Croatia

With victories against final tournament regulars France and Spain in the elite round, Croatia have already marked themselves out as a team to watch in Slovakia as they make their first finals appearance since 2005.

Winning five and drawing just one of the games in qualifying, and with several excellent prospects in the side, the team has been described as the best generation the country has produced so far. The midfield is where the team is strongest, with GNK Dinamo Zagreb's Alen Halilović catching the eye after becoming the youngest debutant and scorer in the country's top flight history. Captain Josip Bašić and Fran Vojković, the HNK Hajduk Split duo, also add depth in the centre, while in attack Dinamo's Fran Brodić is the main threat. "I believe Croatia can battle for the European Championship title, this is a really great team and excellent generation," said coach Ivan Gudelj.

Qualifying round: Israel 4-2, Kazakhstan 2-0, Turkey 4-3 (Group 12 winners)

Elite round: Spain 3-2, France 1-0, Belgium 1-1 (Group 1 winners)

Key players
Alen Halilović (midfielder, GNK Dinamo Zagreb), Josip Bašić (midfielder, HNK Hajduk Split), Fran Vojković (midfielder, HNK Hajduk Split), Fran Brodić (forward, GNK Dinamo Zagreb) 

Coach: Ivan Gudelj

Date of Birth: 21 September 1960
Nationality: Croatian
Playing career: HNK Hajduk Split 
Coaching career: NK Uskok, HNK Dubrovnik, HNK Hajduk Split, Croatia U16/U17

A club legend at Hajduk Split playing 181 times and scoring 35 goals, the defensive midfielder also attained 33 caps for Yugoslavia, playing at the 1982 FIFA World Cup and the 1984 UEFA European Championship. Forced to hang up his boots at the early age of 26 due to illness, Gudelj threw himself into coaching, including a spell at his former club, but has been in charge of Croatia's U16 and U17 side for the past 15 years.

Team records

Qualifying top scorer
Josip Bašić 4

UEFA European Under-17 Championship best
Fourth place: 2005