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The UEFA European Women's Under-17 Championship finals lineup is now
complete, with Belgium, Poland, Spain and Sweden set to compete at
Nyon's Colovray Stadium from 25 to 28 June.
In the sixth and last four-team final tournament to be held in UEFA's
Swiss hometown before the expansion to eight sides for the 2013/14
edition, holders Germany failed to qualify for the first time. Winners
of three of the past five tournaments, they were pipped in second
qualifying round Group 1 by Belgium, who will take on fellow debut
finalists Poland in the first semi-final on 25 June. Poland denied
Austria with a 1-1 draw in a Group 2 decider on Sunday.
Spain and
Sweden will be matched in the second semi-final, played later on 25
June. Spain – runners-up in 2009, winners in 2010 and 2011 but pipped to
the finals by Germany last year – edged out France on goal difference
in Group 3. They are the only previous final tournament contenders to
have made it to Nyon as Sweden had never before progressed past the
second qualifying round prior to topping Group 4 in the Czech Republic.
Following
the semis, the final and third-place play-off game will take place at
Colovray Stadium on 28 June. There will then be just a short wait until
the 2013/14 season gets under way with the
first qualifying round
between 2 July and 11 August. Spain will be excused from action, but
Austria will meet Poland, and Belgium and Sweden are also involved.
