Finalists ready for Ukraine reunion

ENGLAND
Last season's runners-up have played two friendlies since the qualifying round, overcoming Turkey 3-1 in Scunthorpe last November before their five-game winning run this season was ended by a 1-1 draw in the Netherlands on 2 March. "That was a good test for us, and exactly what this group of players needed," said head coach Noel Blake, who in Nathan Delfouneso – top scorer in the 2008/09 tournament with four goals – Declan Rudd, Matthew James, Andros Townsend and Matthew Briggs has five players who reached last year's final in Ukraine. "To come away with a draw is credible. We could have played better but we put in a good performance. It sets us up nicely for the elite round."

Qualifying round: Finland 3-1, Slovenia 3-1, Slovakia 2-0 (Group 2 winners)

Key players: Jacob Mellis (midfielder, Chelsea FC), Nathan Delfouneso (striker, Aston Villa FC), Andros Townsend (midfielder, Tottenham Hotspur FC)

UKRAINE
The holders have had their problems in front of goal this season, never managing more than one goal in any of their four friendlies in 2010; Ukraine drew 0-0 and lost 2-1 against France in March before another 2-1 defeat against Serbia and a 1-0 defeat of Iran. "Most of our players were tired by the end of the season so one of our key tasks is to get them ready," said coach Anatoliy Buznik. "We will face serious opposition and have already started to study them. I hope our players will be able to perform at their best, especially in front of their own fans." Buznik is missing three regulars as wingers Yegor Kartushov and Vitaliy Fedotov are injured while Serhiy Kryvtsov has been called up to the Under-21 squad.

Qualifying round: Georgia 1-0, Montenegro 1-1, Sweden 1-0 (Group 12 winners)

Key players: Maxym Koval (goalkeeper, FC Metalurh Zaporizhya), Temur Partsvaniya (defender, FC Dynamo Kyiv), Ihor Chaykovskiy (full-back/midfielder, FC Zorya Luhansk)

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Sean McCaffrey's squad stayed close to home to prepare for the elite round, winning two friendlies against Poland 4-2 and 1-0. The coach said: "Many of these players experienced a major finals tournament two years ago with Ireland at the U17s and their desire to clinch two qualifications in succession is huge." Manchester City FC full-back Greg Cunningham is not involved as he has been included in Giovanni Trapattoni's senior squad for friendly games against Paraguay and Algeria.

Qualifying round: San Marino 5-0, Albania 2-0, Italy 0-2 (Group 1 runners-up)

Key players: Sean McGinty (defender, Manchester United FC), Conor Clifford (midfielder, Chelsea FC), Conor Henderson (midfielder, Arsenal FC), Daniel Kearns (forward, West Ham United FC)

BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
Zoran Bubalo has prepared his side for Group 3 with four friendlies, against Croatia (0-2, 0-0) and Montenegro (0-2, 0-0). "Just reaching this phase of competition was a big success," said Bubalo, whose team concluded their warm-up programme in Sarajevo. "We're not giving up in advance but we are outsiders in this group. Every point we win will be an achievement."

Qualifying round: Iceland 1-0, Bulgaria 2-1, Northern Ireland 0-4 (Group 7 winners)

Key players: Tino Divković (goalkeeper, FK Sloboda Tuzla), Muamer Gagula (forward, FK Teplice), Dalibor Pandža (forward, NK Dinamo Zagreb), Kenan Handžić (defender, FK Sarajevo)