Qualified Nations confirmed for UEFA U19 final tournament in Malta

Seven Nations have on Tuesday booked their place in the final phase of this year’s UEFA Under19 European Championship to be staged in Malta between the 3rd and 16th of July, 2023.

Joining Malta as hosts are Portugal and Norway, both progressing before the final Match Day in the Qualifying phase on Tuesday.

Then it was Italy’s turn to become the fourth nation to book their ticket to Malta in July.

The Azzurri rescued a late scare with Belgium’s leveller late in the game on Tuesday, but still scraped through and can now look ahead to the final phase of this U19 tournament.

It finished 2-2, Italy qualified from Group 2, and top sides Belgium and Germany were eliminated!!!

Poland and Spain soon followed as finalists and part of the eight, the latter were crowned Champions in this tournament in 2019 after defeating then-defending champions Portugal 2-0.

The two editions scheduled to follow were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic before the UEFA U19 European Championship set out again last year, with competition staged in Slovakia seeing England emerging winners after an extra-time triumph in the final over Israel.

England has however failed to make it this time round, therefore are unable to defend the title won last year.

They got eliminated in a group they were odds-on favourites to sail through but were overtaken by the surprise package Iceland at the top of the standings in Group 7.

Greece and by the skin of their teeth also qualified, a goal better off Slovakia in Group 5 was the difference, with both sides ending up locked at the summit of the group standings with seven points.

The UEFA European Under-19 Championship finals draw is now scheduled for Wednesday 19th April at the Manoel Theatre in Valletta, with the eight finalists including hosts Malta split into two groups of four teams.

This is the maiden participation at this stage in this U19 tournament for both Malta and Iceland, with hosts Malta pencilled to be seeded as the first team in Group A.

Match dates:-

Group stage Matchday 1: 3/4 July

Group stage Matchday 2: 6/7 July

Group stage Matchday 3: 9/10 July

Semi-finals: 13 July

Final: 16 July.