Spain, Germany, France encounter Scotland

The three highest teams in the UEFA European Women's Under-17 Championship coefficients – three-time winners Germany, twice holders Spain and triple runners-up France – are up against debutants Scotland in Group B. UEFA.com profiles the contenders – click on the video player above to hear their thoughts.

GROUP SCHEDULE

Germany
Germany have been the dominant team in the UEFA European Women's Under-17 Championship. They triumphed in 2008 and 2009, and after two third-placed finishes, landed a third title in 2012.

Germany missed out on the four-team final tournament last year for the first time after losing only their second game in 32 outings in this competition against Denmark. Anouschka Bernhard's team had few problems qualifying this time round, though, their decisive 1-0 defeat of Belgium watched by a tournament-record crowd in Grossbardorf.

First qualifying round: bye

Second qualifying round: Switzerland 6-0, Netherlands 0-0, Belgium 1-0 (Group 6 winners)

Key players
Ricarda Walkling (defender, FC Bayern München), Saskia Meier (midfielder, SC Freiburg), Jasmin Sehan (forward, VfL Wolfsburg)

Qualifying top scorer
Jasmin Sehan, Ricarda Walkling: 3

UEFA European Women's U17 Championship best
Winners: 2008, 2009, 2012

Honours in other UEFA women's competitions:
UEFA European Women's Championship/tournament
Winners: 1989 (as West Germany), 1991, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2013

UEFA European Women's U19 Championship
Winners: 2002, 2006, 2007, 2011
Runners-up: 2004

UEFA European Women's U18 Championship
Winners: 2000, 2001
Runners-up: 1999

Other honours:
FIFA Women's World Cup
Winners: 2003, 2007
Runners-up: 1995

FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
Winners: 2004, 2010

France
Runners-up in 2008, 2011 and 2012, France missed out only twice on the previous four-team UEFA European Women's Under-17 Championship. In 2012 they atoned for their third final reverse against Germany by going on to lift the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Azerbaijan.

Former men's youth national coach Guy Ferrier took over the reins from Paco Rubio in 2012, masterminding the World Cup victory and leading France to this season's European finals in England. In the elite round in Northern Ireland they made light work of holders Poland 3-0 before beating the home side 2-0 and 2013 runners-up Sweden 1-0.

Qualifying round: Bye

Elite round: Poland 3-0, Northern Ireland 2-0, Sweden 1-0 (Group 4 winners)

Key players
Delphine Cascarino (midfielder, Olympique Lyonnais), Estelle Cascarino (defender, Olympique Lyonnais)

Qualifying top scorer
Mathilde Jouanno: 2

UEFA European Women's Under-17 Championship best
Runners-up: 2008, 2011, 2012

Honours in UEFA women's youth competitions
UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship
Winners: 2003, 2010
Runners-up: 2002, 2005, 2006

UEFA European Women's Under-18 Championship
Runners-up: 1998

Other honours
FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 
Winners: 2012

Scotland
Scotland had to be mentally strong to earn a final tournament debut at this level. They made it past the qualifying round on home soil despite a 4-0 loss to the Czech Republic, and were then beaten in their elite round opener by Hungary despite leading 2-0 and 3-2. However, two days later, Pauline Hamill's side came from behind to edge Norway 2-1 and victory against Finland was enough to take them through as other results went their way.

Qualifying round: Montenegro 5-1, Northern Ireland 5-1, Czech Republic 0-4 (Group 1 runners-up)

Elite round: Hungary 3-4, Norway 2-1, Finland 2-0 (Group 5 winners)

Key players
Georgie Rafferty (defender, Celtic LFC), Erin Cuthbert (midfielder, Rangers LFC), Alyshia Walker (forward, Celtic LFC)

Qualifying top scorer
Alyshia Walker: 6

UEFA European Women's U17 Championship best
First qualification

Spain
Spain may have succumbed 7-0 to Germany in the 2009 final but Jorge Vilda's side won the next two competitions. They had to settle for bronze in 2012, though, as Germany clinched their third title. Now they are back once again after an impressive elite round showing in Romania.

Qualifying round: bye

Elite round: Republic of Ireland 2-1, Romania 8-0, Iceland 3-1 (Group 1 winners)

Key players
Nuria Garrote (defender, FC Barcelona), Nahikari García (forward, Añorga KKE), Andrea Sánchez (forward, FC Barcelona)

Qualifying top scorer
Nahikari García: 5

UEFA European Women's U17 Championship best
Winners: 2010, 2011
Runners-up: 2009

Honours in other UEFA women's competitions
UEFA European Women's U19 Championship
Winners: 2004
Runners-up: 2012

UEFA European Women's U18 Championship
Runners-up: 2000