2017 Under-21 qualifying so far
Monday, August 24, 2015
Article summary
Qualifying for the 2017 finals in Poland resumes next week with the first full double-header fixtures but some games have already taken place. Here is the state of play.
Article top media content
Article body
• For the first time, there will be 12 teams in the final tournament
• Hosts Poland will be joined by 11 qualifiers in the finals in June 2017
• The nine group winners qualify automatically
• The four runners-up with the best record against the sides first, third, fourth and fifth in their group will go into the play-offs for the remaining two berths
• FULL STANDINGS
• FULL FIXTURES
Czech Republic 2015
Winners: Sweden
Runners-up: Portugal
Semi-finals: Denmark, Germany
Group stage: Czech Republic, England, Italy, Serbia
Poland 2017 qualifying: the story so far ...
Group 1
4 September: Moldova v Montenegro, Latvia v Belgium, Czech Republic v Malta
8 September: Latvia v Czech Republic, Montenegro v Malta
• While 2015 finals hosts the Czech Republic are yet to start their campaign, other teams are well into theirs. Malta lead the way with four points after drawing 0-0 in Moldova and beating Latvia 2-1. Belgium and Montenegro have also defeated Moldova.
Group 2
4 September: Slovenia v Lithuania
8 September: Italy v Slovenia, Andorra v Republic of Ireland, Serbia v Lithuania.
• Only three games have been played, with Andorra losing 1-0 in Ireland and 4-0 in Slovenia before edging Lithuania 1-0 for their first-ever U21 qualifying win at the 33rd attempt. Andorra had never previously managed more than one point in a campaign.
Group 3
5 September: Northern Ireland v Scotland, FYR Macedonia v Ukraine, Iceland v France
8 September: Iceland v Northern Ireland
• In the only match held so far, Iceland – who have finished at least second in two of their last three qualifying campaigns – saw off FYR Macedonia 3-0.
Group 4
3 September: Liechtenstein v Hungary, Albania v Israel
7 September: Liechtenstein v Greece
8 September: Albania v Portugal
Liechtenstein have gone down at home in both group fixtures played so far, 2-0 to Albania and 4-0 against Israel.
Group 5
4 September: Luxembourg v Wales, Romania v Bulgaria
8 September: Armenia v Romania, Bulgaria v Luxembourg
• Two games have taken place, Wales dispatching Bulgaria 3-1 in March and Romania defeating Armenia 3-0 in June.
Group 6
2 September: Estonia v Spain
3 September: Croatia v Georgia, Sweden v San Marino
7 September: Estonia v Croatia
• San Marino have figured in both matches to date, staged in June. They succumbed 3-0 at home to Georgia but then drew 0-0 in Estonia, making it the third consecutive campaign where San Marino have mustered at least a point. Sweden and Spain have won the last three titles between them.
Group 7
4 September: Azerbaijan v Austria, Finland v Russia
8 September: Azerbaijan v Germany, Austria v Russia, Finland v Faroe Islands
• Azer Salahli's 81st-minute goal gave Azerbaijan a 1-0 victory in the Faroe Islands in the sole Group 7 fixture so far.
Group 8
4 September: Netherlands v Cyprus
6 September: Belarus v Slovakia
8 September: Turkey v Netherlands
• No games have been played till now in one of the two five-team groups.
Group 9
2 September: Bosnia and Herzegovina v Kazakhstan
7 September: Kazakhstan v Switzerland, Norway v England
• In the other five-sided section, Norway got past Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in June. England are seeking to keep up their record of qualifying for every final tournament since the switch to odd-numbered years in 2007.