Hungary's U19 team discover Euro qualifying fate

A decision by UEFA last year meant that from 2019 the U19 Euros will take place on a bi-annual basis, next year's event due to be held in Latvia and one for which the qualifying campaign will start next March. Of the the 34 countries entering the competition, eight will contest a preliminary round before the other 26 join in at the second stage, amongst them Tamás Frank's Hungary side.

The main group stage between March 26th and 31st will consist of seven groups of four teams with only the winners sure to progress to the tournament finals in Latvia. Hungary will be confident of impressing though, having last week won a prestigious warm-up tournament in Czechoslovakia with a flawless record. March will see them face one of Europe's best national teams in Spain while Georgia and Turkey will both be tough opponents.

"There were three teams we wanted to avoid in the draw and unfortunately Spain was one of them. The reality is that our aim will be to finish in a respectable position but that doesn't mean we've given up on the hope of qualification. We're not the favourites but we'll do everything we can to prepare properly for the tournament and to spring a surprise against the Spanish. We have little information on the group's other two teams but naturally we're going to research them in the coming period. I trust my team and that they'll get the best out of themselves during the matches", stated Tamás Frank after the draw.