bides Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 Turkey will continue their defence of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship against France, the Czech Republic and Denmark after the draw for the Elite round of the 2005/06 competition was made at the 8th UEFA Youth Conference in Cyprus this evening. Turkish triumph The Turkish team claimed the trophy by defeating the Netherlands in the final in Italy earlier this year and the current crop of players picked up where their predecessors had left off, winning qualifying Group 9 with three victories from three games. They now face the country they succeeded as holders, France, whose UEFA coefficient ranking earned automatic passage to the Elite round, plus the Czechs and the Danes in Group 3. Dutch tests Finalists in 2005, the Netherlands also reached the Elite round as section winners after taking first place in qualifying Group 11, and next meet Germany, Finland and Northern Ireland in Group 1. Spain, runners-up in 2002 and 2004, also sat out the qualifying round and have been pitted with Moldova, Cyprus and Wales in Group 5 while the other side to receive a bye through the first round, England, take on Russia, Italy and Bulgaria in Group 7. Peacock primed "It couldn't have been much tougher but we're used to tough draws at U17 level and we're going to have to play the teams and try to beat them to get through to the next round," said England coach John Peacock. "We've already played Italy in a mini-tournament this season, and they beat us 2-1 so they know a lot about us and vice versa, whereas Russia and Bulgaria are unknown quantities." Strong sections Group 2 sets qualifying-round pool winners Hungary and Sweden against perennial contenders Portugal and Ukraine, who qualified as the best third-placed team, while Switzerland, Poland, Slovakia and Belgium have been drawn in Group 4. Serbia and Montenegro are top seeds in Group 6, which also involves the Republic of Ireland, Israel and Romania. Luxembourg target The draw was conducted in Limassol by Cyprus's most-capped player, Charalambos Pittas, a veteran of 82 internationals, together with UEFA's technical director Andy Roxburgh and Jim Boyce, chairman of the Youth and Amateur Football Committee. The Elite round will take place in the spring, with the seven group winners qualifying for next summer's final tournament in Luxembourg, who have qualified automatically, from 3-14 May 2006. 2005/06 UEFA European Under-17 Championship Elite round Group 1 Germany Finland Northern Ireland Netherlands Group 2 Hungary Sweden Portugal Ukraine* Group 3 France Turkey Czech Republic Denmark Group 4 Switzerland Poland Slovakia Belgium Group 5 Spain Moldova Cyprus Wales Group 6 Serbia & Montenegro Republic of Ireland Israel Romania Group 7 England Russia Italy Bulgaria France's bid to become the first country to win the UEFA European Under-19 Championship having also triumphed in the U17 version will continue against Scotland, Bulgaria and Belarus in Group 3 following today's draw in Cyprus for the 2005/06 Elite round. Home success Philippe Bergeroo's team claimed the European U17 Championship on home soil in summer 2004 and began their U19 campaign in imperious fashion, winning all three qualifying round fixtures to take the Group 7 honours by five points. Two-time European U19 champions Spain received a bye into the Elite round - as did England and the Czech Republic by virtue of their UEFA coefficient ranking - and will face Germany, Sweden and Cyprus in Group 7. 'Very competitive' "The draw could hardly be tougher," said Spain coach Ginés Meléndez. "Germany and Sweden both have very good teams, while Cyprus did very well to progress. We lost out to France in the Elite round last year and that still hurts as they went on to win the title, and this season another strong side will not be at the final tournament because Group 7 is very, very competitive." English examination England are in Group 6 where Serbia and Montenegro, Belgium and Northern Ireland form the opposition, while Switzerland, Denmark and Ukraine stand between the Czechs and a place in next year's finals after the four were drawn in Group 4. Russia and Slovenia both won their qualifying round sections and have been placed alongside Hungary, the best third-placed side, and Austria in Group 1. One place on offer Group 2 features two first-placed teams from the previous round in the shape of the Republic of Ireland and Georgia, although Slovakia and Turkey will also be keen to progress, while Israel, Croatia, Portugal and F.Y.R. Macedonia will contest the one qualification berth on offer in Group 5. Polish finals The draw was conducted by Charalambos Pittas, Cyprus's most-capped international who represented his country 82 times, together with UEFA technical director Andy Roxburgh and Jim Boyce, chairman of the Youth and Amateur Football Committee. The Elite round will take place early next year with the seven group winners joining hosts Poland in the finals which run from 18-29 July 2006. 2005/06 UEFA European Under-19 Championship Elite round Group 1 Russia Slovenia Hungary* Austria Group 2 Republic of Ireland Georgia Slovakia Turkey Group 3 France Scotland Bulgaria Belarus Group 4 Czech Republic Switzerland Denmark Ukraine Group 5 Israel Croatia Portugal F.Y.R. Macedonia Group 6 England Serbia & Montenegro Belgium Northern Ireland Group 7 Spain Germany Sweden Cyprus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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