The qualifications for the Men’s European U17 Championships have started in four cities.
Nineteen teams are battling for seven remaining tickets for the Championships, which will take place in the Turkish city of Manisa in August (8 – 15).
Host Turkey and the top eight teams from the 2021 Men’s U17 Europeans (Serbia, Greece,Hungary, Spain, Montenegro, Croatia, Netherlands and Italy) are automatically qualified.
The top two teams from groups with five teams (B, C, D) and the winner of the only group with four teams (A) will join the nine already qualified teams.
The tournaments will end on Sunday.
Qualifications for Men’s European U17 Championships, Days 1 and 2
Group A (Tbilisi, Georgia)
Round 1
Lithuania – Cyprus 14:10 (4:2, 2:3, 4:3, 4:2)
Georgia – Czech Republic 12:8 (3:2, 2:0, 4:4, 3:2)
Host Turkey was drawn into Group A. It was supposed that the hosts of the Championships would play out of competitions, since they were already qualified and that, apart from them, one team from this group would qualify. But the Turks won’t play in Tbilisi, and four teams are seeking the one available qualifying spot.
Favorites Lithuania and Georgia opened the tournament with wins, but neither of the two teams had an easy task.
1.Lithuania 1 game – 3 points
2. Georgia 1 – 3
3. Czech Republic 1 – 0
4. Cyprus 1 – 0
Group B(Maribor, Slovenia)
Round 1
France – Bulgaria 21:7 (7:3, 6:1, 3:2, 5:1)
Slovenia – Austria 13:7 (2:2, 2:2, 3:1, 6:2)
Round 2
Germany – Austria 30:6 (10:0, 8:3, 10:1, 2:2)
Slovenia – Bulgaria 13:15 (4:5, 4:2, 2:3, 3:5)
The biggest surprise of the qualifications so far is Bulgaria’s win over Slovenia. The game was an even contest, but Slovenia had a 3-goal lead in the middle of the third quarter (10:7). Bulgaria produced a 8:3 run in the last 12 minutes for a 15:13 victory.
As expected, France and Germany passed their first hurdles with ease. Germany showed no mercy to its neighbor Austria, and France easily beat Bulgaria
1.France 1 – 3
2.Germany 1 – 3
3. Bulgaria 2 – 3
4. Slovenia 2 – 3
5. Austria 2 – 0
Group C (Targu Mures, Romania)
Round 1
Switzerland – Moldova 4:13 (1:1, 1:3, 1:4, 1:5)
Romania – Ireland 25:1 (7:1, 4:0, 7:0, 7:0)
Round 2
Ireland – Switzerland 8:4 (0:2, 2:0,, 3:1, 3:1)
Moldova – Ukraine 7:13 (3:1, 2:4, 2:3, 0:5)
Round 3
Romania – Moldova 20:4 (7:0, 3:2, 4:1, 6:1)
Ukraine – Switzerland 15:6 (4:0, 0:3, 7:1, 4:2)
Three rounds have been played in the Romanian city of Targu Mures. Romania and Ukraine share 1st and 2nd place. Considering the results in the first three rounds, it’s likely that these two teams will go to Manisa. The others dream of surprises.
1.Romania 2 – 6
2. Ukraine 2 – 6
3. Moldova 3 – 3
4. Ireland 2 – 3
5. Switzerland 3 – 0
Group D (Gzira, Malta)
Round 1
Malta – Latvia 34:3 (7:0, 8:0, 11:2, 8:1)
Slovakia – Great Britain 15:12 (4:2, 3:1, 4:3, 4:6)
Round 2
Latvia- Slovakia 3:22 (1:2, 0:8, 1:7, 1:5)
Malta – Poland 15:13 (4:3, 3:2, 4:4, 4:4)
As things stand now, Malta, Slovakia, Poland and, maybe, Great Britain are contenders for the top two spots. The Maltese and the Slovaks are the favorites, but Poland and Great Britain were tough opponents in their first matches at the tournament.
Early in the fourth period, Malta and Poland were tied at 10:10. The hosts produced a 5:3 run for a 15:13 victory. Slovakia dictated the pace in the match against Great Britain, it had a 6-goal lead, but the Brits cut the deficit to three in the final minutes.
1.Malta 2 – 6
2.Slovakia 2 – 6
3. Poland 1 – 0
4. Great Britain 1 – 0
5. Latvia 2 – 0
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