The size of the UEFA European Women's Championship and UEFA European Women's Under-17 Championship final tournaments will be increased after a decision by the UEFA Executive Committee in Venice. The U-17 Championships final tournament will now be an eight team competition like the other UEFA youth competitions. There is no date given, but I guess the change will coming into effect the next season.
Is the U-17 WWC increasing in size? Why have a final round of eight, if the same number of teams get to qualify for the U-17 WC every two years.
Hmm, I don't know about that. But look, the WWC was expanded from 16 to 24, the Women's EURO from 12 to 16 and the U-17 WEURO from 4 to 8. It's likely that the U-17 and U-20 WWC will be expanded as well (to 24 teams like their male counterparts). But I guess it's not THAT likely at least for the U-17 WWC considering some results like 9:0 or 10:1 and Azerbaijan in 2012 won't probably help as well.
Who took those 9 and 10 goal beatings in the last U-17's WWC? I just find it odd that Europe increases it's final comp to 8 now, especially after seeing what Iceland had to offer in the last editions final 4 . EDIT: Whoops, I now remember who gave out the heavy beatings, Germany. The monster that went on to exit the WC with a whimper, without scoring a goal
The second qualifying round of the U-17 EURO starts today! Only the teams from group 2 play, though. The other groups will begin in April. Currently it's France U-17 - Ireland U-17 0:0 after 15 minutes.
Results: France U-17 - Ireland U-17 4:0 Norway U-17 - Poland U-17 1:0 Next MD (21.03.12): France U-17 - Poland U-17 Ireland U-17 - Norway U-17
2nd MD (21.03.12): France U-17 - Poland U-17 4:0 Ireland U-17 - Norway U-17 0:2 Next matchday the winner of France - Norway will progress to the semi finals. In case of a draw France will progress because of superior goal difference.
3rd MD: France U-17 - Norway U-17 4:0 Ireland U-17 - Poland U-17 1:0 No problems for France here, they're the first side to progress to the semi finals.
Today all groups had their first matchday of the second qualifying round for the U-19 WEURO. Group A Norway U-19 - Belgium U-19 3:0 Czech Republic U-19 - Portugal U-19 3:2 Group B Sweden U-19 - Northern Ireland U-19 3:0 Germany U-19 - Poland U-19 2:0 Group C France U-19 - Romania U-19 0:1 Netherlands U-19 - Iceland U-19 1:1 Group D Denmark U-19 - Switzerland U-19 3:0 Republic of Ireland U-19 - Serbia U-19 0:2 Group E Spain U-19 - Italy U-19 4:0 Russia U-19 - Scotland U-19 0:1 Group F Austria U-19 - Wales U-19 0:2 England U-19 - Finland U-19 1:0 The six group winners and the best runner-up will qualify for the final tournament.
Second match day: Group A Portugal U-19 - Norway U-19 3:1 Belgium U-19 - Czech Republic U-19 3:0 Interesting group, all 4 teams with 3 points now. Group B Sweden U-19 - Poland U-19 3:1 Germany U-19 - Northern Ireland U-19 2:0 As expected Germany and Sweden will fight for the first place in this group. With a draw Germany would only finish in 2nd place but with good chances to be the best 2nd placed team. Group C Iceland U-19 - Romania U-19 0:2 Netherlands U-19 - France U-19 0:1 Romania already won the group. A big surprise! Group D Denmark U-19 - Serbia U-19 2:4 Republic of Ireland U-19 - Switzerland U-19 0:2 Serbia only need a draw to win this group, which would be the next big surprise. However if they lose against Switzerland, there would be most likely 3 teams with 6 points and in this case Denmark should finish 1st. Here are the scenarios: Denmark don't win against Ireland - Serbia will win the group if they don't lose to Switzerland - Switzerland will win the group if they win against Serbia Denmark win against Ireland - Serbia will win the group if they don't lose to Switzerland or they only lose by 1 goal while scoring at least 1 goal themselves. - Switzerland will win the group if they win by at least 5 goals or by 4 goals while scoring at least 6 goals - Denmark will win the group otherwise Group E Matches are postponed Group F Austria U-19 - Finland U-19 2:0 England U-19 - Wales U-19 6:0 England already qualified as group winners.
According to the rules England, Austria can win the group. Should Austria beat England both side will end up with 6 points : 6.11 If two or more teams are equal on points on completion of the group matches, the following criteria are applied to determine the rankings: a) Higher number of points obtained in the group matches played among the teams in question. b) Superior goal difference resulting from the group matches played among the teams in question. Well I think Austria will go through and England likely to go home. In the meantime Wales beating Finland combined wit an Austria win would see 3 teams at 6 points and in that case criteria a Austria 3 England 3 Wales 3 criteria b Wales -4 England 6-a Austria a-2 with a the goal difference between austria and england in am Austria win. Austria would qualify if a-2> 6-a <=> 2a>8 <=> a>4
Yeah, I messed up. Somehow I thought England already played Austria on match day 1, but that was Finland. Obviously I know the tie breaker rules, otherwise I wouldn't have wrote all the stuff about Serbia's group. I am pretty sure England won't lose to Austria and in a three way tie, England have by far the best chances to progress, because I don't see Austria scoring 5 goals against them.
Right, having watched all 4 teams in action last night, I still think Austria can nick one and hold defensively. England got a lucky break for the first goal that opened the floodgate. One Welsh defender got fouled and was lying on the floor and the referee got her dragged off the pitch and gave the ball for a throw to England who scored straightaway against the 10 Welsh players who hadn't had time to reorganise. Then Wales collapsed. Strange thing as well two of their players were in France for the senior qualifier instead of helping them...
Day 3 games all played at 1500 CET today. Good luck to guess who will be the best runner-up as there are many candidates. I don't expect many to get 4 points.
Germany is the only team, that can get 4 points without relying on the other match (they just need a draw against Sweden). Group 1 Norway will finish with +3 GD 4 pts, if they draw with Czech Republic AND Belgium beat Portugal Portugal will finish with +2 GD 4 pts, if they draw with Belgium AND Norway beat Czech Republic Group 2 Germany will finish with +2 GD 4 pts, if they draw with Sweden Group 3 Netherland will finish with (at least) +1 GD 4 pts, if they beat Romania AND Iceland beat France Group 4 No team will finish with 4 points Group 5 Scotland will finish with +1 GD 4 pts, if they draw with Spain AND Russia beat Italy. Group 6 Austria will finish with +2 GD 4 pts, if they draw with England AND Finland beat Wales.
Norway - Czech Republic 3:2 Portugal - Belgium 2:1 Portugal 1st Sweden - Germany 1:0 Northern Ireland - Poland 3:0 Sweden 1st Romania - Netherlands 1:1 France - Iceland 1:0 Romania 1st Serbia - Switzerland 1:0 Denmark - Ireland 2:0 Serbia 1st Denmark best 2nd Spain - Scotland 3:2 Italy - Russia 1:0 Spain 1st England - Austria 1:0 Wales - Finland 1:2 England 1st
No, I think Europe's team are just getting closer in the youth department. It's completely normal for the U-17 to U-21 tournaments for they boys and will be normal for the girls as well. E.g. this season U-17 Georgia won a group with U-17 Spain and U-17 England! It was the first time ever, that the German U-19 missed the final tournament and I heard they were the better team against Sweden (but lacking a striker, Magull and Leupolz had to play as strikers), but I think it will be normal in the future that even Germany will miss the FT once in a while.
Some top nations would eventually miss a few things here and there, but I still think the lack of WC qualification had it's part to play in some of this. How else do you explain a global power like Germany trying to qualify for this years tournament without a single recognised forward, lol. It's not like they won lasts years comp because of a one off golden generation of talent.
U-17 WEURO results of group 4: Germany U-17 - Czech Republic U-17 2:0 Spain U-17 - Serbia U-17 7:2 Nothing out of the ordinary here, however Serbia were leading 2:1 at a point and I thought they could maybe repeat the success of their U-19 team.
U-17 WEURO results of group 4: Spain U-17 - Czech Republic U-17 2:0 Germany U-17 - Serbia U-17 4:0 As expected the match between hosts Spain and Germany will decide the group winner.
France didn't qualified for the U19 , we have been eliminated by romania, we scored only 1 goal in 3 matches , which his pretty bad for our new standard.... but anyway is great to see new nations taking women football seriously.