U17 rivals set the standard

Luxembourg 5-5 Belgium
UEFA European Under-17 Championship hosts Luxembourg and fellow finals contenders Belgium set the standards for next month's tournament by playing out a thrilling friendly draw today in Schieren. Miralem Pjanic was the star for the home team with four goals, as they came from behind on three occasions.

New-look Belgium
Belgium, with a squad picked largely from those who did not take part in the Elite round, led on seven minutes through Jorgo Waege, but Pjanic levelled on the stroke of half-time. Bayran Cil restored the Belgian advantage in the 45th minute, only for Pjanic to strike again.

Thrilling half
It seemed Belgium were moving decisively ahead when Jens van Damme made it 3-2 in the 50th minute and Luxembourg's Tom Siebanaler put through his own goal 12 minutes later. Pjanic's hat-trick was complete on 67 minutes, but with five minutes left Van Damme appeared to have nipped Luxembourg’s comeback in the bud. But seconds later Pjanic converted a penalty and as full-time approached Mirko Albanese secured an unlikely draw to keep up Luxembourg's unbeaten run in 2006.

Finals openers
Both these teams will aim to keep up their goalscoring form into the finals, which begin on 3 May with Belgium meeting Germany in Group B in Ettelbruck then Luxembourg facing Spain in Group A in Hesperange. Completing the hosts' group are Hungary and Russia, while Belgium also take on Serbia and Montenegro and the Czech Republic.