Hopefuls look to qualify

The UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship second qualifying round begins on Thursday, with holders Italy among 24 teams in the hunt for the seven places on offer for this July's finals alongside hosts Belarus.

Italy bid
Having breezed through the first qualifying round in September, the Azzurrine continue the defence of the title they claimed in France last summer against Switzerland in Group 5. The match, in Switzerland, is the last of the 12 openers to get under way, kicking off eight-and-a-half hours after five-time winners Germany begin their bid with an attractive morning match against Group 4 rivals Russia. Among the other four pools, 2008 runners-up Norway take on Ukraine in Group 2 while in Group 1 2007 finalists Denmark and Iceland meet looking to distance themselves from the disappointment of elimination at this stage last year.

Seven qualifiers
Azerbaijan will grace this stage for the first time when they come up against Portugal in Group 3 while the highlight of Group 6 will take place amid the second round of matches on Saturday when England and Spain, finalists in each of the last two seasons, meet in Hungary. Just one may still be standing when the second qualifying round concludes next Tuesday, with only the six group winners guaranteed a place in the finals from 13-25 July. The runners-up with the best record against the teams first and third in their pool will also go through, however, as finalists Norway did last year.