Portugal's 1-0 win against Belgium in Group 5's other game was largely inconsequential. Portugal nevertheless had a point to prove in front of their home support in Lisbon after a disappointing campaign.

Sofia Galvão scored the only goal of a hard-fought game on the half-hour mark, rifling in a free-kick. Belgium pushed hard for an equaliser as they tried to end their own disappointing qualifying campaign on a high but found Portuguese goalkeeper Martins Duarte in superb form.

The win meant that Portugal finished second, three points behind Scotland. Israel finish third courtesy of their 2-1 victory against bottom-side Belgium on Friday.

Mini-tournament hosts Switzerland sealed their passage to the 2005 UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship as they maintained their 100 per cent record with victory against Ukraine.

The home side went into the encounter at the Niedermatten stadion with Group 6 already secured following wins against Poland and Northern Ireland. They registered four goals in each match and this evening’s game proved no different in terms of openness as the home side edged a five-goal thriller against Ukraine.

Swiss defender Flavia Schwarz

The match between Northern Ireland and Poland was therefore a battle for second, which the Irish secured after a 3-1 victory at the Engelgehr Malters stadion.

Poland still appeared shell-shocked following their 4-1 loss to Switzerland on Thursday, while Northern Ireland maintained the momentum wrought from the 2-0 win against Ukraine on the same night. Tonight’s victory saw Ian Stewart’s side finish a credible second, while Poland were forced into third.

Russia secured a place in the 2005 UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship after capping an impressive Group 4 campaign with a 3-1 win against Austria in an all-or-nothing encounter at the Alpenstadion Gloggnitz.

The teams started the match locked at the section summit after recording six points from their opening two matches against Romania and Serbia and Montenegro. The Russians, semi-finalists last season, had a slight advantage with a far superior goal difference that meant that a draw would suffice but in the end they did not need it as they eased to victory.

Valentin Grishin’s side were leading 2-0 at half-time and further extended their advantage in the second half before Marlies Hanschitz struck a consolation with just four minutes remaining. It was the first goal Russia have conceded in six qualifying matches, a period in which they have racked up 33 at the other end, and they are bound to be a force at the finals in Hungary in July.

Ekaterina Sochneva (left) will be hoping for more reasons to celebrate at the finals in Hungary in July

Three-time UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship winners and current Under-19 world champions Germany will travel to Hungary in July in pursuit of a fourth title after winning Group 1 at a canter.

Mini-tournament hosts Germany defeated Denmark 1-0 at the Hubert-Houben Stadion today to seal a 100 per cent qualifying record and leave coach Silvia Neid hopeful of further success in the finals. "Although we struggled against a tight defensive unit today, I am otherwise completely satisfied," she said. "Three games, three victories and a categorical group win - one cannot ask for more."

Isabel Kerschowski

Germany went into Saturday afternoon's round of matches with a final berth already guaranteed after victories against the Czech Republic and Sweden had given them an unassailable lead on top of the section. But the side were determined to qualify in style and in front of a partisan home crowd of 2,100 dominated proceedings, with Simone Laudehr, Lena Goessling and Katharina Griessemer causing the visitors' defence countless problems.

Henrik Lehm's side managed to keep the Germans at bay, however, and looked to have earned a share of the spoils before Griessemer struck with just three minutes remaining. 

Germany will now be seeking to add the European crown to the FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship title they won in Thailand in November.

The Czech Republic and Denmark finished joint bottom after drawing 1-1 on Tuesday.

Simone Laudehr

Sweden at the Hülsparkstadion had an emphatic 6-0 win against the Czech Republic.

The result meant Calle Barrling's side finished second in the section, three points behind Germany.  The Czech Republic and Denmark finished joint bottom after drawing 1-1 on Tuesday.

Defending champions Spain will not defend their title in Hungary in July. Ignacio Quereda Laviña's team finished on a high, however, easing to a comprehensive 4-0 victory against Croatia in Madrid.

The mini-tournament hosts got off to a superb start, taking the lead midway through the first half when Croatian defender Katarina Janc directed the ball past Ines Bašic and into her own net. María Pérez, who was also on target against Ireland in her side's last outing, then put the game out of the visitors' reach with two goals in five minutes either side of half-time before Ana María completed the win on 67 minutes.

Ultimately, however, victory proved in vain as Spain were left to rue their decisive 1-0 defeat by France on Tuesday and finished three points adrift of the summit. , while Croatia prop up the section after conceding 15 goals in their three group games.

France edged a one-goal win against the Republic of Ireland to qualify for the 2005 UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship with a 100 per cent record, at the expense of holders Spain. Ireland finished third. 

A draw at the Pabellón de la Ciudad del Fútbol today would have been enough for France, the 2003 winners, to secure a place in the eight-team championship. But Ireland proved very different to the side that succumbed to a heavy 5-0 defeat by Spain on Thursday, and Susan Ronan's team always posed a threat until defender Julie Peruzzetto fired France in front on the hour mark.

Stéphane Pilard's well-fancied side racked up seven goals against Croatia on Thursday, but could not add to their lead and had to settle for a narrow win. It nevertheless completed a successful qualifying campaign, securing maximum points from three group games

England secured a place at the 2005 UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship after a 2-0 victory against Norway saw them scrape through a tight Group 2 by virtue of a superior goal difference.

Lying third in the section going into the match, England needed at least a two-goal win to edge out their opponents and secure a spot in the eight-team championship in a do-or-die affair in Vajont. And they got off to the best possible start at the Campo Sportivo as Fulham LFC midfield player Danielle Bird, who also scored a late consolation in the 2-1 against Italy on Thursday, broke the deadlock after just six minutes.

Striker Lianne Sandersen scored the crucial second on the cusp of half-time and although Norway pressed in the second period, with Jarl Torske introducing Lene Mykjaland, England held on. "This is a bitter blow,” Torske’s assistant Hege Riise reflected after the game, “but we can have no complaints. England were the better side, and deserved their victory, and to go through."

England finish first by virtue of a 3-2-goal difference between the three sides on 6 points, with Norway (3-3) runners-up and Italy (3-4) third. 

Italy had no chance of qualifying going into the final round of matches, but a 5-0 victory against Moldova at least saw Elisabetta Bavagnoli’s side end a capricious week in style. Despite a 2-1 win against England two days ago, the 3-1 loss to Norway in the opening round of matches meant the best the mini-tournament hosts could hope for was second. As things panned out, however, Italy were forced to settle for third despite ending the campaign level on six points with both Norway and England. Moldova, who conceded 16 goals over their three games, failed to earn a point.

Unfortunately Wales lost their last match against Netherlands 1 : 3 in the second round of the UEFA Women’s U19 championship this evening and have failed to qualify for the finals in Hungary. The team performed admirably throughout the mini tournament but could not make the final leap to get to the finals.

Scotland Under 19 women’s team are within touching distance of the UEFA Finals, having defeated hosts Portugal 2-0 in this afternoon’s qualifier. They now need just a draw against Israel on Sunday evening to go through.

It was always going to be tough against the Portuguese favourites in Estoril, and the deadlock was not broken until just after the hour mark. The goal came from Hollie Thomson, and Scotland did not have to wait long for the clincher as Suzanne Lappin got the second in 69 minutes.

Scotland now top the group with six points and no goals conceded, but they still have to avoid defeat on Sunday against Israel, who beat Belgium 2-1 today. A draw or win will see them reach the UEFA Finals in Hungary for the first time ever.

The Republic of Ireland Under 19 women's side were beaten 5-0 by defending Champions Spain in their European Championship qualifier in Madrid on Thursday evening.

Having beaten Croatia 4-0 on Tuesday, the Irish side were hoping to capitialise but the reigning European Champions never gave Ireland a chance with a clinical display. 

28 April 2005 France 7  Croatia 1

The England Women's Under-19 team lost their second match of their European Championship, Second Round Qualifying mini-tournament, going down 2-1 to hosts Italy.

Elisabetta Bavagnoli's side were keen on bouncing back from their first day defeat at the hands of Norway and started the match in bright fashion.

Mo Marley's side briefly rallied and they went close on a number of occasions but didn't quite manage to find the finishing touch to some encouraging phases of play.

Just when it seemed the young Lions might get a goal back, Italy hit them with a blow when Riboldi, who had scored in Italy's 3-1 defeat to the Norwegians, scored to put the hosts 2-0 ahead on 72 minutes.

Scorers : Filipa Galvão (2’), Sofia Vieira (65’) (pictured right), Cláudia Neto (71’) e Cátia Reis (88’)

Verad Cohen (26’) scored Israel's counter

Scotland’s Under 19 women’s team got their UEFA qualifying campaign off to the best possible start this afternoon with a 3-0 win over Belgium in Lisbon.

The Scots were two up at half time, thanks to a Diana Barry penalty after 13 minutes, and a strike from Hollie Thomson in 20 minutes. Playing great football, there was little danger of Belgium coming back into the game, and it was no surprise when Katie Bennett wrapped it up with a third in 70 minutes.

Austria

French scorer Elodie Thomis

The Republic of Ireland women’s Under 19 side started their European Championship qualification campaign with a victory on Tuesday as they beat Croatia 4-1 in Madrid, Spain.

Unbeaten in the first phase qualifiers, Ireland outclassed their opponents with two strikes in the first half from Sarah Lawlor set Ireland on their way before Sara McGrath added a further two in the second half.

Czech Republic

Denmark's Maja Biltoft

26 April 2005 Germany 1 Sweden 0

The Italian women's Under 19 team coached by Elisabetta Bavagnoli lost their first match of the second phase of qualification for the European Championships. In spite of a good first half, well played, and wasted scoring chances, the women lost against Norway 3-1. After conceding a penalty kick on 9' of the first half, the Under 19's lost a second goal from a free kick 2' into the second half after squandering several chances. In the 72' Riboldi scored but in the 75' the Norwegians scored their third goal.

Everton midfielder Amy Kane got England off to the perfect start when she drilled home after 25 minutes. The goal was just reward for an England side who had controlled much of the play in the opening stages of the match.

England continued to run the play and 16 minutes later they added a vital second goal to take the match away from the Moldovans.

Danielle Bird

25 April 2005 Netherlands 0 Finland 1

Finland squad

Finland scorer Taru Laihanen(above)

Wales win the opening match against Greece 2 : 1 in the 2nd Round of the UEFA Women’s U19 Championship. Greece conceded an own goal in the 70th minute and then Wales No 10 Gwen Harries scored the winner in the 76th minute.