UEFA U17 European Championships Report: France 1 - 2 Italy

Macdara Ferris reports from Tallaght Stadium

It was the Italian anthem that was echoing around Tallaght Stadium after the final whistle as the victorious Italy players gathered in front of their own fans to celebrate their progression to the final of the under-17 Euros.

A late goal from Iyenoma Destiny Udogie was enough to earn their team a place in Sunday’s UEFA under-17 European Championship as Italy came from behind to beat France 2-1 in Thursday’s semi-final at Tallaght Stadium.

By reaching the semi of this under-17 Euros both France and Italy had already booked their berth in Brazil for the under-17 World Cup later in the year. Now Italy have the chance to go to the World Cup as European Champions if they can overcome the Netherlands in Sunday afternoon’s final.

The French had the best of the play in an opening half but couldn’t take a half time lead even though they got the opener four minutes from the break – Italy pegged them back a minute into first half injury time.

Jean-Claude Giuntini’s French side finally broke down the resolute Italian side with an excellent strike from Enzo Millot late in the half. Nathanael Mbuku had been France’s best player in the opening 45, causing lots of difficulty for Italian fullback Lorenzo Moretti. His quick feet and pace meant Moretti spent much of the first half back-peddling.

His trickery got the opener when he got to the end line and pulled the ball back to Enzo Millot and his shot had enough on it for the flight of the ball to arc up over the hand of Marco Molla.

Millot had gone close earlier in the half with a long range effort and France should certainly have taken the lead just after the half-hour mark when Millot played a slide rule pass into Tomothee Pembele. The French full-back pulled his shot wide though from the edge of the six yard box.

Having finally got the lead France only held it for three minutes before Sebastiano Esposito got his fourth goal of the competition. With a finely taken free kick, he floated the ball up and over the French wall and right into the top corner of Melvin Zinga’s goal.

Adil Aouchiche has been the star performer for Les Blues in the Euros with nine goals from the first four games his team have played. However the Italians managed to keep him quiet. The Paris St Germain 16-year-old midfielder found it difficult to get the space other teams afforded him earlier in the competition.

He was replaced by Theo Zidane 20 minutes from time and the son of Zinedine had an immediate impact. Some of the French supporters in the crowd thought he’d given their team the lead but his right foot effort hit the side netting just a minute or so after he came onto the pitch.

There was a big penalty shout with 13 minutes remaining as French substitute Nikola Sekulov went down in the box after his captain Simone Panada had played him though in the area but Ukrainian referee Mykola Balakin waved play on.

Nine minutes from time the Azzuri, through Iyenoma Destiny Udogie, grabbed the lead. He slammed the ball home with a drilled left foot shot that cannoned down and in off the underside of the cross bar. Panada had supplied Samuel Giovane with the pass out left and he played his centre perfectly into the patch of Udogie.

The French tried their best to get what would have been a deserved equaliser to take the game to extra-time but the Italians played to type and were able to shut out the Les Bleus. It was the Italians fifth win from five in the tournament and sets them up for the final and a return visit to Tallaght Stadium next Sunday afternoon.

France: Melvin Zinga; Timothee Pembele, Nianzou Kouassi, Chrislain Matsima, Melih Altikulac (Brandon Soppy 84); Lucien Agoume (c ), Adil Aouchiche (Theo Zidane 71), Enzo Millot; Nathanael Mbuku (Isaac Lihadji 71), Georginio Rutter, Amadou Traore (Kelian Nsona Wa Saka 16 [Dilane Bakwa 85]).

Subs not used: Amjhad Nazih (gk), Jean-Claude Ntenda, Johann Lepenant, Etienne Youte Kinkoue,

Booked: None.

Italy: Marco Molla; Lorenzo Moretti, Christian Dalle Mura, Lorenzo Pirola, Francesco Lamanna; Michael Brentan (Samuel Giovane 68), Simone Panada, Iyenoma Destiny Udoige; Franco Tongya; Sebastiano Esposito, Nicoló Cudrig (Nikola Sekulov 68).

Subs Not Used: Manuel Gasparini, Lorenzo Colombo, Niccolò Squizzato, Matteo Ruggeri Alessandro Pio Riccio, Alessandro Arlotti, Nicholas Bonfanti 

Booked: Simonde Panada (62).

Referee: Mykola Balakin (Ukraine). 

Attendance: 1,280 

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Nathanael Mbuku (France)