Croatia

At 29, Dario Bašić is Croatia's youngest ever national team coach and he is already targeting a trophy after his side qualified undefeated. GNK Dinamo Zagreb provide Croatia's backbone, including forwards Davor Lovren (brother of senior international defender Dejan) and Karlo Majić, and goalkeeper Adrian Šemper, who did not concede in the elite round.

Midfielder Nikola Moro is also a man for the big occasion, having scored the decisive goal against Portugal that clinched top spot in elite round Group 2. "We have potential, a winning mentality and we're aiming high," Bašić said. "Our goal is to reach the knockout stage. If we do that, why can't we create a surprise?"

Qualifying round: Kazakhstan 8-1, Israel 0-0, Hungary 2-1 (Group 7 winners)

Elite round: Azerbaijan 4-0, Serbia 3-0, Portugal 1-0 (Group 2 winners)

Team records

Qualifying top scorer
Nikola Moro, Josip Brekalo, Davor Lovren: 3

UEFA European Under-17 Championship best
Semi-finals: 2005

Coach: Dario Bašić

Date of birth: 10 May 1985
Nationality: Croatian
Playing career: NK TŠK Topolovac, NK Naftaš (amateur)
Coaching career: NK Naftaš (amateur), NK Prečko (amateur), NK Lučko, Croatia U17

Bašić took charge of the U17s before their elite round campaign and in doing so became, at 29, Croatia's youngest national team coach. Interested in the science of coaching, Bašić had spent the last few years working in the lower leagues. Croatia's pefect elite round, which consisted of three wins and no goals conceded, brought Bašić congratulations from Croatian Football Federation (HNS) president Davor Šuker.