Lithuania

Lithuania lost all three of their games in their only appearance at the UEFA European Under-18 Championship final tournament in 1998, but hope the investment of the Lithuanian Football Federation (LFF) in the national academy in Kaunas will pay off as they stage the 2013 event.

A significant number of Antanas Vingilys' players have come through that academy, with the likes of goalkeeper Tomas Švedkauskas (AS Roma), midfielder Vykintas Slivka (Juventus) and forward Simonas Stankevičius (Leicester City FC) having already secured moves abroad. "We've invested a lot in this team," said Vingilys, whose side are without a win in their last eight competitive games. "I don't think any other of our youth teams have had so many players playing for English or Italian clubs. I hope we can do ourselves justice and try to get to the knockout phase."

Qualifying: qualified automatically as hosts

Key players: Tomas Švedkauskas (goalkeeper, AS Roma), Vykintas Slivka (midfielder, Juventus), Simonas Stankevičius (forward, Leicester City FC), Lukas Spalvis (forward, Aalborg BK)

Coach: Antanas Vingilys
Date of birth: 29/08/1964
Nationality: Lithuania
Playing career: FK Atletas, FK Sūduva
Coaching career: FK Sūduva, Lithuania U17, FC Vilnius, Lithuania U19

Having played for the club, Vingilys worked as a coach at FK Sūduva before taking charge of the national U17 side in 2005, and has worked at the LFF's national academy since 2008.

Team records

UEFA European Under-19 Championship best
Never qualified

UEFA European Under-18 Championship best
Group stage 1998