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UNDER 17 CHAMPIONSHIP: Champions complete U17 lineup

/noticias.info/ Holders Spain were among the last teams to earn their UEFA European Under-17 Championship finals place today as the identity of the eight contenders in Turkey was confirmed.

Previous champions
The tournament runs from 4 to 16 May in the Mediterranean resort of Antalya, where the draw for the two groups of four will be held on Thursday from 18.30CET. Four of the competition's six previous winners will be involved, including Spain, who beat Italy 1-0 today to top Elite round Group 6 having taken the title last year in Belgium. Automatically qualified Turkey were victors in 2005; France – qualifying conquerors of 2006 champions Russia and 2007 runners-up Italy – lifted the trophy in 2004; and Switzerland, winners of Group 2 thanks to an injury-time strike by goalkeeper René Borkovic against Croatia, were inaugural champions in 2002.

Debutant duo
The Netherlands will contest the finals for the third time in four seasons, having recovered from a defeat by Bosnia-Herzegovina to head Group 7 and earn a chance of bettering their 2005 campaign when they were runners-up behind Turkey. Serbia, like Spain, qualified on Monday by drawing 1-1 with Sweden while two countries are in their first U17 finals: the Republic of Ireland, who landed the old U16 title in 1998, pipped 2003 winners Portugal, plus Germany and Greece, in a pool where each team secured four points; Scotland were the only side to record three Elite round victories.


UEFA European Under-17 Championship finalists
Hosts: Turkey
Group 1: Republic of Ireland
Group 2: Switzerland
Group 3: France
Group 4: Serbia
Group 5: Scotland
Group 6: Spain (holders)
Group 7: Netherlands notas_de_prensa_archivo