Norway and past champions among the goals
Saturday, September 17, 2011
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Norway, last season's runners-up, and former titleholders Spain, Russia, Sweden and Denmark were among the big winners as the first qualifying round began on Saturday.
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Last season's UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship runners-up Norway and former titleholders Spain, Russia, Sweden and Denmark were among the big winners as the first qualifying round started on Saturday.
Forty sides are taking part in the first stage, which continues on Monday and Thursday, with the last three winners, Germany, France and England, excused until the second qualifying round and Turkey through to the finals as hosts. The top two from each group progress, alongside the third-placed team with the best record against the top pair in their section, and already many of the pools are taking shape.
Norway lost the 2011 final 8-1 to Germany but five players who featured that day were part of a 9-0 win against Group 1 hosts Bulgaria, with one of that quintet, Guro Reiten, scoring four. The Netherlands, also in the 2011 finals in Italy, beat Croatia 5-1 in the same section.
Italy reached the semi-finals on home soil and began Group 6 with a 7-0 defeat of Armenia, Marta Mason scoring four of the goals. In Group 8, Denmark overcame Greece 8-0 and Russia beat hosts Latvia 7-1.
Spain, victors in 2004, matched Norway's achievement as they overwhelmed Group 10 hosts Bosnia and Herzegovina 9-0 in Sarajevo, substitute Laura Ortiz grabbing a hat-trick to also help Ángel Vilda's side equal Scotland's Group 7 scoreline against the Faroe Islands. Sweden, the other ex-champions in action, beat Serbia 7-0 in Group 5, Pauline Hammarlund scoring four.
In fact, only in one section could both automatic qualifiers not be decided on Monday as 2011 final tournament contenders Belgium, hosting Group 9, were held to the only draw of the day, 1-1 against Northern Ireland for whom Hollie Campbell equalised with three minutes left.
Romania, taking on Northern Ireland on Monday, are clear at the top after beating Lithuania 7-0 thanks partly to six Alexandra Lunca goals. She even could have had the seventh but instead the captain Ştefania Vătafu converted a late penalty.
