Under-19 Poland 2006

Uefa.com magazine

Stage set for young masters
Friday, 14 July 2006
by Andrew Haslam, Uefa.com magazine

Spain continue their quest for a third UEFA European Under-19 Championship triumph in five years when this year's tournament kicks off on Tuesday, but Ginés Meléndez's team face a real fight to regain the trophy they won in 2004. Iberian neighbours and perennial contenders Portugal, 2005 Under-17 champions Turkey and a Scotland side who have qualified for the first time in 20 years provide the Group B opposition. In Group A, Poland have home advantage and Austria, Belgium and the Czech Republic all have strong squads capable of mounting a challenge. uefa.com magazine assesses the eight competing nations.

Group A

Austria
Qualified for the first time in three years with a squad based around that which reached the U17 finals two years ago. Paul Gludovatz guided his side to the semi-finals in Liechtenstein three years ago and a perfect record of three Elite round victories, with only one goal conceded, indicates Austria will be tough to beat again.
Key player: Midfielder Veli Kavlak scored two goals in nine league starts for SK Rapid Wien last season to help the club become Austrian champions.

Belgium
Having qualified from a strong Elite round section Belgium – in their third U19 finals – have every reason to be confident of making an impression in Poland. Coach Marc Van Geersom masterminded the elimination of England, Serbia and Montenegro and Northern Ireland, although the Belgians are yet to record a victory in their six previous final tournament matches.
Key player: Captain Timothy Derijck proved an inspiration at both ends in qualifying, scoring the goal against Northern Ireland that took his side to Poland. The Feyenoord defender gained valuable experience on loan at NAC Breda last season.

Czech Republic
The Czechs recovered from losing their opening Elite round fixture to defeat Denmark and Ukraine and secure progress, although since then coach Jaroslav Horák has departed so his former assistant Miroslav Soukup will take charge at the finals. Five goals with none conceded in their final two qualifiers showed strength at either end of the field.
Key player: Martin Fenin scored against both Ukraine and the Danes in qualifying and, having struck four goals in only ten league starts for FK Teplice, will shoulder most of the striking burden in Poland.

Poland
Hosting the finals of a major competition for the first time, the pre-tournament signs are promising for Michał Globisz's team. The coach took Poland to the final of the 1999 European U16 Championship and guided the same group of players to an U18 victory two years later, and that know-how could prove crucial.
Key player: Dawid Janczyk contributed five goals to Legia Warsawa's championship success, and Globisz will hope the prolific striker recovers from an ankle injury in time to lead the line.

Group B

Portugal
The Portuguese lost the first and last qualifying games but victories in their four other fixtures cleared their path to Poland. Twice European U18 champions, Portugal reached the U19 final in 2003 and, having not qualified since, will be out to demonstrate their ample talent.
Key player: Midfielder Bruno Gama and striker Hélder Barbosa helped the U17s to the European title three years ago, and the FC Porto pair will be pivotal figures in Poland. Both scored crucial Elite round goals against F.Y.R. Macedonia and Croatia, and Carlos Dinis' team will lean heavily on their experience.

Scotland
The Scots ruled Europe in 1982 under UEFA's technical director Andy Roxburgh and current Scotland manager Walter Smith, but last reached an U18 finals in 1986. However, Tommy Wilson's side sprang a major surprise in the Elite round by eliminating 2004 European U17 champions France, ensuring no one will be underestimating them in Poland.
Key player: Already a regular at Hibernian FC, striker Steven Fletcher scored seven times in qualifying and also has a fine record for his club with eight goals in 16 Scottish Premier League starts in 2005/06.

Spain
Traditionally one of Europe's strongest nations with U19 titles in 2002 and 2004, Spain stormed into the finals on the back of three Elite round victories, scoring 15 goals and conceding only twice. Nine different players were on the scoresheet and the team has experience on their side as the bulk of the squad – with the notable exception of Arsenal FC's Cesc Fabregas – reached the U17 final two years ago.
Key player: Coach Ginés Meléndez has a wealth of talent at his disposal with midfielder Javi García, who plays his club football with Real Madrid CF's B team, a perceptive and probing presence in the centre of the field.

Turkey
Last year's European U17 champions, Cem Pamiroğlu's side also served notice of their intent in the Elite round with three victories, eleven goals for and only two conceded. With a rich vein of talent the coach will hope to build on that momentum although there will be no margin for error in a strong section. U18 champions in 1992, Turkey reached the final a year later and lost out to Spain in the 2004 U19 showpiece.
Key players: Kayserispor's İlhan Parlak contributed five of those Elite round goals, scoring in all three games and catching the eye with his adept, all-round play and superb finishing. Scored the fastest goal in the Turkish Superleague since 1959 against Sivasspor in April 2006.