The Elite Phase of the Under 17 European Championship ends today: 15 places for the Final Phase are up for grabs, which will go those teams who finish top in each of the eight groups of this second phase and the seven best second-placed finishes, where only the points against first and third in the group are counted. In Cyprus, from 20 May to 5 June (knockout games in six stadiums, with the final at the Limassol Arena), the last final phase with 16 teams will take place, before a new format comes into force next year, which, among the various changes, will bring the final tournament back to eight teams.

To date, only one group has already been decided: Ukraine finished group 4 in first position (6-12 March in Greece), with Slovakia second (on three points). Sweden have also already qualified in group 2, having beaten Wales on Saturday, who are three points behind. Let's see what's happening in the other groups.

In group 1, England and France, both leading by 6 points, will face each other in the third match at St. George's Park (Burton-on-Trent 20:00 CET). The French are ahead on goal difference (7/3 versus 5/1), even if on paper they should both go through. But for the group draw in Cyprus (Wednesday 3 April in Ayia Napa), it will be important to be placed among the top seeds to avoid any unpleasant surprises. In group 3, Italy lead with maximum points after beating its most feared rivals, the Netherlands and Belgium, and face hosts Finland today at 12:00 CET, who are still in the running for for first and second place. At the same time, group 4 will also be decided: Portugal (six) meet Germany (four) at the Estádio Municipal de Famalicão in Vila Nova Famalicão. The Germans, reigning European and world under-17 champions, are at a crossroads: if they lose, they risk finishing third to the advantage of Croatia, who need to batter Northern Ireland with a lots of goals) or finishing in the lowest-ranked second place (they would have only 1 point).

Everything to be decided in Group 6 as well: at 14:00 CET on matchday 3 with Denmark (four) and hosts Georgia (three), as well as Serbia (three) versus Turkey (one). In group 7, Spain (six) face Austria (four) at the Stadion Wiener Neustadt (17:00 CET), with the first two places up for grabs, even if Norway (one) are supporting Spain and hope to beat Slovenia to catch up to the Austrians. In the last group, leaders Czechia (six) are ahead of Poland (three), who take on Bosnia in Novi Gradski - Ugljevik at 14:00 CET. Belarus (three) and the hosts are hoping to finish on three points with the Poles and Belarusians then counting on goal difference.

 

EURO UNDER 17 ELITE PHASE 

Group 1: France (7/3) and England (5/1) 6, Hungary and Northern Ireland 0

Today 20:00 CET: France vs. England, Hungary vs. Northern Ireland 

Group 2: Sweden 6 (QUALIFIED), Wales 3, Bulgaria and Romania 1

Today 11:00 CET: Wales vs. Bulgaria, Sweden vs. Romania

Group 3: Italy 6, Belgium and Finland 3, The Netherlands 0.

Today 15:00 CET: Italy vs. Finland, Belgium vs. The Netherlands

Group 4: Ukraine (QUALIFIED) 9, Slovakia 6, Switzerland 3, Greece 0.

Group 5: Portugal 6, Germany 4, Croatia 1, Rep. of Ireland 0.

Today 12:00 CET: Portugal vs. Germany, Croatia vs. Rep. of Ireland.

Group 6: Denmark 4, Serbia and Georgia 3, Turkey 1.

Today 14:00 CET: Serbia vs. Turkey, Denmark vs. Georgia.

Group 7: Spain 6, Austria 4, Norway 1, Slovenia 0.

Today 17:00 CET: Spain vs. Austria, Norway vs. Slovenia.

Group 8: Czechia 6, Belarus and Polonia 3, Bosnia Herzegovina 0.

Today 14:00 CET: Czechia vs. Poland, Belarus vs. Bosnia Herzegovina.

 

 

NUOVO FORMAT EURO 2024-25 E MONDIALE 2025. Dalla prossima stagione, l’Europeo Under 17 avrà un nuovo format (e anche quello Under 19 dal 2026/27), introdotto dal Comitato Esecutivo UEFA il 28 giugno 2023. La fase di qualificazione si giocherà nel Turno 1 (in autunno) e Turno 2 (in primavera), attraverso mini tornei in sede unica. Il turno 1 si svolge su 14 gironi da 3 o 4 squadre, passano le prime due di ogni gruppo. Il turno 2 si divide tra Lega A (28 squadre) con 7 gironi da 4 squadre e Lega B (le rimanenti a seconda delle iscritte). Le vincitrici dei gironi di Lega A (se la nazione ospitante è tra le vincitrici dei gironi, passerà la migliore seconda del turno 2) raggiungeranno la nazione ospitante nella fase finale a 8 squadre (due gironi da 4, semifinali e finale in gara unica). La fase finale del 2025 in Albania varrà anche da qualificazione europea alla Coppa del Mondo FIFA U-17 del 2025, alla quale prenderanno parte 48 squadre e dal prossimo anno verrà organizzata annualmente (anziché ogni due anni). Le prossime cinque edizioni, a partire dal 2025, si svolgeranno sempre in Qatar.

Le quarte classificate dei gironi della Lega A verranno invece retrocesse in Lega B per il turno 1 delle qualificazioni di EURO U19 per la stessa fascia di età.

Nella Lega B (7 gironi da 3 o 4 in base) c’è in palio per le vincitrici di ogni gruppo la promozione in Lega A per il turno 1 delle qualificazioni di EURO U19 per la stessa fascia di età