Slovenia

Slovenia have successfully navigated the qualifying process for the first time, though they did compete as finals hosts in 2012 when they were eliminated in the group stage. They will hope to go further after winning twice in the elite round and losing only to holders England.

The Slovenes showed they have the skill and mental strength to cause problems at this level by beating Norway 1-0 in their last game to advance. Captain Jan Mlakar got the goal, one of eight in six matches for the 16-year-old. "When we look at the other finalists we quickly realise we're the smallest country," coach Igor Benedejčič said. "We want to gain experience to help us progress."

Qualifying round: Turkey 5-0, Portugal 0-1, Northern Ireland 0-0 (Group 6 runners-up)

Elite round: Romania 3-0, England 1-3, Norway 1-0 (Group 6 runners-up)

Team records

Qualifying top scorer
Jan Mlakar: 8

UEFA European Under-17 Championship best
Group stage: 2012

Coach: Igor Benedejčič

Date of birth: 28 July 1969
Nationality: Slovenian
Playing career: NK Luka Koper, NK Olimpija Ljubljana, HNK Rijeka (Croatia), ND Korotan Prevalje, Slovenia
Coaching career: NK Koper (academy), NK Interblock Ljubljana, NK Koper, NK Dekani (academy), Slovenia U17s

Capped eight times by Slovenia in the 1990s, midfielder Benedejčič scored the national team's first-ever goal, a headed equaliser in a 1-1 draw against Estonia on 3 June 1992. He has coached top-flight clubs Interblock and home-town team Koper and took charge of the U17s early in 2014.