2006/07 UEFA European Women's U19 Championship
Second qualifying round draw (hosts in bold)

Group 1
England
Czech Republic
Austria
Ukraine

Group 2
France
Republic of Ireland
Netherlands
Portugal

Group 3
Germany
Scotland
Sweden
Hungary

Group 4
Norway
Denmark
Belgium
Romania

Group 5
Wales
Finland
Poland
Russia

Group 6
Spain
Switzerland
Italy
Serbia

The group games will take place between 10-15 April 2007 in Austria,
with the finals from 18-29 July.

Hey - Wales hosting a group!
Might be able to see a game or two

I knew you'd lke it
Got Russia in the group - a very good young team
Euro Champions

We are at home but we did not draw England I hope both teams qualify so that we can beat them in the finals, he he he.

And - have you seen where Wales will play Russia?

All 3 group games are on North Wales coast.

Well I might see an the England game on the 12th of April as I am supposed to be in Zurich on the 13th, I might divert my trip to Sankt Polten to see England

Wales play Russia on the 12th - less than half a mile from where I live

At least I won't have to worry about a long journey then a game being off

You got lucky on that one. I will have a local one soon the BUSA final at QPR.

I can understand you getting games locally - but not where I live - I couldn't believe it when I saw where it would be played

La selection anglaise most of them have plenty of first team experience.

Rebecca Spencer Arsenal

Danielle Hill Everton

Sophie Bradley Leeds United

Jayne Eadie Blackburn Rovers

Sian Larkin Arsenal

Fern Whelan Everton

Danielle Buet Arsenal

Jade Moore Lincoln City

Elizabeth Edwards Chelsea

Sophie Walton Leeds United

Jessica Clarke Leeds United

Claire Rafferty Millwall Lionesses

Ellen White Chelsea

Faye McCoy Everton

Kelly Lawrence Indiana University

Natasha Dowie Charlton Athletic

Heather Scheuber Birmingham City

Becky Hall Birmingham City

Do you happen to know the Welsh squad?

Rhian Nokes (Cardiff City Ladies), Lauren Wells (Cardiff City Ladies), Lauren Townsend (Pontardawe Town Ladies), Kelly Watkins (Bristol Academy), Francesca Howells (Arsenal Ladies), Nicola Cousins (Cardiff City Ladies), Terri Beddows (Cardiff City Ladies), Carla Parfitt (Cardiff City Ladies), Samantha Jones (Pontardawe Town Ladies), Amie Lea (Cardiff City Ladies), Kelly Isaac (Cardiff City Ladies), Loren Dykes (Cardiff City Ladies), Bethan Price (Pontardawe Town Ladies), Hope Suominen (Keynsham Ladies), Gwennan Harries (Cardiff City Ladies), Kayleigh Greening (Bristol Academy), Shan Jones (Caernarfon Town), Jodie O’Brien (Cardiff City Ladies).

There you go mate

Thanks floody

So there's only one from up this end then

Stand by players are:

Aimee Todd (Colwyn Bay Ladies), Natalie Pritchard (Pwllheli Ladies), Ceri Harris (Leeds United Ladies), Keri Sampson (Chester City Ladies FC)

I guess Sian and Dani will be surprised when they will see my shirts at the game in Austria.

Ah - all from North Wales or Northern England

That's just the teams of course - could be from anywhere originally

Well, all the ones that don't get a game can have a nice holiday in sunny North Wales

Very difficult fixture coming next week for Scotland taking on Germany in Lubeck after trying games against Hungary and Sweden.

I assume Germany are good at this level too

Thursday morning I will be on my way to Austria for England's game against Ukraine.

Finland 0 Russia 0

Played at Rhyl.

Wales 0 Poland 4

Played at Flint.

I Decided to go to the Finland - Russia game, as it was a bit nearer and reckoned I'd be seeing the top two teams in the group, and was hoping for a good match.

Firstly, there were no match programmes or team sheets, so I'm not sure who was who, sorry. They did read out the names and numbers before the ko, but I couldn't take tham all in

The first half was closely fought, and was pretty even with neither team making much headway. The Russian defence was sound, but generally they used strength rather than skill, and didn't creat any openings. The only shot on goal was from a 35+ yard free kick from which the Russian number 16 wellied just wide when everyone seemed to think she'd float in - but that seemed to be the Russian style.

Finland were good in the middle of the pitch, but made no breakthroughs apart from a long ball that the Russian gk had to run off her line to pounce on.

In the second half, it was pretty much the same, but Finland were making more progress in the Russian half. The Russians took off their number 8 (Elena (?)Menzakova named when substituting, who appeared to be one of the only two players who attempted a bit of skill in their team (other being number 17).

As the half went on, Finland started getting the upper hand, and came close when a corner led to a scramble, and a defender managed to push the ball behind off the post.
Finland seemed to be breaking through the Russian defence several times later in the game, but the Russian gk, who was very dominant in defence, managed to read the play and was ready to get the ball before a striker.

Overall, probably a fair result, although the crowd of around 30-40 generally seemed to be hoping for a Finnish victory.


A few pics - not very good I'm afraid, my first attempt at a game

Teams lining up before ko:



Here's the Russian number 16 wellying that free kick.



The Russian gk doing an Emma (I think she'd nicked her kit too )



A nice-looking Finnish player :



The Finnish number 8 after being kicked in the head:



The Russian number 8 after some retaliation:

I went to the welsh game today- sorry , no pictures from me. Sadly, in spite of good support in a crowd of about 200 the Welsh girls were second best in every department . Couldn't fault their effort but the Poles were stronger and had better movement and passing from midfield. Also their finishing was clinical , especially the giant number 17 who scored twice. The Welsh defence was under pretty constant pressure and Loran Dykes had a very good game. The Polish defence was caught out at times by the pace of Gwennan Harries but the ball never seemed to fall kindly for the Welsh forwards and the Poles had a very good giant keeper. Good luck to the Welsh girls in their other games I cannot imagine that the other two teams will be as sharp up front as the Poles were and hopefully they can do themselves justice.

Looks like I chose the wrong game today then Pat

I'll see Wales against the other 2 in the next few days, but looks like I've missed seeing the sharpest team

How very unpatriotic of you clive! Nice pics. Did she particularly get hurt, the one who got the boot to the head? How many at the game?

It was just a bit of high kicking - nothing nasty.
But the Russian number 8 had been a little naughty before she was fouled - she'd been a bit niggly for a lot of the game - and a few people near the incident shouted something about retribution

The crowd was around 30-40 apart from officials, stewards etc.
It might have been more if it wasn't so expensive to get in (nowt)

This is the number 8 when she wasn't suffering btw

Hmmmm........ So you went for the free fowing football eh? Right