Estonian women’s U17 team will start Round 2 in Romania
The Estonian women’s U17 team, which is preparing for the final tournament in May, will participate in Round 2 of qualifictaion, which will be held March 8 to 14 in Romania. The squad consists of 20 players.
The team gathered in Tallinn today, March 5, and will set off for Romania a day later. Three matches await Estonia in the week-long Round 2 qualifying tournament: on March 8 at 11 a.m. they will meet Poland, on March 11 at 11 a.m. they will face the Czech Republic, and in the last match of the tournament they will face their peers from Romania on March 14 at 4 p.m.
Seven teams will be determined in Round 2 of the European Championship qualifying tournament, which, in addition to Estonia, will compete in the UEFA Women’s U17 Championship in Tallinn, Tartu and Võru in May. The winners of the groups of the A league will secure their spot at the final tournament. In the event that Estonia wins its group, the best runner-up from the A league will enter the final tournament.
“Poland is the most familiar opponent to us – we have played with them and also analyzed their games, and we know that they are probably the strongest opponent in the tournament,” said Aleksandra Ševoldajeva, head coach of the women’s U17 team. “We are the least familiar with the Czech Republic, but in the tournament they play the first game against Romania, and we get the freshest and most direct picture of them on the spot. Romania moved up to the A league in the fall from a group where everyone was on equal points and the goal difference was decisive. It should be the opponent most similar to us in terms of level,” Ševoldajeva explained.
According to Ševoldaeva, the goal is to get in the best possible shape for the final tournament. “At Rouns 1, we had even stronger opponents, at least on paper, and back then we went into the games with the clear goal of staying in the A league. Right now, our goal is harder to measure. Of course, one of the wishes is to get the best possible result and stay in the top league, but the most important thing is that we accumulate playing minutes at a high pace. At the moment, the clubs have only a few games behind them, and it is clearly not enough. Therefore, the playing form of the Estonian players is also poor at the moment, and as we saw in Spain, the situation at international level is even more difficult,” said Ševoldajeva.
For various reasons, Minna-Brit Jõelaid, Pilleriin Pohlak, Marta Panova and Egle-Elise Kurg cannot represent the team at Round 2.
Selection of Estonian women’s U17 team for Round 2*:
Väravavahid
Liisa Liimets (04.04.2006) – Viimsi JK 14/0
Katarina Elisabeth Käpa (16.03.2006) – Tallinna FC Flora 6/0
Kaitsjad
Anna Mariin Juksar (02.06.2006) – Saku Sporting 19/0
Viktoria Toding (28.09.2006) – Tallinna FC Flora 14/0
Annegret Kala (03.05.2006) – Tartu JK Tammeka 12/0
Anni Iiris Ilisson (14.02.2007) – JK Tabasalu 11/0
Liisi Karilaid (22.09.2006) – JK Tabasalu 11/0
Carolin Hunt (12.10.2006) – FC Elva 7/0
Karola Purgats (06.04.2006) – Tallinna FC Flora 4/1
Dajana Smirnova (21.03.2007) – Tallinna FC Flora 4/0
Aliset Esna (24.07.2006) – UCF Cambrils (ESP) 2/0
Poolkaitsjad ja ründajad
Jane Mirjam (28.07.2006) – Pärnu JK Vaprus 19/2
Mia-Lisette Sarapik (15.10.2006) – JK Tabasalu 19/1
Aleksandra Orlova (11.08.2006) – Tartu JK Tammeka 17/7
Vanessa Grutop (14.08.2006) – JK Tallinna Kalev 16/7
Kätrin Välba (17.08.2006) – Viimsi JK 12/1
Elisabeth Õispuu (19.11.2007) – Tallinna FC Flora 12/0
Karlotta Levin (15.08.2007) – FC Elva 5/0
Ranele Valk (28.07.2007) – Rakvere JK Tarvas 3/0
Mirtel Kalamees (16.12.2006) – FC Elva 2/0
*The players’ team affiliation is indicated as of 2022
Head coach: Aleksandra Ševoldaeva
Assistant coach: Reivo Vinter
Physical training coach: Maria Sootak
Goalkeeping coach: Mattias Traublum
Physiotherapists: Anette Rõõmussaar, Liisi Sakala
Doctor: Birgit Allmere
Manager: Merily Toom
Team representative: Raili-Raine Ellermaa
In the picture: Vanessa Grutop, striker of the women’s U17 national team. Photo: Liisi Troska/Jalgpall.ee