Team overview
Two-time winners England will be hoping to taste U21 European Championship glory for the first time in 25 years when they head to Sweden.
That wait has been too long for a country regarded as one of the continent's heavyweights and the pressure will be on Stuart Pearce's troops to deliver this time around.
A heartbreaking semi-final exit at the hands of Holland, after an epic penalty shoot-out, saw the Three Lions fall narrowly short two years ago.
They will be determined to make amends this year and will be hoping the wealth of Premier League talent at their disposal will see them conquer Europe.
How they qualified
England's passage to the 2009 Championships could not have been any more impressive, as they went unbeaten en route to Scandinavia.
Qualification Group 3 was conquered with consummate ease, with Pearce's side dropping just two points on their way to securing top spot.
They conceded only one goal in their eight games, while plundering 17 going forward.
A play-off encounter with neighbours Wales proved to be slightly trickier, with the Young Lions edging out the Dragons 5-4 on aggregate.
Coach - Stuart Pearce
Former England international Pearce cut his managerial teeth during a brief spell as player-coach at Nottingham Forest in the 1996/97 campaign.
Unable to save the Reds from slipping out of the Premier League on that occasion, he turned his attention back to playing before announcing his retirement from the game in 2002.
Hanging up his boots while at Manchester City, Pearce was offered a coaching role at Eastlands by then manager Kevin Keegan.
He went on to take the top job with the Blues following Keegan's departure in March 2005.
Pearce was sacked by City in May 2007, but by then he had already taken on the England U21 role and decided to turn his sole focus to that position.
One to watch - Theo Walcott
Arsenal forward Walcott has the potential to take the Golden Player honour in Sweden, providing he brings his 'A' game to the competition.
Blessed with blistering pace, a box of tricks and a keen eye for goal, there is little the 20-year-old cannot do when he puts his mind to it.
Already the youngest player ever to represent the England national side, Walcott will be hoping to add another entry into the history books this summer.
He has not been a regular for the Young Lions in the run-up to the 2009 tournament, due to niggling injuries and his commitments with the senior side, but he is expected to slip seamlessly back into the fold.
Why they'll win it
Few countries can lay claim to having as many players as England playing their club football at the very highest level.
The Premier League is widely considered to be world football's top division, and the majority of Pearce's young stars ply their trade among that elite.
Expectations will therefore be high heading into the tournament, but that should not faze a group already well accustomed to living life under the microscope.
They will know that nothing less than returning home with the top prize will be considered a success, but a quick glance through their squad suggests they are more than up to the challenge.
Why they won't
Injuries have hindered Pearce's plans in the build-up to the tournament, with key men falling by the wayside.
Skipper Steven Taylor is among those to have withdrawn, while Danny Welbeck is also unavailable.
While England should be able to find adequate cover, they will have been hoping to head to Sweden without the headaches posed by selection troubles.
They will also be keen to avoid going the distance in any of their games, with penalties likely to sap precious energy out of a squad already drained after a long, hard season.
