Chance for new generation

Le Havre pair
For France, the beaten finalists in the 2002 final in Switzerland in May, the 2002-04 tournament begins with a visit to Group 1 rivals Cyprus. Among the new faces in Raymond Domenech's 'Espoirs' squad are the Le Havre AC duo of Anthony Le Tallec and Florent Sinama-Pongolle.

Fast track
The two teenage strikers have taken the fast track to U21 level after starring in France's win in the FIFA U17 World Championship last year. The precocious pair have already signed for Liverpool FC but are continuing their development in France where they are now finding their feet in the top flight after Le Havre's promotion last spring. With Sydney Govou and Djibril Cissé now in the senior squad, they will face competition for a starting role from one young forward already in England, Arsenal FC's Jérémie Aliadière.

New Cyprus captain
France's opponents, Cyprus, will be led by a new captain, as APOEL Nicosia FC's midfield player Konstantinos Charalambides takes over the armband from Marios Louca, now promoted to the senior squad. Charalambides impressed during APOEL's ultimately unsuccessful UEFA Champions League qualifying campaign. Slovenia meet Malta in today's other Group A match.

Cassano returns
Winners of four of the last six tournaments, Italy open their campaign with a visit to Azerbaijan in Group 9. Coach Claudio Gentile has included the €25m AS Roma striker Antonio Cassano, omitted from the squad for May's final tournament. Cassano will partner AC Perugia's Andrea Caracciolo in an attack missing Massimo Maccarone, who was so impressive as Italy reached the last four in Switzerland.

Experienced midfield
Among the new faces in Gentile's side are goalkeeper Federico Agliardi and Maurizio Lanzaro, both on loan at Cosenza Calcio from Brescia Calcio and AS Roma respectively, but there is an experienced look to the midfield, which featues Parma AC's Matteo Brighi, Perugia's Fabio Gatti and Milan AC's Samuele Dalla Bona. Also in Group 9, Finland host Wales.

Swiss miss duo
Switzerland, surprise semi-finalists in May, are at home to Georgia in their first Group 10 match, with an unchanged squad from the one that faced Austria in a friendly last month - a match Bernard Challandes' side won 1-0. The Swiss are without two of their stars from May, midfield player Ricardo Cabanas and striker Alexander Frei, both now elevated to the seniors. The other Group 10 match pits Russia against the Republic of Ireland.

Holders must wait
Czech Republic, the reigning European champions, must wait until 21 October for their Group 3 opener against Moldova. All the matches will be played today save for the Group 3 match between Austria and Moldova and the Russia v Republic of Ireland and Switzerland v Georgia matches, which will take place tomorrow.