Spain set for Turkey test

Holders Spain will have to overcome Ukraine, Turkey and Armenia if they are to reach the UEFA European Under-19 Championship finals for the third successive season after the draw for the 2007/08 Elite round was made in Cannes.

Fourth title
Spain claimed the title for the fourth time in six seasons with a 1-0 defeat of Greece in Linz, Austria, in the 2006/07 final, becoming the first team to successfully defend the trophy in the process. Last season's runners-up Greece are in Group 5 this time round, where Russia, the Netherlands and Moldova provide the opposition. Two former winners – Italy (2003) and France (2005) – are in Group 6, along with Sweden and Switzerland, and England are joined by Belarus, Poland and Serbia in Group 1.

Czech challenge
Perennial contenders Portugal are in Group 2 along with Hungary, Lithuania and Cyprus while the draw – part of the ninth UEFA Elite Youth Football Conference – put Norway, Israel, Iceland and Bulgaria in Group 3. Slovakia, Germany, Croatia and Albania will compete for Group 4 supremacy. The draw was conducted by Dr Jim Boyce, first vice-chairman of UEFA's Youth and Amateur Football Committee. The winners of each Elite round section, which will be completed by 30 May 2008 with the final-round draw to take place in early June, will join hosts the Czech Republic in the final tournament, which will be held from 14 to 26 July 2008.

2007/08 UEFA European Under-19 Championship Elite round