Netherlands

For all the Netherlands' reputation for excellence in youth football, the UEFA European Under-19 Championship has not been a successful hunting ground for them. They have reached the final tournament for only the second time, failing to get beyond the group stage in their only previous appearance in 2010.

Just like that campaign, they started out this attempt with a win against Malta and secured qualification with victory against Germany. While they met little resistance in qualifying Group 3, winning all three of their games, they only came through elite round Group 5 on head-to-head record, having followed up a 2-1 triumph against hosts Norway with a 1-0 loss to Cyprus and a 1-0 success against Germany, secured by substitute Thom Haye's added-time strike.

A side featuring Feyenoord forward Anass Achahbar, Chelsea FC defender Nathan Aké, Blackburn Rovers FC defender Karim Rekik and FC Twente midfielder Kyle Ebecilio will be expected to perform better in Lithuania. "We're very satisfied with the results, but not with all our performances," said coach Wim van Zwam. "It was very close and this time we were lucky. We have no goals for the finals; we'll just look to have fun and enjoy the experience."

Qualifying round: Malta 5-0, San Marino 4-0, Poland 3-1 (Group 3 winners)

Elite round: Norway 2-1, Cyprus 0-1, Germany 1-0 (Group 5 winners)

Key players: Anass Achahbar (forward, Feyenoord), Nathan Aké (defender, Chelsea FC), Karim Rekik (defender, Blackburn Rovers), Kyle Ebecilio (midfielder, FC Twente)

Coach: Wim van Zwam
Date of Birth: 30 October 1956
Nationality: Dutch
Playing career: FC Wageningen, vv Bennekom, vv Nieuw-Lekkerland
Coaching career: Honselersdijk, GVVV, Kvv Quick Boys, SV ARC, UVS, vv Katwijk, FC Oss, Netherlands Under-15, Netherlands U19, Netherlands U20

A midfielder during his playing days, Van Zwam enjoyed two seasons as a professional at Wageningen between 1975 and 1977 before concluding his career with spells at amateur clubs Bennekom and Nieuw-Lekkerland. He moved into coaching and had spells at a number of amateur teams between 1985 and 2000, guiding Quick Boys to the Dutch amateur title in 1992 and repeating the feat with Katwijk eight years later.

Van Zwam promptly moved back into the professional game at Oss, leading the club to a solid mid-table finish in the second tier in 2000/01. They finished bottom a year later, however, and in 2002 Van Zwam joined the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB). He has since worked with the Under-15, U19 and U20 national sides, also taking charge of the Olympic team and teaching at the KNVB coaching academy. He led the U19s to their first European final tournament in 2010.

Team records

Qualifying top scorer
6: Anass Achahbar

UEFA European Under-19 Championship best
Group stage 2010

Honours in UEFA youth competitions
UEFA European Under-18 Championship
Fourth place 1994, 1995

UEFA European Under-17 Championship
Winners 2011, 2012
Runners-up 2005, 2009

UEFA European Under-16 Championship
Third place 2000

International Youth Tournament (U18)
Runners-up: 1948, 1949, 1970

Other honours
FIFA U-17 World Cup
Third place 2005