Blucerchiati youngsters on U21 duty

With the European Under-21 Championship 2017 in Poland drawing ever closer, several international sides still in with a shout will be battling it out over the coming days to secure a spot in the finals.

Dennis Praet’s Belgium U21s qualified for the tournament last time out, beating group-leaders Czech Republic to secure at least second place in Group 1. The Red Devils will now head to Montenegro on 7 October before rounding their qualification campaign off with a trip to Latvia on 11 October.

Portugal U21s are another team already assured of a spot at the finals, so Bruno Fernandes and Co. will look to continue their good form in their last two qualification matches, against Hungary (at the Alcufer Stadion on 6 October at 19:45 CEST) and then Lichtenstein (at the Rheinpark Stadion on 10 October at 19:30 CEST).

Luka Krajnc is in the Slovenia U21 squad for their crunch matches against Lithuania in Kaunas on 7 October (17:30 CEST) and Serbia, who are currently two points ahead of Krajnc’s men in second. The game will take place in the Serbian town of Gornji Milanovac on 11 October at 17:00 CEST.

Milan Skriniar’s table-topping Slovakia side need just a point against Belarus in Myjava on 7 October (18:30 CEST) to seal a berth in the finals, while a trip to Turkey on 11 October at 16:00 CEST will round the group off for Skriniar and Co.