Young Lions learn UEFA Euro Elite Round opponents

Wednesday 03 Dec 2014
England U19s will face France, Denmark and Azerbaijan in the Elite Round next May
England U19s and U17s both learned their Euro Elite Round fate on Wednesday morning.

The draw for the next stage of the European Championships for both teams took place at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon.

And for Sean O’Driscoll’s U19s side, there is a trip to France next May where they will take on the hosts, Denmark and Azerbaijan.

The England U17s line-up to face FYR Macedonia in Euro qualifying.

England U17s are defending their Euro title from last summer

With only one nation progressing from the mini-group to the Finals in Greece next July, head coach O’Driscoll will be hoping his players can continue their impressive start to the campaign.

They enjoyed a 3-0 victory over Italy in Rotherham last month, following on from their progression from the First Qualifying Round in October courtesy of three wins over Belgium, Belarus and Luxembourg.

John Peacock’s U17s will continue the defence of their Euro title on home soil, as they play host to a group containing Romania, Norway and Slovenia in March.

After winning in Malta last May, Peacock's side came through their First Qualifying Round in Cyprus with a perfect record and wins over the host nation, France and Macedonia.

This season’s Euro Finals take place in Bulgaria and the winners of all eight mini-groups will join the hosts for the Finals in May.

But this year’s Finals consist of 16 teams, so the seven best runners-up from the groups will also qualify.

England U17s lift the European U17 Championship title in Malta

England U17s won the Euro title in 2014

For those who do qualify, there are also places in the FIFA U17 World Cup in Chile next October available for the nations who finish in the top three of their group stage in Bulgaria.

The Elite Round draws are as follows:

UEFA European U19 Championship 2015

Group 1: Spain, Portugal, Georgia, Turkey
Group 2: Slovakia, Republic of Ireland, Germany (holders), Czech Republic
Group 3: Russia, Sweden, Belgium, Lithuania
Group 4: Netherlands, Switzerland, Serbia, Norway
Group 5: Montenegro, Ukraine, Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group 6: Italy, Austria, Croatia, Scotland
Group 7: England, France, Denmark, Azerbaijan

UEFA European U17 Championship 2015

Group 1: Spain, France, Sweden, Israel
Group 2: Portugal, Croatia, Serbia, Azerbaijan
Group 3: Netherlands, Belgium, Georgia, Northern Ireland
Group 4: Poland, Republic of Ireland, Belarus, Greece
Group 5: Austria, Russia, Iceland, Wales
Group 6: England (holders), Romania, Norway, Slovenia
Group 7: Czech Republic, Scotland, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group 8: Germany, Italy, Slovakia, Ukraine

Match dates and venues for both teams will be confirmed at a later date.

By Nicholas Veevers Content Manager - FA Owned Channels