Coaches size up their task

By Paul Saffer & Aleksandar Boskovic

Tough task
Since taking over as England U17 coach for the 2002/03 season, John Peacock has reached two consecutive semi-finals. However, despite home advantage and a squad of players mostly from Premiership clubs, it could be a tough task for his team, not least as both the Irish teams boast much English club experience in their ranks.

Busy season
England were excused the qualifying round as seeds, but have still had a busy season, winning a four-team tournament in September against U17 finals hosts Italy, Russia and Portugal and recently defeating France and losing to Norway and Portugal in the Algarve Tournament.

'Balanced squad'
Coach John Peacock told uefa.com: "We have had a good season, and the warm-up tournaments gave me the chance to look at several players. We have a balanced squad with great defenders, creative midfield players and pace up front. Hopefully they will perform to their potential in the pressure of the qualifiers."

'Familiar environment'
Peacock, who last week called up Middlesbrough FC defender Lee Cattermole to replace the injured Lewis McGugan, admitted that playing at home carried its problems as well as advantages. "We will be in a familiar environment and get great support, but that brings the pressure of playing in front of our home fans," he said. "And we have respect for our opposition."

Promising form
Among those opponents are Northern Ireland, who competed in their first U17 finals last May. Kenny Shiels' side have shown promising form again this season, overcoming Slovakia and Liechtenstein and drawing with Switzerland in the qualifying round, and playing out two 1-1 results with Scotland earlier this month.

'Outstanding standard'
Shiels, who has seven English-based players in his squad including talented Charlton Athletic FC striker Michael Carville, also part of the 2003/04 side, said: "The standard at this level is outstanding and we will be hard pushed to make it through this time but we won't be going in with an inferiority complex."

Irish progress
His team begin on Saturday against their neighbours to the south in Solihull, and Irish coach Sean McCaffrey also has reason for optimism. They progressed unbeaten from their qualifying group of Germany, Iceland and Lithuania, and last month defeated Slovenia twice in friendlies.

McCaffrey's aim
McCaffrey, whose squad is dominated by English Premiership club players, told uefa.com: "Overall, preparations have been pretty good. Results have been good, but at this stage performances are important. It is actually more important that we qualify from this group than do well at the finals as just playing there will be great experience."

Krmpotic steps in
Serbia and Montenegro won all three qualifying games against Croatia - who have since reached the finals - Albania and Andorra, but have a new coach for these games with Zlatko Krmpotic replacing new FK Smederevo chief Tomislav Sivic.

'An honour'
Krmpotic, who oversaw a friendly tournament victory in Belarus recently, said: "It's an honour for every coach to work with a national team. Also, our U17s are a very talented generation. Some people say they are more than that - that they are our future."

'Hard job'
They start against England in Stoke, and Krmpotic admitted: "That is a very, very hard job for us. That match will determine our position."