Weekend thrillers set up

Two of the four UEFA European Women's Under-17 Championship finalists will be decided this weekend after Thursday's results guaranteed that second qualifying round Groups 1 and 4 would be won or lost in the closing round of matches.

Denmark lead
Group 4 finishes in Denmark on Saturday and the hosts lead the way after Matchday 2. Having drawn 0-0 with Finland in their opening game, the Danes beat Iceland 4-2 on Thursday. Linette Andreasen put Denmark ahead on eleven minutes but Iceland, who lost 4-3 to Russia on Monday, levelled through Arna Sif Ásgrímsdóttir before the break. However, Sofie Junge Pedersen restored the Danish lead a quarter-hour into the second half and Katrine Veje extended the advantage with nine minutes left. Berglind Björg Thorvaldsdóttir reduced arrears, before Simone Boye Sørensen had the last word in added time.

Saturday deciders
Finland are second on goal difference after Hanne Ojanperä's first-half goal was enough to defeat Russia. On Saturday, Russia must overcome pacesetters Denmark and hope that Finland – who like the home team have four points – fail to win against eliminated Iceland to have any chance of snatching the sole available place in May's tournament in Switzerland.

Advantage England
The situation is simpler in Group 1 on Sunday: frontrunners England only need a draw against second-placed Netherlands, who must win to leapfrog their rivals. Whichever of the two countries progresses will face the only side already qualified – France – in the championship semi-finals in two months' time. Both contenders ended the hopes of their opponents in Thursday's games. Gilly Flaherty and Lucy Daly put England two up at half-time against Belgium, held by the Netherlands on Tuesday, and though that lead was reduced, Danielle Carter made it three goals from two U17 appearances to seal a 3-1 victory.

Dutch hopes
Meanwhile, the Czech Republic, thrashed 4-0 by England on Matchday 1, suffered a similar reverse against the Netherlands as Tessa Oudejans and Shanice van de Sanden struck in the first ten minutes to see off the mini-tournament hosts, 2-0. After this weekend there will be unfinished business in just one qualifying section, with Germany scheduled to stage Group 3, against Sweden, Poland and Switzerland, from 10 to 15 April. The finals will be played in Nyon, Switzerland, between 20 and 23 May.