Plays starts at 9am tomorrow at the IBSA Football European Championships for partially sighted players (B2/B3 category) in La Spezia, Italy.

Seven nations, including newcomers Austria, have gathered in Italy for the championships, where the top nation will take over the mantle of European champions from Belarus, champions at the 2012 event in Turkey, who failed to enter a team on this occasion.

Spain start the event as favourites, having reached the final in 2012 before losing 3-0 to the Belarussians, but they will face tough competition from 2012 beaten semi-finalists England and the Ukraine.

Hosts Italy will be looking to improve on its 6th place finish in 2012 and Turkey have an opportunity to make up for a disappointing performance on home soil two years ago.

Fixture list

Saturday 13th December

09:00 Italy vs England (Group A)
11:30 Russia vs Austria (Group A)
14:00 Spain vs Ukraine (Group B)

Sunday 14th December

09:00 England vs Russia (Group A)
11:30 Italy vs Austria (Group A)
14:00 Ukraine vs Turkey (Group B)

Monday 15th December

09:00 Italy vs Russia (Group A)
11:30 Austria vs England (Group A)
14:00 Spain vs Turkey (Group B)

Tuesday 16th December

09:00 5th-6th place play-off
11:30 3rd-4th place play-off
14:00 Final 

Image: Turkey in training this morning at the competition venue in La Spezia

Follow all the action here and on the IBSA Blind Football Facebook page.