France
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Article summary
A team including Karim Benzema and Samir Nasir last won the competition for France in 2004 but this year's squad could match them.
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Boasting a talented squad, as usual, France were the only side to qualify for Slovenia with a perfect six wins. It is their sixth straight appearance in the U17 finals, the longest current unbroken run.
In all, they have lost only two of their 11 games this season, to England and the Netherlands in the Algarve Tournament in February. "We're happy both with the style in which we went through and how the lads took on board the message we aimed to give them," coach Jean-Claude Giuntini said. "Our first goal is achieved." Their next is to match the 2004 success of Karim Benzema, Samir Nasir and Co, but in Anthony Martial they have the seven-goal qualifying top scorer.
Qualifying round: Faroe Islands 5-0, Luxembourg 2-0, Northern Ireland 4-0 (Group 10 winners)
Elite round: Italy 1-0, Switzerland 2-1, Sweden 3-1 (Group 1 winners)
Key players
Mike Maignan (goalkeeper, Paris Saint-Germain FC), Jean-Charles Castelletto (defender, AJ Auxerre), Mohammed Chemlal (midfielder, SM Caen), Anthony Martial (forward, Olympique Lyonnais)
Coach: Jean-Claude Giuntini
Date of Birth: 14 December 1956
Nationality: French
Playing career: Olympique de Marseille, FC Boulogne Côte d'Opale, Chaumont FC
Coaching career: UES Montmorillonnaise, Moutiers RF, FB Île-Rousse, EA Brive, JS Lubersacoise, Rhône, Paris-Île-de-France, France U16/U17
A former centre-back, born and brought up in the Marseille area, Giuntini was picked by French Football Federation (FFF) to oversee the Rhone district in 1998 after a comprehensive club coaching career at several levels. In July 2010, he was appointed to his first national squad with the then U16s, who subsequently qualified for the 2012 UEFA European U17 Championship finals.
Team records
Qualifying top scorer
Anthony Martial: 7
UEFA European Under-17 Championship best
Winners: 2004
Runners-up: 2002, 2008
Honours in UEFA youth competitions
UEFA European Under-19 Championship
Winners: 2005, 2010
UEFA European Under-18 Championship
Winners: 1983, 1996, 1997, 2000
UEFA European Under-16 Championship
Runners-up: 1996, 2001
International Youth Tournament (U18)
Winners: 1949
Runners-up: 1950, 1968
Other honours:
FIFA U-17 World Cup
Winners: 2001