UEFA Under-21 Championship Qualifying Round-Up

With the switch to Friday for most of the European qualifiers at senior level, it took some of the spotlight away from the continuing Euro Under-21 Championship preliminaries. Tuesday evening sees the final round of qualifying, with only the 10 group winners and four best runners-up securing a place in October’s play-offs for a spot in Denmark next June.

With holders Germany already out, tonight promised to be a vital evening for the likes of England, France and Italy ahead of another batch of fixtures tomorrow. The Azzurrini live to fight another day after their hard fought win in Bosnia.

GROUP 1

Romania 3-0 Russia

Standings: Romania Pld 9/Pts 24, Russia 9/21, Faroe Islands 9/11, Moldova 8/10, Latvia 8/9, Andorra 9/1.


GROUP 2

Switzerland 1-0 Republic of Ireland

Standings: Switzerland 10/20, Turkey 8/13, Georgia 8/12, Estonia 10/12, Armenia 9/10, Republic of Ireland 9/7.


GROUP 3

Bosnia & Herzegovina 0-1 Italy

Italy were made to wait before securing a narrow victory over a resolute Bosnia side. They dominated the game, but it wasn’t until the 76th minute that they clinched three vital points. Roberto Soriano set up a counter-attack for Guido Marilungo, who played a perfect return pass for the Empoli loanee to fire into the bottom corner. The victory assures that the Azzurrini are still in with an outside chance of making the play-offs.

Guido Marilungo ¦ Laid on the winner for Soriano

 
Standings: Wales 6/13, Italy 7/13, Hungary 6/12, Bosnia & Herzegovina 7/7, Luxembourg 8/4.

GROUP 4

Finland 2-0 Poland

Standings: Netherlands 8/21, Spain 7/16, Poland 7/9, Finland 7/7, Liechtenstein 7/0.


GROUP 5

Czech Republic 1-1 Germany

Czech Republic dropped their first points of the qualifiers on a night when they could have mathematically clinched a play-off berth. Lukas Marecek had given the group leaders a half-time lead, but Germany coach Rainer Adrion changed things around in the second half and his side reaped the reward when Mainz defender Jan Tilman Kirchhoff grabbed an equaliser. The Czechs can still ensure top spot with a draw against Iceland on Tuesday.

Northern Ireland 4-0 San Marino

Standings: Czech Republic 7/19, Iceland 7/16, Germany 7/9, Northern Ireland 7/7, San Marino 8/0.


GROUP 6

Sweden 1-2 Israel

Standings: Sweden 7/16, Israel 7/13, Montenegro 7/13, Kazakhstan 8/5, Bulgaria 7/4.


GROUP 7

Norway 1-3 Cyprus

Standings: Croatia 7/16, Slovakia 7/14, Serbia 6/9, Cyprus 7/6, Norway 7/4.


GROUP 8

Slovenia 2-2 Belgium

Ukraine 2-2 France

France will have to rely on advanced mathematics to qualify for the play-offs after falling short of a thrilling comeback win in Kiev. Two goals in four minutes from Bohdan Buko and a Yaroslav Ratikskiy penalty seemed to have knocked France out. But les Espoirs struck back through Djamal Bakar and Emmanuel Riviere, leaving themselves with an outside chance of progression. They now must rack up the goals against Malta on Tuesday and hope that other results favour them.

Standings: Ukraine 7/15, Belgium 8/15, France 7/12, Slovenia 7/7, Malta 7/0.


GROUP 9

Portugal 0-1 England

Stuart Pearce's England side earned three vital points in Barcelos, leaving them still playing for a play-off place when they take on Lithuania on Tuesday. Portugal cannot qualify for the finals in Denmark after failing to peg England back after Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge netted in the 32nd minute. Greece remain favourites to qualify with only Macedonia to play and a two-point margin in their favour over the Three Lions.

Daniel Sturridge ¦ Kept English dreams alive

Standings: Greece 7/16, England 7/14, Portugal 7/10, Lithuania 7/5, Macedonia 6/2.


GROUP 10

Belarus 1-1 Scotland

Standings: Scotland 7/14, Austria 7/14, Belarus 7/14, Albania 7/4, Azerbaijan 6/1.

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