Seven teams aiming for U17 semis
Friday, May 9, 2008
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The group stage concludes on Saturday and no team is yet mathematically into the semi-finals, with seven teams in contention. uefa.com has the permutations.
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Group A: Serbia (3 points) v Turkey (6), Netherlands (3) v Scotland (0)
• Turkey can be knocked out only if they lose by a six-goal margin and the Netherlands beat Scotland, which would leave the home nation third in a three-way head-to-head tie for the top positions.
• Serbia know a win would be enough in any circumstances. Turkey can afford to lose by as many as five goals, which would make any Netherlands victory in vain.
• However, if both the Netherlands and Serbia draw their matches, the Dutch will prevail on head-to-head record as they won their meeting 1-0.
• A Serbia success by three goals would ensure first place; as would any victory if the Netherlands do not pick up maximum points.
• For Scotland to go through, they must beat the Netherlands by three goals and hope Serbia lose. Otherwise, if the three teams other than Turkey finish on three points, Serbia would have the best head-to-head record in a tie with Scotland and the Netherlands.
Group B: Switzerland (3) v France (4), Republic of Ireland (0) v Spain (4)
• The situation is more straightforward in this pool: holders Spain and France need only a draw in their games; Switzerland must win and Ireland will finish fourth.
• Spain's goal difference is one better than France's, so the only way the reigning champions can be knocked out is if they lose by a bigger margin than Les Mini-Bleus, with whom they drew 3-3.
• A draw would not be good enough for Switzerland as they lost to Spain.
(All permutations for information only, in the event of any ties UEFA will make an official announcement.)