Under-19 team guide: France

THE COACH:
René Girard was one of the main contenders to replace Roger Lemerre in charge of the senior France squad but instead took Jean-François Jodar's position in charge of the U19s. His playing career was marked by eight caps for Les Bleus as well as three league championships with FC Girondins de Bordeaux in the mid-1980s. Now 49, he began his coaching career with Nîmes Olympique - the club where he both started and finished as a player - in 1992 and, after spells with Pau FC and RC Strasbourg, joined the national set-up as assistant to Lemerre from 1998-2002.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:
The France squad convened at Clairefontaine on 6 July to begin their preparations in earnest. Among their number is playmaker Mourad Meghni, a player often cited as an eventual successor to Zinedine Zidane in the senior France side, who left France for Italy and Bologna FC in 2000/01 and last season made his first start in Serie A. Another player who should catch the eye is captain Jacques Faty, the side's defensive organiser. He plays his club football at Stade Rennais FC, making nine appearances in Ligue 1 last term.

ROUTE TO THE FINALS:
France defeated all three of their rivals in their first qualifying round matches in Russia in October. Girard's men beat Luxembourg 4-0, Albania 9-0 and hosts Russia 1-0 to win Group 9. In the second qualifying round played on home soil in the spring, they topped Group 2 thanks to victories over Israel (4-1) and Poland (1-0) followed by a goalless draw with Spain.

Honours in UEFA youth competitions:
UEFA European Under-18 Championship
Winners 1983, 1996, 1997, 2000
UEFA European Under-17 Championship
Runners-up 2002
UEFA European Under-16 Championship
Runners-up 1996, 2001

Other honours:
FIFA World Under-17 Championship
Winners 2001