Germany focused on Nordic test

"One step at a time" was the mantra as the quartet of Group A coaches discussed their hopes for the 2007 UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship. It was a hymn sheet from which Maren Meinert was perhaps singing loudest, despite her Germany side starting as section favourites, while her counterparts with Iceland, Norway and Denmark braced themselves for a closely fought six days.

Focus
Germany begin their title defence at the Víkingsvöllur Stadium against a Denmark team they brushed aside 4-1 in a friendly just over a week ago. It should be further cause for confidence for a side that sauntered through qualifying with a 100 per cent record, scoring 43 goals in six games, yet Meinert is far from complacent. "We need to go step by step and the first step is always difficult," she said. "For now we concentrate on Denmark. Then we concentrate on getting to the [FIFA Women's U-20] World Cup by reaching the semi-finals; if we get through them, then we will look at the final."

Pre-tournament favourites
It is an approach that served Germany well last year when they claimed a fourth title after Monique and Isabel Kerschowski guided them to a 3-0 victory in the final against France. The twins are here again in Iceland, and Denmark coach Henrik Lehm believes his charges - and the rest - could have their work cut out to ensure the Reykjavik final is not a repeat of the Berne decider 12 months ago. "There are two teams here better than the rest, France and Germany, and I expect the rest to fight very hard for the other six places," he said. "We got a bronze medal last year and I hope that experience helps us go even further here."

Iceland boom
Making their tournament debut, hosts Iceland do not possess that reassuring depth of knowledge, yet coach Ólafur Thór Gudbjörnsson is not feeling the pressure. "We are very happy to be in this tournament for the first time; it will be a great experience," he said. Female football in Iceland is enjoying a boom with the senior side beating China, Serbia and France this year, though like Meinert, Gudbjörnsson is not looking too far ahead as his team prepare to kick off against Norway at the Laugardalsvöllur Stadium, saying: "We have played Norway at U17 level so we know a little bit more about them than other teams. All the games are going to be difficult though."

Pleasant surprise
Jarl Torske admits his Norway squad face a stern test this week but is grateful for the opportunity: he initially thought they had been eliminated after finishing second in their qualifying group behind Denmark. "We are really happy to be here again," he said. "I didn't know until the day after the last qualifier that we had qualified. It was good to wake up and get the call from UEFA telling us that we had got in." Now here, Torske is focused on the job in hand. "Isabell Herlovsen and Elise Thorsnes have played in the A team and hopefully they'll give us another boost. We hope to get to the semi-finals at least, but then everyone does."