The qualifying groups for the 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, where possible, matched the 7- and 6-team World Cup 2006 qualifying groups of the senior European teams. The exceptions were where Andorra, Faroe Islands, Liechtenstein, and Northern Ireland were involved; none of whom entered an under-21 team. Germany, whose seniors did not need to qualify for the World Cup (as they will be hosts) were added to one of the 5-team groups created by the absence of the aforementioned nations.
Contents
Europe's 48 national under-21 teams entering were divided into eight groups (six groups of 6 + one group of 5 + one group of 7). The eight group winners played off against the eight group runners-up on a two-legged home-and-away basis to decide the eight qualifying teams.
Group 2
Denmark qualify as group winners
Ukraine qualify as group runners-up
Group 3
Portugal qualify as group winners
Russia qualify as group runners-up
Russia (19pts) Slovakia (19pts) head-to-head: 4-0 in RUS, 1-0 in SVK
.: Russia better (4-1 on aggregate)
Group 4
France qualify as group winners
Switzerland qualify as group runners-up
Switzerland (15pts) Israel (15pts) head-to-head: 1-1 in ISR, 0-0 in SUI
.: Switzerland better (1-0 on away goals)
Group 6
Germany qualify as group winners
England qualify as group runners-up
Group 7
Belgium qualify as group winners
Serbia and Montenegro qualify as group runners-up
Play-offs
Group winners played at home in the second leg.