Under 17 European qualifiers

Spain's under 17 side made sure of a place in next summer's European finals after beating Italy 1-0 in their last Elite Group qualifying game. Juan Santiesteban's side drew 2-2 with hosts Romania in their opening match, Barcelona's Rochina and Real Sociedad's Gazta getting the goals to save a point after the locals had gone two up. And two days later, a last minute strike from Racing Santander's Canales was enough to give them a 1-0 win over the other group side, Austria. (28.03.08)

Romania 2 - Spain 2

Romania: Bucuroiu, Beta, Fioranu (Mladen 71'), Bejan, Sava, Chindris, Matei (Boikan 76'), Stoian (Florut 73'), Albu, Pop, Alibec.
Spain: Angel Díez, Martín, Molero, Gaztañaga, Carles, Alvaro López, Erik (Sielva 52'), Keko, Pacheco (Manu 70'), Canales (Álvaro Giménez 41'), Rochina.

Goals:
0-1. 05. Alibec; 0-2. 42. Pop; 1-2. 43. Rochina; 2-2. 62. Gazta.

Defending European champions Spain opened this year's Elite Group qualifiers with a 2-2 draw against hosts Romania. Juan Santiesteban's side went behind when Alibec beat Racing Santander keeper Angel Díaz early on, and Pop made it two with the second half only a couple of minutes old. Barcelona's Rubén Rochina got one back a minute later though, and Real Sociedad's Gazta equalised midway through the second half. Italy and Austria drew 1-1 in the other group match. (26.03.08)

Spain 1 - Austria 0

Spain: Angel Díez (Oriol 31'); Martín, Angel Martínez, Molero, Diego, Sielva, Álvaro López, Keko, Alvaro Giménez (Canales 41'), Manu, Rochina.
Austria: Petermann; Bevab, Dragovic, Alaba, Tauschmann, Schimpelsberger, Klem, Noel (Tiffner 41'), Gucher, Ivos, Kainz (Ritzmaier 51', Mally 79').

Goals:
1-0. 82. Canales.

Spain's under 17 side will be sure of a place in next summer's European finals if they can beat Italy in their last Elite Group qualifying match next Monday. Juan Santiesteban's side beat Austria in their second game, with Italy and hosts Romania drawing the other group match 1-1. The youngsters were by far the better side throughout, but Austria held on until the second minute of injury time, when Racing Santander's Canales got the only goal after Rochina's free kick came back off the crossbar. (28.03.08)

Spain 1 - Italy 0

Spain: Oriol; Martín, Molero, Gazta, Carles Planas, Sielva, Álvaro López, Keko, Canales (Manu Gavilán 41'), Dani Pacheco (Álvaro Giménez 56'), Rochina (Erik, 76').
Italy: Perucchini; Faraoni, Albertazzi, Brosco, Bertolacci, Vecchi, D'Alessandro (Sala 53'), Petrucci (Borini 62'), Santon, Destro, Soriano (Taddei 45').

Goals: 1-0. 60. Manu Gavilán.

Spain's under 17 side qualified for next summer's European finals after beating Italy 1-0 in their last group match. Both teams had chances before the break, but Juan Santiesteban's side won it when Betis's Manu Gavilán beat Perucchini after the keeper pushed out a shot from Rochina midway through the second half. The finals take place in Turkey in the first two weeks of May. (31.03.08)

Full squad:

Athletic Bilbao: Erik Morán
Atlético Madrid: Keko Gontán
Barcelona: Carles Planas, Rubén Rochina, Martín Montoya
Betis: Manuel Gavilán
Elche: Álvaro Giménez
Espanyol: Ángel Martínez, Oscar Sielva
Liverpool: Dani Pacheco
Oviedo: Pablo Peláez
Racing Santander: Sergio Canales, Ángel Díaz
Real Madrid: Rubén Molero, Oriol Torres, Álvaro López
Real Sociedad: Jon Gaztañaga
Villarreal: Diego Jiménez