Germany lead through holders

UEFA European Under-17 Championship holders Russia are through to the 2006/07 Elite round although they had to settle for second place in qualifying round Group 5 behind the nation they beat in the last four in Luxembourg, Germany.

All-new Russia
All of the victorious Russia squad from May are now too old for this competition, and so Andrey Talalaev has a whole new party with which to try and emulate the achievements of last season's coach Igor Kolyvanov. Germany, meanwhile, were still able to call on playmaker Toni Kroos, who impressed in last season's finals, eligible by a matter of four days, and he was among the scorers as they made a spectacular start in Georgia.

German stroll
Up against F.Y.R. Macedonia in Bolnisi, Germany went ahead on eleven minutes through Kevin Wolze. Before half-time Marvin Knoll, Patrick Funk and Sascha Bigalke had made it 4-0, and Kroos added another five minutes after the break. Germany defender Nils Texeira put through an own goal on 64 minutes but within seconds substitute Dennis Dowidat put one in the other net before Bigalke completed the scoring. In Tbilisi, meanwhile, Russia took a 13th-minute lead against Georgia through Andrey Vavilchenkov, and although Levan Kenia equalised with eleven minutes left, Vavilchenkov then converted a penalty to give the holders a 2-1 victory.

Duo through
Two days later in Tbilisi, Russia found their scoring boots against F.Y.R. Macedonia. Viacheslav Dmitriev, Alan Dzagoev and Ilya Myakinkin struck before the break and although Astrit Ajeti pulled one back, substitute Fedor Smolov's penalty and further goals from Dzagoev and Denis Voynov put Russia out of reach, though Darko Stojanov's consolation lowered the margin of defeat to 6-2. Germany subsequently made sure they went through with Russia as Funk's goal 12 minutes from time defeated Georgia 1-0 with Kenia sent off late on.

Kroos clincher
There was still first place to play for, and Russia needed a win. Although they had Ruslan Kambclov dismissed in the fifth minute, Maxim Grigorev scored three minutes later. Germany did not equalise until 15 minutes into the second half through Eric Tappiser, but nine minutes later Funk converted a penalty and Kroos completed a 3-1 win in added time before Fedor Smolov followed Kambclov in receiving a red card. Third place went to Georgia, as a Giorgi Jokhadze hat-trick and two goals from Temuri Shonia defeated F.Y.R. Macedonia 5-0.