Spain primed for Portuguese test

Proud record
The Spanish lifted this trophy in 2002 and 2004 but, having missed out on the finals in Northern Ireland a year ago, will be especially keen to continue their proud record in UEFA youth competition in Poland. Ginés Meléndez's side reached the final of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship two years ago and could draw strength from the knowledge that not only are a number of those players still part of the squad but the only side to beat them in that tournament, hosts and winners France, lost out to Scotland in the Elite round this year.

Stern test
The Spanish will therefore face a stern examination in Poland against the Scots, who have qualified for the final tournament for the first time since 1986. Portugal were runners-up in the 2003 edition and European U18 champions in 1994 and 1999 while Turkey were runners-up in 2004 and European champions at U17 level last year.

Dinis determination
"I think that we have been drawn in the most difficult group, but our main goal remains pretty much the same," said Portugal coach Carlos Dinis. "First of all we intend to qualify for next year's FIFA U-20 World Cup and then, if we can achieve that objective, we will try to do our best in order to obtain the best possible result. We will work hard in preparation for the tournament and approach the games with tranquility and the will to win every single match."

'We can win it'
Turkey coach Cem Pamiroglu was in more bullish mood, however, explaing: "It's a very strong group and in my opinion one of the teams who get through from our section will go on to win the trophy. We know Spain, we have to look at Portugal again and we must be careful with Scotland as they eliminated France. We've made some adjustments to the positions of our players recently but we are aware that our team is very good and we can win this title."

Home challenge
In Group A, hosts Poland - last involved at this stage in 2004 - meet Austria, Belgium and the Czech Republic. Austria last qualified for the finals three years ago. Belgium, who were also present in Switzerland in 2004, qualified from a strong Elite round section that also included 2005 runners-up England, Serbia and Montenegro and Northern Ireland. The Czech Republic finished fourth in their last finals appearance in 2003. The draw was held at the Działyńskich palace in Poznan and was conducted by Milo Corcoran, a member of the UEFA Youth & Amateur Football Committee, together with former Polish international Grzegorz Lato, who won 95 caps for his country.

Finals format
The four sides in each group will play each other once in a round-robin format between 18 and 23 July, with the top three in each section qualifying for next year's FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada. Only the first two sides will reach the semi-finals, however, with the winners of one section playing the runners-up in the other on 26 July. The final will be held three days later at the Miejski stadium in Poznan.

UEFA European Under-19 Championship draw: