Top two just one point away

All the four UEFA European Under-17 Championship Group B contenders know what they need on Matchday 2. Leading pair Germany and the Czech Republic need only draw with Serbia and Montenegro and Belgium respectively, while the latter two must win against the unbeaten duo.

Formidable Germans
That Serbia and Montenegro are even still in contention is thanks to an equaliser against Belgium on Friday three minutes into stoppage time from substitute Darko Karadžić. But maybe that was the easy bit. For on Monday they play in the first tournament game at Luxembourg's national Josy Barthel stadium against a German team that has won eleven and drawn two of their 13 matches this season.

'We have hope'
Sasa Medin's team were on the verge of elimination when trailing Belgium, having already lost 2-1 to the Czech Republic. But they had a reprieve, and the coach believes Germany can be defeated. "Now we have to play an attacking game against Germany; we want to win this game," Medin said. "If our strikers play like they can, we can do it. In the first half against Belgium, I noticed that Germany's defence can be breached. We can find a way to score goals against them. We have hope."

Jovetić concern
There is only a slight concern for Medin. "Our best player Stefan Jovetić, who had good chances against Belgium, didn't score, and the same against the Czech Republic," the coach said. "He's not in a good shape at the moment and the whole team suffers because of this."

Impressive defence
Hitting form will be a necessity against Germany, the only team yet to concede in these finals having beaten Belgium 4-0 and been held 0-0 by the Czechs. Indeed, in their 13 games in 2005/06, Germany have let in just four goals, meaning coach Bernd Stöber had no need to be cautious on Monday. "I will not change," he said. "I want to let the players play to the best of their abilities." Midfielder Lars Bender has had a right knee injury, but is expected to be fit to play. Bender told uefa.com: "I felt bad on Saturday but on Sunday I felt better."

Czechs 'go for victory'
Like Germany the Czechs are one point away and their coach Jakub Dovalil, like Stöber, is keen on all three. "I will go for victory," he said. "If we lost against Belgium, I'm not sure what will happen."

Mixed campaign
Belgium's campaign has been mixed, with defeat by Germany and then the heartbreaking finish against Serbia and Montenegro, having only taken the lead nine minutes from the end. But Belgian coach Eric Abrams is an optimist, though he has been impressed by their opponents on Monday.

Belgian quality
"I know the Czech Republic well," Abrams said. "They have a more athletic style, the team is a 'wall' - very physical, very direct. If we take a look at what we've done so far, it would have been better not to start against Germany. I really believe we can beat the Czech Republic, we've shown we have the quality to do it."