The success of the youth teams is even greater when it is known who is not playing in the European Championship: The door remains closed for Italy, France, the rest of the region...

When the Montenegrin national anthem sounds for the first time from one of the four stadiums in Romania in June, it will be the moment our country has been waiting for since the story of our national football teams began, the moment that will make it official that the "young falcons" are part of the elite...

By qualifying for the European Championship, the Montenegrin youth team has secured a place in history, and the best evidence of what kind of success it is is the fact that only seven other European teams will be competing at the Euro.

The filter leading up to the final tournament was hellish, so along with the "young falcons", great football nations such as Germany, Spain, England and the Netherlands, but also Denmark, Norway and the host, fought for a place under the Romanian sun.

The success of our national team gains particular importance when we see the names of the teams that will not be playing at the European Championship.

Thus, Romania will not have the runner-up from 2024. France, Italy with the super-talented generation led by Francesco Camarda from Milan, then Portugal, Belgium, or any other selection from the region.

Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia reached the elite round of qualifications, but failed to advance, while the two most famous names - the "tricolor" and the "azure" - were swallowed up by the "group of death" with Spain.

Placement does not guarantee a trip to the World Cup

The magnificent eight will be divided into two groups by a draw on April 15th, and the top two from each group will advance to the semi-finals.

This year, a good performance at the Euros will not lead to a trip to the U-20 World Cup, as the World Cup is held in September, and the teams participating from Europe are from last year's Old Continent championship.

Three champions, Montenegro the only debutant

Spain (nine times), Germany and England (two each) have already won the European Championship at this age group, the Netherlands and Norway have reached the semi-finals, while Denmark and Romania have never made it past the group stage.

"The Furies" will defend the title they won last year in Belfast, and although superstar Lamin Jamal would also have the right to play for this team, it is difficult to expect that to happen. Spain was led through the elite round by Diego Aguado (Real), Antonio Cordero (Malaga), Alejandro Monserrat (Atletico)...

However, it seems that England has the most breadth, and could also play for exceptional talents such as Miles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Envaneri from Arsenal. If they don't play, there are certainly Lewis Miley from Newcastle, Tyler Dibbling from Southampton and many others...

The European Championship starts on June 13th, and will be played in Bucharest (Rapid Giuleşti Arena and Dinamo Stadium), Ploieşti (Ilie Oana Stadium) and Voluntari (Angel Jordanescu Stadium).