Sweden team guide

Sweden made the breakthrough last season by becoming the seventh country to inscribe their name on the UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship trophy and they return to defend their title in fine fettle.

Calle Barrling's side edged a 1-0 victory over Spain in Turkey last summer and the scorer of that historic goal, Malin Diaz, is one of seven members of the 2012 squad eligible again in Wales. "It will not be easy because we will be compared to a championship-winning team," said Barrling. "However, it is a great advantage to have players who know what it takes to win a EURO."

The trophy was hard-earned, with Sweden becoming the first team in the competition's 11-year history to block Germany's route to the finals during qualification. Then, in sweltering temperatures in Antalya, their fitness took them over the finishing line at the tournament proper, the Swedes having fallen just short in 2009 when they lost 2-0 to England in the Belarus showpiece.

Given that the previous two holders' title defences had ended in qualifying, a potential hat-trick was on the cards when Sweden were drawn with Italy, the Netherlands and an up-and-coming Republic of Ireland side in this season's second qualifying round. With 17-year-old prospect Marija Banušić firing on all cylinders, however, Sweden did the job; they needed to beat Ireland on the last day and did exactly that.

Route to finals
First qualifying round: 6-0 Slovenia, 10-0 Azerbaijan, 0-0 Russia (Group 9 winners)
Second qualifying round: 1-0 Netherlands, 2-2 Italy, 2-0 Republic of Ireland (Group 1 winners)
Top scorer: Marija Banušić (10)

Key players
Malin Diaz (midfielder, Tyresö DFF), Lina Hurtig (midfielder, Umeå IK), Marija Banušić (forward, Kristianstads DFF), Pauline Hammarlund (forward, Linköpings FC).

Coach: Calle Barrling
Date of birth: 28/07/1953
Playing career: Djurgårdens IF, Gröndals IK, Hille IF, Strömsbro IF
Coaching career: Strömsbro IF, Gävle GIK, Högbo AIK, IFK Gävle, Sweden women's U19, U23

Sweden coach Calle Barrling©Sportsfile

A coaching mainstay for Sweden's female teams over a number of years, Barrling has occupied the women's U19 helm since 2005, enjoying mixed success as he tries to blend technical proficiency with a strong team spirit. Combining the job with the role of scout for the senior women's squad, he reached the semi-finals of this competition in 2008, finished runner-up 12 months later and last summer his charges clinched the title at Spain's expense. He has since been appointed U23 boss.

Barrling has travelled many footballing roads since being released by Djurgårdens IF aged 17. He played out his career in the lower rungs of Swedish football, ending up at Strömsbro while he was studying to be a teacher and where he began coaching in 1985. Spells at Gävle GIK, Högbo AIK and IFK Gävle followed before Barrling linked up with the Swedish Football Association (SvFF) in 1998.

UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship record
2011/12: winners
2010/11: did not qualify
2009/10: did not qualify
2008/09: runners-up
2007/08: semi-finals
2006/07: did not qualify
2005/06: group stage
2004/05: did not qualify
2003/04: did not qualify
2002/03: semi-finals
2001/02: group stage

Honours in other UEFA women's competitions
UEFA European Women's Championship
Winners: 1984
Runners-up: 1989, 1997, 2005

UEFA European Women's Under-18 Championship
Winners: 1999