Many of the continent's finest young stars will be on show when the Euro U21s Championship kicks off on Wednesday night in Czech Republic.

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CZECH REPUBLIC 

Coach: Jakub Dovalil
Previous Best: Winners 2002
Road to Finals: Qualified as hosts
Strengths/Weaknesses: A lack of creative spark. The goalkeeper often rolls the ball out to a defender from the back but from there it’s often a punt up front. Also lacking a genuine threat in attack with Sparta Prague’s Vaclav Kadlec the only out and out centre forward in the squad.
Star Player: Tomas Kalas – the Chelsea youngster is a classy player, a modern-day defender with the ability to play out from the back, as well as exuding typical defensive traits such as aerial power and strength.
Verdict: Preparation for the tournament has been far from ideal. With no competitive games under their belt in the lead up to hosting the Euro’s, it could prove to be their downfall. Difficult to see them getting out of the group.

DENMARK 

Coach: Jess Thorup
Previous Best: Semi-finals 1992
Road to Finals: Unbeaten throughout qualifying, topping Group 2 with 26 points, second only to England. Scored 37 goals in 10 group games, six more than anyone else.
Strengths/Weaknesses: Almost all players are regulars for their clubs and familiar with the system. Expectations are sky high with experts calling it the best crop the country has ever produced. And that might actually be their biggest weakness – living up to the hype.
Star Player: Viktor Fischer – the Ajax forward was sidelined for the majority of the season with a hamstring injury, but if he can get up to speed he will be a key figure for the Danes.
Verdict: Talented enough to get to at least the semis and should have a good chance considering several players have already turned out for the seniors.

GERMANY 

Coach: Horst Hrubesch
Previous Best: Winners 2009
Road to Finals: Dominated Group 6, finishing eight points ahead of Romania. Scored 25 goals and conceded just five in unbeaten eight game run. Routed Ukraine 5-0 on aggregate in the playoffs.
Strengths/Weaknesses: Kaiserslauten’s Philipp Hofmann and Hoffenheim’s Kevin Volland should score plenty, while their defence ranked joint second in qualifying. Have disappointed at the event since winning it in 2009.
Star Player: Yunus Malli – the highly-rated 23-year-old midfielder was second-top scorer for Mainz this season, with six. Also chipped in with four assists.
Verdict: Have been installed as tournament favourites and, with the Bundesliga talent they have at their disposal, should at least reach the semi-finals.

SERBIA

Coach: Mladen Dodic
Previous Best: Winners 1978
Road to Finals: The only team at the tournament not to have won their group, they reached the finals by dramatically overcoming Spain 2-1 in the playoffs.
Strengths/Weaknesses: Schalke’s Matija Nastasic and Liverpool’s Lazar Markovic weren’t released by their clubs. Anderlecht striker Aleksandar Mitrovic is injured. The coach who got them here, Radovan Curcic, is now in charge of the senior team. The element of surprise is their biggest weapon.
Star Player: Filip Kostic – the midfielder scored three goals and notched five assists as Stuttgart miraculously staved off Bundesliga relegation. His 93rd minute goal against Spain also sent Serbia to the finals.
Verdict: With key players missing and a new coach in charge a group stage exit looks likely.