Portugal

Portugal won the UEFA European Under-18 Championship in 1994 and 1999 but have yet to reach such heights since the competition evolved into a U19 event. They will look to change that in Lithuania, with a side that includes some veterans of the team that went to the 2012 tournament, notably SL Benfica team-mates Bruno Varela and João Cancelo.

Elite round Group 3 hosts, Portugal made it to the final tournament with victory against Denmark in their final fixture. Bruma scored the crucial goal as well as a hat-trick against the Czech Republic but the Sporting Clube de Portugal striker misses the finals having featured at the FIFA U-20 World Cup. However, Portugal's 4-3-3 formation contains plenty of other quality players, not least right-back João Cancelo, while Varela offers security in goal.

"We could go all the way or go home after just three games, but I can promise one thing: we will be competitive and do Portugal proud," said coach Emílio Peixe. "This is the climax of the whole development process in which I'm proud to have participated, along with my technical team."

Qualifying round: Latvia 2-0, Israel 5-0, France 2-2 (Group 6 runners-up)

Elite round: Bulgaria 7-0, Czech Republic 4-1, Denmark 1-0 (Group 3 winners)

Key players: Bruno Varela (goalkeeper, SL Benfica), Fábio Cardoso (defender, SL Benfica), João Cancelo (defender, SL Benfica)

Coach: Emílio Peixe
Date of birth: 16/01/1973
Nationality: Portuguese
Playing career: Sporting Clube de Portugal (twice), Sevilla FC, FC Porto, FC Alverca, SL Benfica, UD Leiria
Coaching career: Portugal U17, Portugal U19

Groomed in the Sporting academy, Emílio Peixe was an influential defensive midfielder in the 1990s and won the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 1991. Twice a Portuguese champion with Porto, he ended his playing career at the end of the 2003/04 season following a spell at Leiria, having also represented Benfica. In 2007/08 he joined the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) to lead the U15 team, progressing up the ranks with the U17 side before leading the U19s to this summer's final tournament in Lithuania.

Team records

Qualifying top scorer
7: Bruma

UEFA European Under-19 Championship best
Runners-up 2003

Honours in UEFA youth competitions
UEFA European Under-18 Championship
Winners 1994, 1999
Runners-up 1988, 1990, 1992, 1997

UEFA European Under-17 Championship
Winners 2003

UEFA European Under-16 Championship:
Winners 1989, 1995, 1996, 2000
Runners-up 1988

International Youth Tournament (U18)
Winners 1961
Runners-up 1971

Other honours
FIFA U-20 World Cup
Winners 1989, 1991