Austria await Group 6 rivals

Third place
Austria finished third in last year's finals and Gludovatz is convinced a solid rearguard is essential if his side are to progress to this summer's event in France. "I was very pleased with our defence in the previous round as we only conceded three goals," said the Austria coach, who prepared his squad with a one-week training camp in Turkey last month. "I think our chances are about 50-50."

Hot Hoffer
AKA Mödling Südstadt striker Erwin Hoffer is the side's key player, having scored four of Austria's five goals in the first qualifying round as Gludovatz's team defeated the Republic of Ireland and Switzerland and drew with Belarus.

Familiar Finns
Finland - who in 2003 finished bottom of Group 3 below Austria in the second qualifying round - won all three of their games in the first qualifying round, emerging first in a section that also included Croatia, Northern Ireland and Malta. Jami Puustinen is the Finns' danger-man, having scored four goals in the first round, including a hat-trick against the Northern Irish.

Key pair out
Hosts Romania reached the second qualifying round of last year's event, and are well-prepared for three games in five days, but must do without perhaps their two most influential players, striker Cristian Cigan and midfield player and captain Apostol Mozacu, who are both missing through injury.

Home advantage
Coach Gheorghe Cristoloveanu believes that the advantage of playing their three games in familiar surroundings – the Mogosoaia National Training Centre, 15km outside Bucharest, and the capital's National stadium – may help his side. "We are aware that, playing at home, we'll have to do our best in order to achieve the qualification to the final tournament," the coach said.

Fine example
Moldova reached this stage after finishing second in Group 12 behind Ukraine, and will be looking to repeat the achievement of the 2000 side, who remain the only Moldovan team ever to reach a finals tournament.

Friendly fortunes
Coach Vladimir Gosperschi oversaw three friendlies earlier this month, with a 2-0 win against a Plovdiv city side followed by two losses to Bulgaria, by 2-1 and 5-2 respectively. However, the Moldovans were without a number of key players for those games, and should be at full strength in Romania, with CSF Zimbru Chisinau and FC Sheriff providing the majority of the players.

2003/04 UEFA European Under-17 Championship second round mini-tournament groups and dates: