Russia fixed on finals return

Russia will hope to make their experience tell when they travel to Slovenia for their UEFA European Under-19 Championship Elite round section, although the Netherlands and Belarus will also present stern opposition in Group 2.

Neighbours' party
With the final tournament to be held across the border in Ukraine, Andrei Talalev's side – who won all three qualifying round games – have every incentive as they seek to reach the finals for the first time since 2007. None of the other three sides have ever progressed from an Elite round with mini-tournament hosts Slovenia at this stage for the fourth time and the Netherlands last qualifying for the U18 finals in 2000. Belarus reached the 1994 tournament, also at U18 level, but have won only one of six games at this stage in the U19 competition.

RUSSIA
Talalev has been preparing his preliminary 20-man squad in Novogorsk, just outside Moscow, although five of the party only joined their team-mates on 31 May, three days after the training camp had begun. "Of course, that's not helpful as we're working on team football," said the coach. "I hope these players will be at their best and the positive emotions brought by playing for the national team will give them additional energy."

Qualifying round: Moldova 2-0, Latvia 2-0, Italy 1-0 (Group 3 winners)

Key players: Alan Gatagov (midfielder, FC Lokomotiv Moskva), Fedor Smolov (striker, FC Dinamo Moskva)

NETHERLANDS
Coach Wim van Zwam believes a friendly against Romania in March, in which his side fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2, provided what could be an invaluable lesson. "Our comeback showed resilience, although before that our play was too predictable and at a tempo that was much too slow," he explained. "Then it gets difficult, but our Elite round opponents play the same kind of game. We can expect something similar there: teams who play compactly, are physically strong and pick their moments."

Qualifying round: Lithuania 4-1, Luxembourg 3-2, Germany 1-2 (Group 6 runners-up)

Key players: Daley Blind (centre-back, AFC Ajax), Georginio Wijnaldum (attacking midfielder, Feyenoord), Nacer Barazite (striker, Arsenal FC)

SLOVENIA
Milos Kostic has had his side in Rakican in the Prekmurje region to prepare for the group, although he has a whole host of selection problems to ponder as he fine-tunes his squad. René Krhin is available but his FC Internazionale Milano team-mate, goalkeeper Vid Belec, is missing through injury. NK IB Ljubljana defenders Antonio Delamea Mlinar and Matej Rapnik, plus forward Adnan Bescic of NK Domžale, are also absent.

Qualifying round: Norway 2-4, Slovakia 2-0, Armenia 3-2 (Group 5 runners-up)

Key players: René Krhin, (midfielder, FC Internazionale Milano), Robert Beric (striker, NK IB Ljubljana), Armend Spreco (striker, NK Maribor)

BELARUS
Having qualified as one of the two best third-placed teams, Belarus will have to rely on a squad largely based around players who ply their trade in the reserve teams of Russian Premier-Liga sides, such as defender Sergei Politevich and striker Vitali Rushnitski, both at FC Krylya Sovetov Samara, and Dmitri Khlebosolov. Dmitri Baga is one home-based player to have made his mark, however, and coach Sergei Solodovnikov has plenty of faith in his squad's ability, saying: "We have many talented players. There's good competition in every position, but the Elite round will finally tell us how strong we are."

Qualifying round: Switzerland 2-1, Spain 0-4, Faroe Islands 1-0 (third in Group 13)

Key players: Dmitri Baga (midfielder, FC BATE Borisov), Sergei Politevich (defender, FC Krylya Sovetov Samara), Dmitri Khlebosolov (striker, FC Spartak Moskva)