Young Lions triumph against France after spot-kick drama

After an even opening, Mason Mount found space inside the area on 23 minutes, but he fired straight at the keeper.

Keanen Bennetts then met Sterling’s cut-back from the right, but once again the Young Lions were denied by the shotstopper.

France hit back, but they found Jared Thompson in fine form as the shotstopper pulled off a fine save to deny Paul Fargeas as it remained goalless at the break.

Four minutes after the restart the hosts finally got the breakthrough, Jonathan Leko striding forward down the left before crossing to the back post, and Martell Taylor-Crossdale tapped home from close-range.

Steve Cooper’s youngsters had chances to stretch their lead, but were pegged back when France hit back to level late on – a result that ensured the match would need to be settled from the spot.

Sub goalkeeper, Matthew Yates, pulled off two penalty saves to give England the shoot-out win. The first save following a cheeky dinked penalty that saw the shotstopper stand still and catch the ball and second low to his right.

Despite the setback, France still won the group with seven points, with the Young Lions finishing second with four points. Slovakia and Switzerland finished third and fourth respectively. 

England: 1 Jared Thompson, 2 Dujon Sterling, 3 Vashon Neufville, 5 Trevoh Chalobah (C), 16 Edward Francis, 7 Sadou Diallo, 8 Callum Slattery, 10 Mason Mount, 9 Martell Taylor-Crossdale, 11 Keanen Bennetts, 12 Jonathan Leko

Subs: 6 Tanganga Japhet for Sterling 40; 15 Jaden Brown for Neufville 40, 14 Lewis Thompson for Francis 40, 13 Matthew Yates for Thompson 55; 17 Mackenzie Heaney for Bennetts 55; 19 Anthony Scully for Diallo 65; 18 Okera Simmonds for Taylor-Crossdale 65; 4 Andre Dozzell for Leko 73.

Subs not used: 20 Tyrese Campbell

Head coach: Steve Cooper