After 234 games the U21s Euros reaches the draw stage for the Finals in Israel
Way back in March 2011, the first ball was kicked in qualification as 53 nations started out on their hopeful journeys to become the 2013 UEFA European Under-21s Champions.
Now, after 220 matches and seven play-off ties, 45 countries have fallen by the wayside, leaving just eight to compete at next summer’s Finals tournament in Israel.
On Wednesday afternoon, in Tel Aviv, the draw for the Finals was made
England were drawn in Group A with hosts Israel, Norway and Italy, while holders Spain, Holland, Germany and Russia make up Group B.
The Finals will be played at venues in four cities in Israel; Tel Aviv, Netanya, Jerusalem and Petah Tikva
Here we take a look at the eight countries all looking to get their hands on the trophy on 18 June.
GROUP A
Israel
Qualified as: Hosts
U21 Titles: None
Last Finals Appearance: 2007 (group stage)
Coach: Guy Luzon, ex-Maccabi Petah Tikva player and manager
Key Player: Gai Assulin, an attacking midfielder who plays for Racing Santander in Spain, played seven times on loan at Brighton from former club Manchester City earlier this year.
Fact: Israel travelled to Barnsley to face England in a friendly in September last year and despite leading at half time they ended up losing 4-1.
England
Qualified by: beating Serbia in the play-offs after winning Group 8
U21 Titles: Two
Last Finals Appearance: 2011 (group stage)
Coach: Stuart Pearce, who made 78 appearance for England.
Key Player: Defender Craig Dawson has not only helped England keep eight clean sheets in qualification he’s also top scorer, weighing in with six goals
Fact: The Three Lions are the only nation to have qualified for the last four U21s Finals tournaments.
Norway
Qualified by: beating France in the play-offs after finishing runners-up in Group 8
U21s Titles: None
Last Finals Appearance: 1998 (third place)
Coach: Former Rosenborg player and manager Per Joar Hansen
Key Player: Manchester United’s young forward Joshua King, who went on loan to Hull City last season, has made four appearances for the Norway senior side during their World Cup qualifiers.
Fact: Norway are the only group runner-up to qualify for the Finals. They finished second to England in Group 8, losing both times to Stuart Pearce’s side.
Italy
Qualified by: beating Sweden in the play-offs after winning Group 7
U21s Titles: Five
Last Finals Appearance: 2009 (semi-final)
Coach: Devis Mangia, former boss at Seria A outfit Palermo
Key Player: Bologna forward Manolo Gabbiadini has banged in six goals in seven games in qualifying, and also chipped in with a couple of assists.
Fact: Italy’s Under-21s were the first opposition to play at the new Wembley Stadium, drawing 3-3 with Stuart Pearce’s side. Giampaolo Pazzini also bagged a hat-trick for the Azzurrini.
GROUP B
Spain
Qualified by: beating Denmark in the play-offs after winning Group 5
U21 Titles: Three
Last Finals Appearance: 2011 (winners)
Coach: Former Rayo Vallecano goalkeeper Julen Lopetegui
Key Player: Midfielder Francisco Román Alarcón Suárez, aka Isco, is currently starring in La Liga and the Champions League for Malaga and is regularly linked with a move to one of England’s big boys.
Fact: Spain are the current holders of the title after beating Switzerland in the 2011 Final in Denmark
Holland
Qualified by: beating Slovakia in the play-offs after winning Group 10
U21s Titles: Two
Last Finals Appearance: 2007 (winners)
Coach: Cor Pot, a former player with Sparta Rotterdam and Excelsior in Holland.
Key Player: Borussia Mönchengladbach striker Luuk de Jong featured for the Dutch senior team at Euro 2012 but was back with the Under-21s scoring in their play-off win over Slovakia
Fact: On their way to lifting the trophy as hosts in 2007, they edged England out 13-12 in a penalty shootout in the semi-final.
Russia
Qualified by: beating Czech Republic in the play-offs after winning Group 6
U21s Titles: None
Last Finals Appearance: 1998 (quarter-finals)
Coach: Dmitri Ulyanov, a former midfielder with Torpedo Moscow and Hapoel Haifa
Key Player: Fyodor Smolov played nine times during qualification and scored seven goals. He’s currently on loan at Anzhi Makhachkala from Dynamo Moscow.
Fact: Russia lost just once during qualification, away in Portugal, but were still able to finish above the Portuguese in their group
Germany
Qualified by: beating Switzerland in the play-offs after winning Group 1
U21s Titles: One
Last Finals Appearance: 2009 (winners)
Coach: Ex-VfB Stuttgart defender Rainer Adrion
Key Player: Schalke midfielder Lewis Holtby, whose mother is English, has made two appearances at senior level for Germany and scored five times in nine qualifiers for the Under-21s
Fact: Germany were crowned Champions in 2009 as they beat England 4-0 in the Final with the soon-to-be Real Madrid duo Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira in their squad.