Kicking off the Under-19 European Championship finals on Saturday, hosts Slovakia Under-19s meet Group A opponents France Under-19s in Trnava.
The teams convene at Stadion Antona Malatinskeho, as the championship finally returns after being cancelled for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Match preview
Throughout an action-packed week, the destiny of four Group A contestants will be decided, as they each fulfil three fixtures in the space of just seven days.
The top two finishers in both groups of this eight-team tournament will not only progress to the semi-finals, but also automatically qualify for the 2023 Under-20 World Cup in Indonesia - along with the winner of a play-off between the third-placed sides in each group.
Therefore, hosts Slovakia will seek to make a fast start in a tough section also featuring the young stars of Italy and Romania, and are ultimately aiming to surpass their best finish at this level of UEFA competition - third place, back in 2002.
Albert Rusnak's team were not required to take part in qualification as the home nation, so will get the finals under way still lacking experience of competitive football as a unit.
Their last run-out came in May, when Rusnak saw his charges slip to successive defeats against Switzerland, but Slovakia must step up in class against even more talented opponents this weekend.
Among the favourites to lift the trophy next month - particularly in the absence of defending champions Spain - France strode through qualifying without too much trouble, as they won all three of their first round fixtures to top Group 7 ahead of Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia, before also coming through the next stage.
In the elite round, Landry Chauvin's side were winners of Group 2, after beating both Sweden and Bosnia-Herzegovina but losing to the Czech Republic; Rennes forward Matthis Abline being their top scorer through the process, with four goals.
Previously champions at Under-19 level three times - in 2005, 2010 and 2016 - France boast a squad which is sure to be heavily scouted by Europe's top clubs this summer, but Les Bleus' next generation will have to perform collectively to extract themselves from a competitive group.
After tackling the hosts on Saturday, they then face Romania and Italy in quick succession, but having won six of their seven matches since last October, Chauvin's boys surely harbour no fears.
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Team News
Though many members of the France squad arrive in Slovakia with limited club experience, winger Alan Virginius - who scored five times in 31 appearances for Sochaux last season - has been a regular in Ligue 2.
Ajaccio's Tayrik Arconte is also expected to feature up front, with Parma striker Ange-Yoan Bonny also in the running to start on Saturday.
Slovakia's squad, meanwhile, is also predominantly home-based, with most players plying their trade at Fortuna Liga clubs Zilina or Trencin.
Sixteen-year-old winger Leo Sauer is among the competition's youngest participants this year, as is Hoffenheim prospect Milan Rehus, who could start in midfield.
The hosts will be captained by their star man, Zilina centre-forward Timotej Jambor.
Slovakia Under-19s possible starting lineup:
Kudelcik; Ovsonka, Jasso, Kachnic; Bortoli, Kukulsky, Javorcek, Rehus; Sauer, Jambor, Demjanovic
France Under-19s possible starting lineup:
Lo-Tutala; Camara, Toure, Doukoure, Hadjam; Adeline, Bondo, Diouf; Arconte, Ben Seghir, Virginius
We say: Slovakia Under-19s 1-2 France Under-19s
Despite the backing of the home crowd, Slovakia are set to come up short against a France side full of potential, and are doomed to taste disappointment on their opening night as Euros hosts.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
