue of their UEFA coefficient ranking - and will face Germany, Sweden and Cyprus in Group 7.
'Very competitive'
"The draw could hardly be tougher," said Spain coach Ginés Meléndez. "Germany and Sweden both have very good teams, while Cyprus did very well to progress. We lost out to France in the Elite round last year and that still hurts as they went on to win the title, and this season another strong side will not be at the final tournament because Group 7 is very, very competitive."
English examination
England are in Group 6 where Serbia and Montenegro, Belgium and Northern Ireland form the opposition, while Switzerland, Denmark and Ukraine stand between the Czechs and a place in next year's finals after the four were drawn in Group 4. Russia and Slovenia both won their qualifying round sections and have been placed alongside Hungary, the best third-placed side, and Austria in Group 1.
One place on offer
Group 2 features two first-placed teams from the previous round in the shape of the Republic of Ireland and Georgia, although Slovakia and Turkey will also be keen to progress, while Israel, Croatia, Portugal and F.Y.R. Macedonia will contest the one qualification berth on offer in Group 5.
Polish finals
The draw was conducted by Charalambos Pittas, Cyprus's most-capped international who represented his country 82 times, together with UEFA technical director Andy Roxburgh and Jim Boyce, chairman of the Youth and Amateur Football Committee. The Elite round will take place early next year with the seven group winners joining hosts Poland in the finals which run from 18-29 July 2006.
2005/06 UEFA European Under-19 Championship
Elite round | | Group 1 | | Russia | | Slovenia | | Hungary* | | Austria |
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| Group 2 | | Republic of Ireland | | Georgia | | Slovakia | | Turkey |
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| Group 3 | | France | | Scotland | | Bulgaria | | Belarus |
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| Group 4 | | Czech Republic | | Switzerland | | Denmark | | Ukraine |
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| Group 5 | | Israel | | Croatia | | Portugal | | F.Y.R. Macedonia |
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| Group 6 | | England | | Serbia & Montenegro | | Belgium | | Northern Ireland |
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| Group 7 | | Spain | | Germany | | Sweden | | Cyprus |
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Automatic qualifier for Elite round in bold
*Best third-placed team in the first qualifying round
