Luxembourg holding their own

Luxembourg may be the second-lowest European nation in the FIFA rankings - but in the most junior of UEFA's national-team tournaments this year, they will be among the élite eight and could even spring a surprise.

No pushovers
The UEFA European Under-17 Championship is being played in the Grand Duchy from 3-14 May, meaning Luxembourg will compete in a one-venue final round for the first time. Their results this season suggest the traditional minnows will be no pushovers.

France held
Ronny Bonvini's squad showed their prowess in the autumn in a warm-up tournament against two of the countries with a fine record in this competition. In the first game, against England - participants in all four previous U17 finals - Luxembourg seemed to be headed for a goalless draw until England substitute Sone Aluko struck deep into injury time. Two days later, Luxembourg held France 2-2, with Miralem Pjanic and Richard Jankowoy on target.

Pjanic winner
Then, last Wednesday, they turned the tables on United Kingdom opposition in a fixture against Northern Ireland, switched to French city Metz due to severe weather in Luxembourg. Kenny Shiels's team will play in the Elite - or second qualifying - round starting next week, but an injury-time Pjanic goal gave Luxembourg a creditable 1-0 victory.

Academy
Pjanic was on home soil, as he is rising through the ranks at the FC Metz academy, while team-mate Gilles Bettmer plays for SC Freiburg in Germany. Meanwhile, for the last six years, the Luxembourg Football Federation has run a football school under current senior national coach Guy Hellers.

Raising their game
But Bonvini knows that when Luxembourg face the seven group winners from the Elite round, they will have to raise their game even further. "Every player has to give more than his best so that we can keep up with the established nations, who pick their players from the most famous football schools," he said. They will discover their finals opponents when the draw is made on 6 April at 18.00CET in Mamer.

Luxembourg provisional squad
Goakeepers: Fabiano Castellani (US Rumelange), Philippe Hahm (RFCUL).

Defenders: Massimo Martino (RFCUL), Tom Siebenaler (FC Remerschen), Kevin Leite (Differdange 03), Jérôme Marcolino (UN Karejeng), Christophe Scholer (RFCUL), Michel Kettenmayer (CSO Villerupt).

Midfielders: Pit Hilbert (AS Pratzerthal/Rèdange), Mathias Jänisch (US Hostert), Ricardo Thom (FC Mondercange), Cédric Bastos (US Rumelange), Gilles Bettmer (SC Freiburg), Matthew De Cae (FC Kehlen), Miralem Pjanic (FC Metz).

Forwards: Richard Jankowoy (FC Mensdorf), Mirko Albanese (Differdange 03), Mato Djuric (RFCUL), Alexandre Semedo (Fola Esch), Paul Bossi (FC Progrès Nidercorn).