Europe's élite eye place in Ukraine
Monday, May 11, 2009
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Twenty-eight teams, including holders Germany and four-time winners Spain, are bidding to join hosts Ukraine in this summer's finals when the Elite round kicks off this week.
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Twenty-eight teams are bidding to join hosts Ukraine in the final tournament when the 2008/09 UEFA European Under-19 Championship Elite round kicks off this week.
Big names meet
The first section to get under way is Group 1, with Serbia having home advantage against Hungary, Finland and Austria as they attempt to earn a qualifying berth in this summer's final tournament. The 2005 winners France are the hosts for Group 5, the second section to kick off on 18 May, and which also includes Romania, Norway and Latvia, while Group 7, taking place in Estonia from 21 May, features holders Germany, the most successful side in the competition's history Spain – champions in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2007 – along with the Czech Republic and the hosts.
British rivals
On 23 May Portugal welcome Turkey, Greece and Denmark to contest Group 3, while old rivals Scotland and hosts England are joined by Slovakia and Bosnia-Herzegovina in Group 6. The penultimate section is Group 2, with hosts Slovenia joining Russia, the Netherlands and Belarus from 4 June, before the qualifying picture is completed by Group 4, with home side Belgium taking on Switzerland, the Republic of Ireland and Sweden. The top team in each of the seven sections will qualify for the eight-team finals, which will be held in Ukraine from 21 July.
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