Swiss await honoured U19 guests

Former winners
The tournament opens on 26 May with 2003 winners Italy playing Sweden and 2005 champions France taking on the hosts in Saviese. Semi-finalists in 2004, Switzerland play Italy in the second round on 29 May as Sweden meet France, while the final round of fixtures sees France and Italy meet in Sion while the hosts play a Sweden side looking to get beyond the Elite round for the first time at the fourth attempt.

FRANCE
Defeats to Spain and Ukraine in February's Copa del Atlantico friendly tournament have taken some of the gloss of the current France crop, but they remain a fearsome side. David N'Gog scored five goals in the qualifying round and plenty of his team-mates now have Ligue 1 experience, while midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin is a set-piece wizard. "We have the potential to develop and what we have done so far was to teach them to win," said coach Luc Rabat.

Qualifying round: Luxemburg 5-0, Greece 2-2, Slovenia 2-0 (Group 4 winners)

Key players: Morgan Schneiderlin (midfielder, RC Strasbourg), David N'Gog (forward, Paris Saint-Germain FC), Djamel Bakar (forward, AS Monaco FC).

ITALY
Having qualified in style despite the absence of star midfielders Fernando Forestieri and Francesco Bolzoni, Italy will go into the mini-tournament with thoughts of their predecessors' success in 2003 in their heads. Much may depend on the inspirational abilities of coach Francesco Rocca, a former Italian international whose speed and stamina saw him nicknamed Kawasaki during his time at AS Roma, between 1972 and 1981. He has been in youth coaching since 1983.

Qualifying round: Montenegro 3-1, Malta 2-0, Croatia 3-1 (Group 13 winners)

Key players: Silvano Raggio Garibaldi (midfielder, Genoa CFC), Stefano Okaka Chuka (forward, AS Roma), Francesco Bolzoni (midfielder, FC Internazionale Milano)

SWEDEN
"Italy and France are of course firm favourites, but as opposed to the Italian and French teams our league has just got into gear and the players are healthy and raring to go," said Sweden coach Hans Lindbom as he looked ahead to Group 6. Sweden may be less skilful than some of their rivals, but they have some quality players like hardworking midfielder Sebastian Eriksson and playmaker Albin Ekdal, who has been watched by Chelsea FC and Juventus.

Qualifying round: Finland 2-0, F.Y.R. Macedonia 3-1, Israel 0-1 (Group 6 runners-up)

Key players: Sebastian Eriksson (midfielder, IFK Göteborg), Albin Ekdal (midfielder, IF Brommapojkarna), Ken Fagerberg (forward, FC Midtjylland)

SWITZERLAND
Switzerland coach Martin Trümpler characterised his team as "talented, but lacking in consistency", adding: "We have lost 1-2 against Turkey and then won 4-0 away in England." Skilful but not yet athletic, Trümpler predicted a "tough task ahead", saying: "France and Italy are top European teams and Sweden are always sound, so you might say we were outsiders."

Qualifying round: Wales 1-1, Kazahkstan 6-1, Hungary 1-2

Key players: Valentin Stocker (midfielder, FC Basel 1893), Daniel Unal (midfielder, AS Roma), Rolf Feltscher (defender, Grasshopper-Club)