U19 team guide: Spain

By Andy Hall

Blending technical ability with top-level experience, Spain will be expected to do well in Switzerland but must first overcome a tough group that includes Germany, Poland and Turkey.

Final agony
Coach Armando Ufarte's team reached the final of the FIFA World Youth Championship in December but were reduced to ten men early on and eventually lost 1-0 to Brazil. Two players - Juanfran and Jaime Gavilán - are still in the Under-19 squad and their experience could be a great asset in Switzerland.

THE COACH:
Ufarte has been coaching Spain's youth teams alongside Juan Santisteban and Iñaki Sáez since 1997. During his playing career he won 17 caps for Spain between 1965 and 1972 and represented Clube de Regatas do Flamengo in Brazil before returning to Spain to join Club Atlético de Madrid. The 63-year-old has enjoyed a glittering coaching career, having won two European Under-16 Championship gold medals, one at U19 level and a European Youth Olympic Games silver medal.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Spain did not concede a single goal during the second qualifying round for the summer's tournament, but Ufarte says this is not solely due to a strong back-line. "We have important players in defence," he said. "However, for the defence to perform well, their colleagues elsewhere on the pitch must also do their work. Both when we do and don't have the ball."

Attacking prowess
Indeed, Ufarte's squad is equally talented in attack as they are in defence. Striker Roberto Soldado finished last season as the leading goalscorer with Real Madrid CF's B team, though his 23 goals were not enough for the team to gain promotion to the Segunda División. Soldado's front-line partner will be Villarreal CF's Xisco, who ended last season on-loan at CD Numancia.

ROUTE TO THE FINALS:
After a first-round bye, Spain entered the competition in May's second qualifying round and opened their campaign with a disappointing 0-0 draw with Lithuania. They were quickly back on track though with a 1-0 win against Ruud Guillit's Netherlands side, before sealing their passage to the finals with a convincing 3-0 win against Hungary.

Honours in UEFA youth competitions:
UEFA European Under-16 Championship
Winners 1986, 1988, 1991, 1997, 1999, 2001
Runners-up 1992, 1995
UEFA European Under-17 Championship
Runners-up 2003, 2004
UEFA European Under-18 Championship
Winners 1995
Runners-up 1996
UEFA European Under-19 Championship
Winners 2002

Other honours:
FIFA Under-17 World Championship

FIFA World Youth Championship

UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup

Olympic Games

International Youth Tournament