Curtain rises on U19 campaign

The seventh UEFA European Under-19 Championship kicks off this afternoon with 52 teams hoping to reach the final tournament in the Czech Republic next July as the qualifying round gets under way.

Czech challenge
Group 12 is the first of the 13 sections to start in Russia with the mini-tournament hosts hoping to become the first team to follow an U17 title with the U19 crown two years later. They take on Estonia in their first game while 2007 semi-finalists Germany play Bosnia-Herzegovina. The qualifying-round action is spread over the next two months as the top two in each of the 13 sections, together with the two third-placed sides with the best record overall against the leading pair in their group, qualifying for the Elite round which will be held early next year. The winners of each of the seven four-team groups in the Elite round, together with the final hosts, will participate in the tournament in the Czech Republic in July 2008.

England involved
Hungary have home advantage in Group 2, which also includes Switzerland, Wales and Kazakhstan and kicks off on 8 October, two days before Group 9 which includes Turkey, Denmark, Bulgaria and the Faroe Islands. Group 3 is the fourth section to start with England – involved in this stage for the first time – taking on Belgium, Iceland and Romania from 12 October, when Group 6 – comprising Israel, F.Y.R. Macedonia, Sweden and Finland – starts in earnest.

Spain involved
Four-time winners and holders Spain, who lifted the trophy in Linz, Austria at the end of July to add to their triumphs in 2002, 2004 and 2006 and are making their first qualifying-round appearance, enter the fray on 18 October, when Albania, Serbia and Liechtenstein are the visitors for Group 5. Group 8 kicks off the same day with Norway, the Netherlands, Latvia and Georgia jostling to reach the next stage. Group 7 includes Poland, Armenia, San Marino and Lithuania and starts on 20 October, while six days later both Group 11 - in which Scotland, Ukraine, Moldova and Azerbaijan are involved - and Group 4 - featuring 2005 winners France, last season's finalists Greece, Slovenia and Luxembourg - kick off.

November conclusion
On 30 October, 2007 final tournament hosts Austria take on Northern Ireland, who had that honour two years previously, and Slovakia play Cyprus in Group 10 before the penultimate section, Group 1, kicks off on 1 November with the Republic of Ireland playing Belarus and Portugal taking on Andorra. The final qualifying-round section starts on 10 November when 2003 champions Italy play Croatia, Malta and Montenegro, who are making their U19 debut following their successful application to become UEFA's 53rd member association. The curtain falls on the qualifying round on 15 November, with the Elite round draw to follow in Cannes on 28 November.