November 5, 2002

UEFA draw puts England U-19 National Team in tough group

The draw for the second qualifying round was made in Nyon, Switzerland and put the 16 nations into four groups of four. The group winners and best three

runners-up will advance to the finals held between July 25th. and August 3rd. next year. Current champions Germany will host the tournament.

France, England and Denmark played in the first FIFA Women's U-19 World Championship held recently in Canada and won by the USA. England has been drawn in Group A1 with Denmark, whom they lost to in the qualifying stage and at the European Championship Finals in May of this year. Each game was lost by a single goal, 4-3 in Denmark and then 2-1 in Sweden at the Finals.

Three of the teams competing in the last season's European Championship Finals

France, Sweden and Switzerland have all been drawn to play in Group A2.

Group A1

England

Spain

Denmark

Republic of Ireland

Group A2

France

Sweden

Finland

Switzerland

Group A3

Italy

Netherlands

Slovakia

Ukraine

Group A4

Norway

Czech Republic

Scotland

Belgium

The Second Qualifying Round will take place between 15th and 19th April

2003, at venues yet to be decided. The group winners will be seeded in the

draw for the final round.