England MU17s learn U17 EURO opponents

England men’s under-17s have discovered who they will face at this summer’s 2022-23 UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Hungary.

The Young Lions will take on Croatia, the Netherlands and Switzerland at the 16-team finals, which take place from 17 May to 2 June and also act as UEFA's qualifier for the 2023 FIFA U17 World Cup in Peru.

The draw at Hotel Ensana Thermal Margitsziget, Budapest, saw the 16 nations split into four groups of four teams.

The MU17s’ 1-0 loss to Netherlands in their final elite round match meant they were placed in pot 2 for the draw, which was made by Balázs Dzsudzsák, Hungary's most-capped player and tournament ambassador.

The Young Lions and Switzerland were joined in Group D by pot 1 sides Croatia and the Netherlands.

The top two teams in each group will progress to the quarter-finals, with the four victorious sides not only progressing to the semis but also qualifying for the 2023 FIFA U17 World Cup in Peru, with the fifth qualifier being decided by a play-off between the two beaten quarter-finalists with the best group stage record.

The group matchdays are May 17/18, May 20/21 and May 23/24, with the knock-out stages beginning on May 27, the semis and World Cup play-off on May 30, and the final on June 2.

The last of England’s 14 appearances in the U17 EURO finals came in 2019 and the MU17s won the tournament in 2014 and 2010, when the squad included Three Lions senior internationals Conor Coady, Sam Johnstone, Ross Barkley, Jack Butland and Nathaniel Chalobah.

Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri was among the Young Lions who impressed in qualification, scoring six goals during the six-match qualification rounds.

2022-23 UEFA European Under-17 Championship groups in full

Group A
Hungary
Republic of Ireland
Poland
Wales

Group B
Serbia
Spain
Italy
Slovenia

Group C
Portugal
France
Scotland
Germany

Group D
Croatia
Netherlands
Switzerland
England