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Georgia

Georgia collected a single point in their sole U18 finals appearance 14 years ago, but coach Giorgi Tsetsadze expects better this time from his attack-minded side.

Georgia's team group
Georgia's team group ©David Catry

Georgia have made it to the U19 final tournament for the first time, though they qualified for its predecessor – the UEFA European Under-18 Championship. Back then, a side coached by Vakhtang Kopaleishvili reached the final tournament at the expense of a Czech Republic side featuring the likes of Zdeněk Grygera, Tomáš Rosický and Milan Baroš. Georgia were to pick up just one point, in a 3-3 draw against eventual bronze medalists the Republic Of Ireland, but there was some consolation for Valerian Gagua, who finished as the tournament's three-goal top scorer with two goals against Ireland and one in the 4-1 defeat by Spain.

Giorgi Tsetsadze expects better of his side this time out. "We will not be just dummies at the European Championship," he said. "We have healthy and realistic ambitions and I believe that we will be fighting for a top-three finish." His side drew with England and beat Scotland and Belgium in the elite round this time, showing considerable resilience; they finished the Scotland game with just nine men, and had only one outfield player on the bench for the Belgium game due to suspensions. "Our football is balanced," Tsetsadze explained. "When we have the ball, everyone tries to score; when we lose possession every player has to defend our goal."

Qualifying round: Croatia 0-2, Azerbaijan 1-1, Iceland 2-0 (Group 11 runners-up)

Elite round: England 1-1, Scotland 3-1, Belgium 2-0 (Group 6 winners)

Key players: Gabriel Tebidze (goalkeeper, FC Metalurgi Rustavi), Nika Sandokhadze (defender, FC Torpedo Kutaisi), Avto Endeladze (midfielder, FC Zestafoni), Giorgi Pantsulaia (forward, FC Torpedo Kutaisi), Bachana Arabuli (forward, FC Dila Gori)

Coach: Georgi Tsetsadze
Date of birth:
03/09/1974
Nationality: Georgian
Playing career: none
Coaching career: FC Metalurgi Rustavi (reserve team), FC Dila Gori, FC Dila Gori (assistant coach), Georgia U19

After ten years as an academy coach at FC Olimpi Rustavi (now Metalurgi Rustavi), Tsetsadze took charge of Dila Gori, leading them into the Georgian top division in 2001. He was dismissed three months later, but later returned to the club as coach Teimuraz Shalamberidze's assistant. Together they led Dila to their first Georgian Cup in 2011/12, and then as far as the UEFA Europa League play-offs the following season.

Tsetsadze's record with young players led to him replacing Kakha Katcharava as Georgia Under-19 coach in January 2013 when the latter returned to club football. Tsetsadze likes his sides to attack, his team responding with some fine, aggressive performances in qualifying.

Team records

Qualifying top scorer
2: Giorgi Pantsulaia, Bachana Arabuli, Guram Samushia

UEFA European Under-19 Championship best
Never qualified

UEFA European Under-18 Championship best
Group stage 1999

UEFA European Under-17 Championship best
Semi-finals 2012
Quarter-finals 2002

UEFA European Under-16 Championship best
Group stage 1997