Favourites take early initiative

UEFA European Women's Under-19 holders Germany were in typically free-scoring from in their opening game of the 2007/08 competition but the biggest wins were for Norway and Spain as the first qualifying round began with 43 teams aiming for seven finals places in France next July. uefa.com rounds up the Matchday 1 action from the eleven groups, from which the top two will progress to December's second qualifying round draw along with the two third-place finishers with the best records against the leading pair in their respective pools.

Group 1
Last summer's hosts Iceland defeated Romania 4-0 at Jóna Kristín Hauksdóttir and Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir struck before the break and Fanndís Friðriksdóttir - joint-top scorer in the 2007 finals - added two late on. Mini-tournament hosts Portugal matched that scoreline against Greece though Elsa Ventura did not break the deadlock until the hour mark and Filipa Mendes, Mélissa Antunes and Ana Borges found the target in the last ten minutes. Fixtures, as in all but one of the groups, continue on Saturday and Tuesday.

Group 2
Poland made their finals debut in 2006/07 and on home soil in Proszowice defeated Turkey 7-1. Austria won 4-0 against Bulgaria, Romano Kern scoring on eleven minutes and her goals added to in the last 20 minutes by Elisabeth Tieber – who replaced the injured Isabella Berger – Carina Wenninger and Nadine Prohaska.

Group 3
Uniquely, this group is playing on Wednesday, Friday and Monday and only contains three teams due to Georgia's withdrawal. In the opening game in Sweden, Hungary overcame Kazakhstan 13-0 with the impressive Zsabett Jakabfi and Orsolya Várkonyi each scoring first-half hat-tricks and adding another for themselves after the break, though Kazakhstan goalkeeper Irina Saratovtseva produced a number of fine saves. If the hosts defeat Kazakhstan on Friday, Sweden and Hungary will be through to the next stage in spring regardless of their Monday result.

Group 4
Former champions Russia and Italy, who meet on Matchday 3, both won their opening games 7-0. Hosts Russia overcame Israel while Italy defeated Northern Ireland, Cristina Bonometti and Cristina Girelli both scoring twice as all the goals came between the 25th and 55th minutes.

Group 5
The only draw of the opening matchday came in a goalless game between Serbia and hosts Belarus, who also stage the 2009 finals, in front of 1,500 fans in Minsk. Finland have the initiative after an 8-0 win against Estonia, Annika Kukkonen and Tiia Tikkanen scoring twice each.

Group 6
Denmark, qualifiers for the last two seasons, and 2006 finals debutants Belgium both won but their unseeded opponents did not make it easy. Hosts Bosnia-Herzegovina went down 2-0 to Denmark, Josefine Høgh and Lise Overgaard Munk scoring in the second half, and Belgium beat Latvia by the same scoreline with Eline Daems and Davina Philtjens on target.

Group 7
Home side Ukraine began with a solid 3-0 defeat of Azerbaijan but Scotland starred with a 13-0 defeat of Armenia. Kjm Little scored four goals after the break and there were hat-tricks for Jennifer Beattie, the daughter of a former rugby international, and Jane Ross.

Group 8
Home side Slovakia lost 3-0 to Switzerland as Caroline Müller scored on 39 minutes and in the second half Larissa Ziegler converted a penalty and Danique Stein also found the target. The Republic of Ireland are top as although Gillian McDonnell's opener against Croatia was cancelled out by Katarina Kolar, Julianne Russell immediately restored the lead and McDonnell went on to score three more in a 5-1 win.

Group 9
Germany are bidding for their third consecutive title and began in the correct way with a 6-0 defeat of the Czech Republic. Julia Simic – part of the 2007 squad in Iceland – Kim Kulig, Francesca Weber struck in the first ten minutes. Kulig and Simic added further goals before the break and Kulig completed a hat-trick late on. Wales defeated hosts F.Y.R. Macedonia 2-0 with two second-half goals.

Group 10
Semi-finalists last season, Norway raced to a 14-0 win against Moldova, ten of the goals after half-time. June Tanes scored four and there was an Ida Elise Enget hat-trick. The Netherlands overcame home side Slovenia 7-0 aided by a second-half Suzanne de Kort treble.

Group 11
Two of last season's finalists were in action in this group and gained comfortable victories. England, runners-up in Iceland, defeated the Faroe Islands 7-1, captain Ellen White, another of last season’s finals top scorers, and Remi Allen claiming two goals. But they were outdone as 2004 winners and a team England eliminated 1-0 in the group stage last season, Spain, beat hosts Lithuania 14-0. Patri scored five goals and Joana a hat-trick.