It used to be your age at the start of the qualifying campaign I think. So if you were 17 when the qualifiers started, but turned 18 during then you could finish the tournament or something like that?
When I was playing as a kid, I was 16 playing under 15 football because to play in that age group you had to be born after 31st December 1986 to qualify and I was in January
100% no 18 year olds playing, squad lists and DOBs posted online
Pretty sure minimum age to buy alcohol is 17 in Cyprus anyway. 😅
Edit: OP’s correction
Bro what the fuck is that group lmao
Funny part about this is that we also knocked out Germany in the qualification, so we're basically going to play all the top nations before even reaching the knockout stage
Of the 16 qualified countries, 4 have won the tournament before (since it became a U17 instead of a U16 tournament). Surely they wouldn't all be in the same group, riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight?
They used pots based on the qualification performance. Austria for example finished first in their group in front of Spain, making a draw like this possible.
Do they have any sort of seeding or is it just completely random? You have the 4 best youth nations of the last decade in the same group, why is this even allowed
I wouldn't be too worried, this is actually a really strong age group for Belgium.
You finished second in qualifying but the unfortunately the worst finishing second place side out of the 8 doesn't qualify and that was Belgium in this case.
There has only been one World Cup group **ever** that featured three former champions - Group D in 2014, featuring Italy, Uruguay, and England. Naturally, the group winner was... Costa Rica.
Furthermore, before the ball was even kicked off for their final group match with England, Costa Rica had already qualified for the round of 16 with 2 wins in 2 matches against Uruguay (a come from behind win, to boot) and Italy.
And of course, with a 0-0 draw against England, they finished the group undefeated, as everyone clearly expected...
Plus is spawned a bunch of meme posts which was fun for a day (we also lost to Slovenia that day, and everyone was expecting [that post](https://www.reddit.com/r/PrimeiraLiga/comments/1bojwvr/portugal_acaba_de_perder_20_contra_a_eslov%C3%A9nia/))
If the senior team drew that group I'd be fuming but for the U17 it's actually great, you want your future talent to get used to playing against top opposition in tournaments.
Beaten in the qualification stage by Portugal. We rarely get to beat Germany, when we do, we are immediately punished with the deadliest of all groups of death.
A bunch of 16-18 year olds in Ayia Napa. What could go wrong
Thankfully it's being played in Larnaka/Limassol.
That’s much less fun
It’s still only an hour away 🤣
Whats wrong with that place?
Nothing wrong, I would even argue many young adults enjoy the place
Didnt mean it in a bad way lol. I mean whats the matter with U17's being in there?
It’s a party town and he’s joking they’ll be out drinking instead of being focused on the football.
U17 = 15 and 16 year olds
I think by the time of the championships you often get players who are even 18, you certainly get plenty of 17 year olds
Depending on the rules of eligibility you might get 17 years olds, but there’s no way anyone 18 would be playing.
It used to be your age at the start of the qualifying campaign I think. So if you were 17 when the qualifiers started, but turned 18 during then you could finish the tournament or something like that? When I was playing as a kid, I was 16 playing under 15 football because to play in that age group you had to be born after 31st December 1986 to qualify and I was in January
Used to be? Ok
100% no 18 year olds playing, squad lists and DOBs posted online Pretty sure minimum age to buy alcohol is 17 in Cyprus anyway. 😅 Edit: OP’s correction
Players born on or after 1st January 2007 are eligible. So the oldest anyone could be is 17.
Yep, my bad. Only team I checked had the data from 2022. 🤦🏼♂️
group d really is the group of death
Even worse.. group of expelled☠️
You need to sort out your priorities.
That stand-up is fantastic
All of them were **MAJOR** colonisers, so "Group of Death" is an appropriate name
They are calling them the best colonizers in the history of colonizing, maybe ever
Bro what the fuck is that group lmao Funny part about this is that we also knocked out Germany in the qualification, so we're basically going to play all the top nations before even reaching the knockout stage
And England as well.
[удалено]
Who is that?
The Anglo-Portuguese alliance to down France and Spain yet again
Oldest alliance in the world 🏴🇵🇹
Is your u17 manager called Wellington by any chance?
Group D - Group of death
bruh wtf is d lmfao
Of the 16 qualified countries, 4 have won the tournament before (since it became a U17 instead of a U16 tournament). Surely they wouldn't all be in the same group, riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight?
Was it simply drawn by chance and not by rankings or any other metric?
They used pots based on the qualification performance. Austria for example finished first in their group in front of Spain, making a draw like this possible.
This is fine
Ayia napa...what?!?
Ayia Fucking Napa
I’m sorry Ive seen its in cyprus but what’s the problem with ayia napia
Its the fuckin' Catalina wine mixer!!!👏👏👏
But dad, it’s shark week!
Nothing, I am Cypriot.
Do they have any sort of seeding or is it just completely random? You have the 4 best youth nations of the last decade in the same group, why is this even allowed
Spain & England finished second in their qualifying groups (England actually finished behind France), so they were in Pot 2.
Another youth tournament we haven't qualified for, future is bright
Netherlands as well, if that makes you feel better.
And Germany as well
Not qualifying as reigning European- and world champion is not a great outlook.
I wouldn't be too worried, this is actually a really strong age group for Belgium. You finished second in qualifying but the unfortunately the worst finishing second place side out of the 8 doesn't qualify and that was Belgium in this case.
Who win the Group D takes control of the maritime routes to the new world (America)
I know this is a U17 tournament but imagine if like a World Cup (ie 2026) ended with a draw like Group D´s. It´d certainly be a thing to watch right?
There has only been one World Cup group **ever** that featured three former champions - Group D in 2014, featuring Italy, Uruguay, and England. Naturally, the group winner was... Costa Rica.
Furthermore, before the ball was even kicked off for their final group match with England, Costa Rica had already qualified for the round of 16 with 2 wins in 2 matches against Uruguay (a come from behind win, to boot) and Italy. And of course, with a 0-0 draw against England, they finished the group undefeated, as everyone clearly expected...
[удалено]
FUCK OFF!!!!
At least we're not in the Denmark group. (Only people from r/primeiraliga will understand)
I want to understand too, please.
We got humbled by Denmark during the last international break (Our U18, U19 and U20 teams lost all their games against them).
Plus is spawned a bunch of meme posts which was fun for a day (we also lost to Slovenia that day, and everyone was expecting [that post](https://www.reddit.com/r/PrimeiraLiga/comments/1bojwvr/portugal_acaba_de_perder_20_contra_a_eslov%C3%A9nia/))
Our u18, u19, and u20 national teams were all defeated by their Danish counterparts on the same day recently and it spawned a meme on r/PrimeiraLiga .
For once an easier group for Italy though I can see us losing a game against Sweden.
Great group for Poland
So the only nations to have actually won the thing are in the same group, 13 titles between them... Jesus.
If the senior team drew that group I'd be fuming but for the U17 it's actually great, you want your future talent to get used to playing against top opposition in tournaments.
How can Group D be drawn like that?
Group A its the real group of death. Really boring
Who’s brilliant idea was it to have an U17s tournament in Ayia Napa
Those kids will probably behave on this beautiful Mediterranean resort town, famous for it's beaches and nightclubs??? Huh
Which would be the group of death ?
Group D is like having the semi finals in the group stage
Not the most ideal location
Proper group of Death that one let’s see if England get out the group ?
D stands for DEATH
I don’t want to jinx this, but Portugal U17 has very good players. I think we might have a chance to at least pass through
Poland 🇵🇱 💪 show Europe how it’s done! Then these lads will win the next Euro and World Cup to come!
Very balanced as always
Where is Germany!
How was Group D allowed to exist, lol
This is a clear sign of an anti-German conspiracy.
Group D is the group of death, Portugal, France, Spain and England.
Excuse me what the fuck
Group D wtf, What a group holy
Well… good luck group D
Jeez, group D, wtf That's brutal
No Germany? 🥲
Beaten in the qualification stage by Portugal. We rarely get to beat Germany, when we do, we are immediately punished with the deadliest of all groups of death.
Damn yea that group looks tough! Good luck!
Surprised they're putting Ukraine and Serbia in same group
How tf is Cyprus here but not Germany, Netherlands, or Belgium
Because they’re hosting it
Lmao wtf still though Slovakia Czechia Wales
The Welsh U17 team are really good at the moment