Belgium

Belgium last reached the final tournament in 2006 and in their three previous finals appearances – the others coming in 2002 and 2004 – have won only one of their nine matches. Long-standing coach Marc Van Geersom has plenty of grounds for optimism, however, as his side overcame England in the qualifying round – thanks to Hannes Van der Bruggen's 88th-minute winner – before booking their finals place in their first two elite-round games with victories against 2010 qualifiers Portugal (1-0) and Croatia (3-2).

Van Geersom favours an attacking 4-3-3 based around strikers Paul-José Mpoku, Thorgan Hazard and Maxime Lestienne, while Florent Cuvelier pushes forward from midfield. Defenders Dino Arslanagic and Tom Pietermaat, and Jore Trompet in midfield, also played all six qualifiers. "It's a difficult draw for us but our first objective is always to get to the elite round; it's a bonus to reach the finals," Van Geersom said. "Qualifying is a great success for Belgian football. We'll take it one step at a time and hope to achieve great results. Our goal is to go as far as possible."

Qualifying round: Cyprus 4-1, Albania 2-0, England 2-1 (Group 8 winners)

Elite round: Portugal 1-0, Croatia 3-2, Estonia 0-0 (Group 1 winners)

Key players
Paul-José Mpoku (forward, Tottenham Hotspur FC), Thorgan Hazard (forward, RC Lens), Alessandro Cerigioni (forward, Lommel United), Florent Cuvelier (midfielder, Stoke City FC), Igor Vetokele (forward, KAA Gent)

Coach: Marc Van Geersom

Date of birth: 10 November 1949
Playing career: KSV Waregem, KRC Gent-Zeehaven, ASV Oostende, K. Beerschot VAC, KSC Eendracht Aalst
Coaching career: KFC Sparta Petegem, Belgium Under-12s, U14s, Women, U15s, U16s, U17s, U18s, U19s, youth co-ordinator

A former goalkeeper whose playing career was spent with several clubs in the first and second division, including Waregem and Eendracht Aalst, as a coach Van Geersom joined the Royal Belgian Football Association (URBSFA-KBVB) in 1988. Over the next decade he held a variety of roles – including working with the women's team and as a specialist goalkeeper coach – before assuming overall responsibility for the organisation's youth setup in 1999.

Van Geersom has enjoyed success with the Under-18 and U19 teams, guiding the former to the UEFA European Championship in Finland in 2001 and subsequently reaching four U19 tournaments over the next 10 seasons.

Team facts

Qualifying top scorer
Alessandro Cerigioni: 3

UEFA European Under-19 Championship best
Group stage 2002, 2004, 2006

Honours in UEFA youth competitions
UEFA European Under-18 Championship
Fourth place 1996
International Junior Tournament (U18)
Winners 1977
Runners-up 1952