UEFA European Under-17 Championships draw announced

Scotland will face host nation Azerbaijan in this summer’s UEFA European Under-17 Championships.

Scot Gemmill’s team will also face Portugal and Belgium after being drawn into Group A at this morning’s ceremony in Baku.

This will be Scotland’s third consecutive appearance at the finals, after reaching the semi-finals in Malta in 2014 and the group stages in Bulgaria last year.

Gemmill said: “It’s an interesting draw for us, especially having drawn Azerbaijan.

“I don’t know anything about their team at the moment, but as the hosts, I know they will be highly motivated.”

The group winners and runners-up both will advance to the last eight and Gemmill believes his team have every chance of progressing beyond the group stages.

He said: “I don’t think there is any one favourite for the group – all the teams have a chance of making the quarter-finals and that will be our primary goal.

“We reached the semi-finals of this competition back in 2014 so know that anything is possible.

“This is a great opportunity for our players to test themselves against the best in their age group and it will be a fantastic challenge for them.”

The draw
Group A: Azerbaijan (hosts), Portugal, Belgium, Scotland
Group B: Ukraine, Germany, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group C: France (holders), Denmark, England, Sweden
Group D: Italy, Serbia, Netherlands, Spain

Calendar (exact schedule and Eurosport coverage tbc)?
Group stage: 5/6, 8/9, 11/12 May (Baku Olympic Stadium, Qarabag Stadium, 8km Stadium, Dalga Arena)?

Quarter-finals: 14/15 May (8km Stadium, Dalga Arena)?

Semi-finals: 18 May (Baku Olympic Stadium)?

Final: 21 May (Baku Olympic Stadium)