This is the first time Serbia have qualified for the UEFA European Under 21 Championship playing as an independent country and their progress will be watched with keen eyes. Coach Miroslav Djukić has been an experienced campaigner with Deportivo and Valencia in Spain in his playing days and he will be looking to guide Serbia in the same fashion in the European Under-21 Championship in the Netherlands.

The coach has named Nemanja Rnić and Duško Tošić in his squad despite the fact that they have been called up for the senior side that took on Finland last week. Boško Janković and Miloš Krasić also find their names in the 23-man squad.

Janković has had a great time with RCD Mallorca and is hoping to replicate his form with the national team as well. "Maybe it's time to finish top, after playing in a final and semi-final," he said. Janković is hoping Serbia can progress beyond the semi-final stage that they clinched last year.

Coach Miroslav Djukić welcomes back Miloš Krasić, Boško Janković, Antonio Rukavina and midfielder Stefan Babović after the game against Finland in the Euro 2008 qualifiers. "I want to see what the players can do from a tactical point of view," Djukić said, adding that he was looking forward to the European Under-21 Championship.

Meanwhile Italy will be looking to make amends after failing to progress beyond the group stages in Portugal last year. Italy have won five of the last eight UEFA European Under-21 Championships and new coach Pierluigi Casiraghi will be hoping for improved performance this time around.

Casiraghi is focusing on what he calls "technical and tactical preparation" ahead of their game against Serbia. With names like Giuseppe Rossi on the team shet Italy will look to put behind bad memories of their last outing.