Trophy winners in 2003 and runners-up in 2005, France have a proud record in the event and staged the tournament in 2001, the last season before it was reclassified from an U18 to an U19 competition.

Belarus, meanwhile, will be the venue for a UEFA final round for the first time. The country has been performing well at continental youth level in recent seasons, qualifying for the men's UEFA European U21 Championship in 2004 and the U17 event this year.

The French are currently involved in the qualifying process for the 2006 finals in Switzerland, but must top a tough group against hosts Norway, Poland and Serbia and Montenegro to compete for the trophy on 11-22 July. The 2007 edition will be staged in Iceland.

Mo Marley's England resume their qualification campaign for the 2006 Finals on 25 April, when they must top a second qualifying group containing Romania, Denmark and Iceland.