Holders well versed in victory

Enviable record
Having lost the 2002 final and won this tournament as an Under-18 event in 1998, France's record at this level is second only to Germany's. Six wins from six in qualifying is proof that they will again take some beating. They are led by coach Bruno Bini, who writes poetry every night for his players to read first thing in the morning. "It raises the spirits because they realise I have been working all night for them. They then work for me," he said.

THE COACH:
As a player, Bini peaked in the 1970s with spells at FC Tours and AS Aix-en-Provence in the French second division, but his coaching career has taken him much further. Previously involved in FIFA training programmes in Guinea and Rwanda, he had twice guided France to second place in this competition before victory last year. In his role as technical co-ordinator of France's regional Ligue de la Méditérrannée, he led Méditérrannée Amateur in the 2000 UEFA Regions' Cup and has also co-written a number of books about training young footballers - as well as penning poems.

ROUTE TO THE FINALS:
France suffered a scare on the way to qualification last year, and there were a few bumps this time despite their perfect record. In first qualifying round Group B1 in Austria, Lilas Traïkia scored a 12-minute hat-trick as the holders began with a 6-0 defeat of Wales. France then needed an 87th-minute goal from Elise Bussaglia to overcome Austria 1-0, but both teams progressed and the group was sealed with a 4-0 victory against Greece. The hosts of second qualifying round Group A3, France beat the Netherlands 3-0 in their opener. They then trailed Belgium 1-0 at half-time, before Traïkia equalised and Gaëtane Thiney struck the winner five minutes from time. England could still have denied France, only to be seen off 3-0 as Bini's charges advanced to Finland.

HONOURS:
UEFA European Women's Under-18 Championship
Runners-up 1998
UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship
Winners 2003, Runners-up 2002