Romania

Romania's wait to reach a UEFA European Under-17 finals is over, appropriately in the year when they host the U19 competition for the first time. Though they did regularly qualify for the old 16-team U16 event, most including the final 2001 edition, they never made it out of a group, but this squad has the potential to do better. Appropriately they were born in 1994, the year Romania's 'golden generation' reached the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals.

Dominated by ten players from Viitorul Constanţa and LPS Banatul Timişoara, and winners of friendly tournaments in Hungary and Moldova, they strolled through the qualifying round with 12 unanswered goals, Fabian Himcinschi's five against Liechtenstein equalling the competition record. It was tougher in the elite round, but after an opening 0-0 draw with Iceland, they overcame a half-time deficit to beat Russia 2-1.

Then knowing a win would be enough against hosts Hungary, Romania went two up early only to let in a goal with six minutes left and then concede a penalty at the death. Had it gone in Russia would have topped the group but goalkeeper Laurenţiu Brănescu made the save to his team-mates' delight.

Qualifying round: Kazakhstan 1-0, Liechtenstein 9-0, Belarus 2-0 (Group 6 winners)

Elite round: Iceland 0-0, Russia 2-1, Hungary 2-1 (Group 7 winners)

Key players
Bogdan Ţiru (forward, Viitorul Constanţa), Claudiu Bumba (defender, FC Maramures Baia Mare), Darius Buia (midfielder, LPS Banatul Timişoara), Fabian Himcinschi (forward, Unirea Alba Iulia), Laurenţiu Brănescu (goalkeeper, Juventus)

Coach: Adrian Văsâi

Date of Birth: 9 September 1964
Nationality: Romanian
Playing career: Sportul Studentesc Bucureşti, FC Inter Sibiu, Vanspor, Jiul Petroşani
Coaching career: FC Inter Sibiu, Industria Sârmei Câmpia Turzii, Chimica Târnăveni, Liberty Salonta, FC Sibiu, Romania U18/U19, Romania U16/U17

Văsâi scored 75 goals in 212 Romanian top-flight games, and blossomed early, scoring 12 times in 45 youth internationals, as well as winning eight U21 caps. After retiring he began coaching in 1998 at second division level, earning a reputation as a disciplinarian.

In 2007 he joining the Romanian Football Federation (FRF), taking over the youth national team preparing for 2008/09 European U19 qualifying. Beaten to the finals 3-0 by France on the last day of the elite round, Văsâi then switched to the group aiming for the 2010/11 U17s – and successfully earned qualification.

Team records

Qualifying top scorer
Fabian Himcinschi: 8

UEFA European Under-17 Championship best
First qualification

Honours in UEFA youth competitions
International Youth Tournament (U18)
Winners: 1962
Runners-up: 1960