Under-17 team guide: Hungary

For Hungary's Under-17 team page click here

In reaching this season's UEFA European Under-17 Championship Hungary have maintained a remarkable qualification record - this summer's appearance is their fifth successive showing in the tournament, including its U16 predecessor, going back to 1998.

Group stage challenge
However in these four appearances the Hungarians have never got past the group stage and finished bottom of their group on three occasions - a record they will be hoping they can remedy having been drawn in Group A alongside hosts Portugal, Denmark and neighbours Austria.

THE COACH:
István Varga was born on 1 May 1948. A right-winger with second division Kecskeméti Dózsa his coaching career began in the early 1970s with various youth teams. He later became coach of top-flight Újpesti TE leading them to the championship in 1989/90. Varga also coached Siófok FC and Haladás VFC among others before taking over as coach of Hungary's U17, U18 and U20 sides in 2002, the same year he obtained a UEFA Pro coaching license.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Defensive midfield player László Zsidai proved himself indispensable during his side's qualification campaign, playing in two of the three games and being much-missed in the side's final qualifier, in which they struggled against Albania.

'Good tehcnique'
"He is a very good player with good technique," is coach Varga's assessment of his young charge who is studying at the Sándor Károly Football Academy (the youth centre of MTK Hungária FC). Forward Robert Feczesin also showed good form in the qualifiers and will be looking to enhance his reputation.

ROUTE TO THE FINALS:
As a seeded side Hungary entered at the second qualifying round stage. Varga's side edged a testing Group 5 opener against reigning U17 champions Switzerland by a single Balazs Dzsudzsak goal and then beat Greece comfortably 2-0, Feczesin scoring twice. That result secured qualification and Hungary took their foot off the pedal somewhat, drawing 3-3 with Albania in their final fixture.

Hungary youth honours:
UEFA European Under-18 Championship:
Winners 1984
Runners-up 1976.