France team guide

These are heady times for the women's game in France, with Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyonnais forces at club level and the senior women's team among the favourites for this summer's FIFA Women's World Cup.

Many of the senior players in Canada already have a U19 title under their belts, including two or three from two summers ago in south Wales. France did not defend their crown – Sweden barred their path to the finals last year – but after a bye through the qualifying round they swept through with minimum fuss.

A 1-0 victory against Russia on the last day did no justice to their dominance and made it three wins out of three, with no goals conceded. "Let's hope we can maintain this spirit through to the finals," said coach Gilles Eyquem.

Route to the finals
Qualifying round: bye
Elite round: 5-0 Iceland, 2-0 Romania, 1-0 Russia
Top scorer: Marie-Charlotte Léger (5)

Key players
Cindy Perrault (goalkeeper, Olympique Lyonnais), Théa Gréboval (defender, FCF Juvisy), Anissa Lahmari (midfielder, Paris Saint-Germain), Marie-Charlotte Léger (forward, Montpellier Hérault SC)

Coach: Gilles Eyquem
Date of birth: 30/05/1959
Playing career: FC Girondins de Bordeaux, EA Guingamp, AS Cannes, Chamois Niortais FC, SCO Angers, AS Cherbourg
Coaching career: AS Cherbourg (player-coach), SU Agen Football, France U16 (assistant), France U17 (assistant), France U18 (assistant), France U19 (assistant), France women's U19

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A product of Bordeaux's academy, centre-back Eyquem spent much of his playing career in Ligue 2 before a spell in the third tier as player-coach of Cherbourg in 1991/92. He then had eight years at amateur side Agen before joining the ranks of the French Football Federation (FFF).

Eyquem was Philippe Bergerôo's assistant with France's men's youth teams before taking the reins of the women's U19s in August 2012. He made an instant impression, guiding them to the title in his first season.

UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship record
2013/14: did not qualify
2012/13: winners
2011/12: did not qualify
2010/11: did not qualify
2009/10: winners
2008/09: semi-finals
2007/08: group stage
2006/07: semi-finals
2005/06: runners-up
2004/05: runners-up
2003/04: winners
2002/03: runners-up
2001/02: did not qualify

Honours in other UEFA women's competitions
UEFA European Women's Under-18 Championship
Runners-up: 1998

UEFA European Women's Under-17 Championship
Runners-up: 2008, 2011, 2012