Men's football U17 Euro 2022 finals kick off in Israel

JERUSALEM, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The men's 2022 UEFA European U-17 Championship kicked off in Israel on Monday.

The annual Euro finals thus resumed after the 2020 and 2021 tournaments had been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The current tournament, played across five Israeli stadiums, includes 16 teams divided into four groups, with two teams from each group advancing to the quarter finals.

In Group A, Germany beat Italy 3-2, while Israel beat Luxembourg 3-0. In Group B, title holders the Netherlands overcame Bulgaria 3-1, and France smashed Poland 6-1.

The first round of Group C, which includes Belgium, Serbia, Spain and Turkey, and Group D, which consists of Denmark, Portugal, Scotland and Sweden, will be underway on Tuesday.

The semifinals will take place in the coastal city of Netanya on May 29, while the final will be held three days later at the same stadium. ■