Polish hosts face heated contest

Temperatures are expected to peak at a searing 39C in the UEFA European Under-19 Championship host region of Wielkopolski this weekend, and the coaches of the four sides set to contest Group A are predicting that by then their competitive section could also be reaching boiling point.

Modest ambition
Austria, Belgium and hosts Poland all look evenly matched going into the 12-day tournament, with the Czech Republic considered most likely to prevail in a tight Group A. Nevertheless their coach Miroslav Soukup is keen to play down his team's chances, insisting that his goal is merely to finish at least third and earn a place in next year's FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Defensive bedrock
Beneath the modest veneer, the experienced Czechs have cause for confidence, however, having conceded just once in qualifying. "We look to build from the back, basing our game on sound defending," said Soukup. "There are always good, strong teams at finals and one mistake could undo all your good work." To that end, his side have prepared well, winning a mini-tournament in Poland in March, involving A and B teams from the hosts and England.

'Even group'
The Czechs will hope to continue that success when they kick off their campaign against Belgium in Pobiedziska on Tuesday, but Marc Van Geersom's men will provide formidable opposition. They have reached the finals in four of the last six seasons, including two under the U18 format, without ever making the last four and their coach believes there is no better time to end that sequence, saying: "It's an even group and the competition will be very close, with all the teams capable of taking points from each other."

Polish expectations
With so little to choose between the countries, it could take moments of individual brilliance to decide Group A. If Belgium will look to their talismanic captain Timothy Derijck, Poland have a potent weapon in their armoury too - Dawid Janczyk. Parallels have been drawn between the striker and Polish legend Zbigniew Boniek and a lot of the hosts' hopes appear to rest on his young shoulders. His late arrival from training with Legia Warszawa in France could help to meet the expectations among the small army of Polish press.

Unknown quantity
"There is a big question mark over our team as we did not have to qualify so it's difficult to assess our potential, but our aim is the semi-finals," said coach Michal Globisz, whose charges have lost to Belgium and Austria in the last 12 months. "The other section is harder but this is not an easy group. I like the way Belgium play, Austria beat us recently, while the Czechs are neighbours so it's difficult to predict."

Rankings boost
The hosts begin their challenge against Austria at Poznan's Stadion Miejski on Tuesday, harbouring ambitions of returning for the final on 29 July. Despite an injury-depleted squad, Austria coach Paul Gludovitz has goals of his own. "We start eighth [in the UEFA coefficient rankings] and our objective is to end sixth," he said. "Belgium are currently seventh and will certainly pose a threat as will the Czechs and the Poles."

Potential deciders
The Czechs have defeated the abovementioned duo in recent friendlies, further underlining just how close Group A could be. By the time it concludes on Sunday with games between Poland and Belgium, and Austria and the Czech Republic, the temperatures on the pitch could have risen as high as those off it.