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Ireland qualified as one of the top seeds. FAI/Twitter

Ireland handed tricky draw for next month's U17 European Championships

The draw was made by Wayne Rooney and John Delaney this evening.

IRELAND WILL FACE Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denmark and Belgium at next month’s Uefa U17 European Championships after the draw for the group stages were made this evening.

Colin O’Brien’s side qualified for the 2018 edition of the tournament in impressive fashion, recording six wins from six in the qualifying and elite rounds to take their place in Pot 1.

As a result, Ireland were drawn in Group C as top seeds with their campaign opening against Belgium at Loughborough on 5 May.

“We’re delighted to be here, we knew we were going to get tough opponents and that is exactly how it has turned out,” O’Brien said. “We know our opponents now and we can start planning and preparing for the start of the tournament over the next four weeks.

“The players have tough club programmes coming up, fingers crossed all players come in fit and fresh. To play in a major competition is a huge honour and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”

The draw for next month’s tournament, which takes place in England, was made by Wayne Rooney and FAI CEO John Delaney, in attendance in his role as Uefa’s Youth and Amateur Football Committee chairman.

The tournament will be staged across six different venues, including Burton’s Pirelli Stadium, St George’s Park, the New York Stadium and Chesterfield’s Proact Stadium, from 4-20 May.

The top two teams from each group will advance through to the quarter-finals, the stage Ireland reached in Croatia last year before being beaten by England.

U17 European Championship fixtures:

  • Ireland v Belgium, 5 May, Loughborough University Stadium
  • Ireland v Denmark, 8 May, Burton Albion Stadium
  • Bosnia & Herzegovina v Ireland, 11 May, St George’s Park

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