UEFA Under-17 Championship elite round draws held in Nyon

UEFAUnder17Holders Russia have been matched with past winners Spain and Switzerland in the elite round of the UEFA Under-17 Championship while France must meet the Netherlands and England face Italy. The draw was held in Nyon by UEFA Youth and Amateur Committee chairman Jim Boyce and 2012/13 Austria captain Michael Lercher, who received the Fair Play trophy.

One of 27 teams emerging from the qualifying round, to join top seeds Germany, Russia were in the third pot and hosts two-time champions Spain, 2002 winners Switzerland and Wales in the race to reach the final tournament which will be held in Malta next May.

There are also two past winners in Group 3 in the shape of the Netherlands and France while 2013 runners-up Italy are in with 2010 champions England in Group 4, staged by the Czech Republic.

Only the group winners will progress to join hosts Malta in the finals from 9 to 21 May 2014.

Elite round draw
Group 1 (26-31 March): Spain, Switzerland, Russia* (holders), Wales
Group 2 (25-30 March): Poland, Turkey, Greece*, Norway
Group 3 (20-25 March): Netherlands*, France, Austria, Sweden
Group 4 (26-31 March): England, Italy, Czech Republic*, Albania
Group 5 (26-31 March): Germany, Serbia*, Georgia, Republic of Ireland
Group 6 (24-29 March): Romania, Scotland*, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group 7 (26-31 March): Portugal*, Iceland, Latvia, Ukraine