Armenia drawn into U-19 elite round Group 7

PanARMENIAN.Net - Spain must get past Belgium, Armenia and Italy if they are to defend their UEFA European Under-19 Championship title in Estonia in July after the elite round draw was made for the games in late May.

Only the seven group winners will join the hosts in the finals from 3 to 15 July, and in Group 7 hosted by Italy, Spain will hope for a repeat of last year when they overcame Belgium 4-1 in the opening game of the event in Romania on their way to lifting the trophy. England are hoping to become the first nation to win the U19 title two years after taking the U17 crown but to qualify have to finish above Switzerland, Slovenia and Montenegro in staging Group 2.

Also of note in the draw, made by UEFA Youth and Amateur Committee chairman Jim Boyce and last season's Spain captain Pablo Sarabia – who received the Fair Play trophy on his team's behalf – last season's runners-up the Czech Republic have been placed in Group 1, welcoming 2011 U17 champions the Netherlands, France and Norway.

The final tournament will also act as a qualifier for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey; the hosts are already assured of a place in the global event regardless of whether they make it through elite round Group 5 against Greece, hosts Denmark and Cyprus.

Armenia U-19 was drawn into elite round Group 7 along with Spain, Belgium and Italy, with the matches due May 23-18 in Italy, UEFA official website reported.