Four challengers eye U17 glory
Monday, May 7, 2007
Article summary
The UEFA European Under-17 Championship looks set for another day of drama on Thursday as two semi-finals and a FIFA U-17 World Cup play-off are played.
Article body
The UEFA European Under-17 Championship looks set for a day to remember on Thursday as four teams battle to reach the 13 May final, and two others attempt to seal Europe's fifth and final berth in the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Korea next
Having beaten Iceland 5-1 today in Tournai to edge through from Group B at the expense of the Netherlands, hosts Belgium stay in that city for their third consecutive game as they meet fancied Spain in the opening semi-final at 17.30CET. England, who won their section ahead of Belgium, then tackle a France side who finished behind Spain in Group A in Tubize at 20.15. All four teams have also advanced to this summer's World Cup in Korea Republic from 16 August to 9 September.
Play-off
The quartet will be joined in Asia by either Germany or the Netherlands, whose hopes of featuring in the knockout stages were ended respectively by a draw with Spain and loss to England today. Their fifth-place play-off will be played in Vise, with the action getting under way at 18.00.