By Chris O'Brien
March 12 2004

In typical Welsh football fashion the Under-17's, who boasted 3 City players, have blown it. The youngsters needed only a point from their final game against Greece to quality for the European Championship finals, after beating cup holders Portugal and Israel in the opening two matches.

Ian Rush’ Welsh Under-17 side looked certainties to qualify for the youth European Championship finals held in France in the summer after a successful start to their qualifying campaign.  

As Bluebird to the Bone previously reported, Cardiff City forward Jamal Easter hit the only goal of Wales’ opening game as the youngsters beat Israel 1-0, and then followed a huge shock as the principality went on to beat tournament favourites and holders Portugal by a single goal. 

This means Wales needed only a point in their final game against Greece to win the group, which would have sent the underdogs into the 8-team finals hosted in France later this year. Things were going well with Tottenham Hotspurs’ Scott Thyer giving the Welsh the lead in the first-half, but the Greeks levelled before the break and then went on to win the game with just over 15 minutes left on the clock 

This means tournament holders Portugal qualify for the final, and will be joined by another seven clubs who will play their qualifying matches over the coming weeks. Congratulations must go to Wales who upset the odds for coming so close, but its further disappointment for followers of Welsh international football, albeit at youth level. Commiserations to the Cardiff trio named in the squad.