England 1-2 Spain

UEFA Under-17 Championship
Semi-Final
Vallée du Cher, Tours, France
12 May 2004

A terrific performance full of passion and desire ended in agony in France as a last minute penalty, which resulted in the sending off of Marc Noble, put England out of the UEFA European U17 Championship. 

Twelve months ago, an equaliser in the final minute of the semi final set up the penalty shoot out that saw Portugal get the better of John Peacock's side, and on Wednesday night another penalty kick, this time for Spain, ended England's eleven game unbeaten run and their hopes of European glory.

Yet again the Young Lions came so close, but despite being on top for much of the game and playing some intelligent and committed football, a curious decision from the Belgian referee came as a vicious late blow giving them little chance to recover.   

As an England attack broke down, Spain came forward and with only two defenders back,  a threaded through ball between the pair looked dangerous. However, Noble was favourite to clear, but as the ball ran away across the pitch, Marcos Garcia arrived and tangled with the out-stretched frame of the West Ham man, which sent Marcos sprawling inside the box.

When the official arrived on the scene, he didn't need any convincing that Noble was guilty of a professional foul and that it occurred inside the area. Despite England's understandable protests, the penalty was awarded and a devastated Noble trudged from the field.

The penalty all but ended the contest, and Spain will be delighted that the well-taken spot-kick from Arsenal midfielder Francesc Fabregas put them into Saturday's final with hosts France, though David Wheater's (left) header from Gary Roberts' free-kick in stoppage time almost earned England a draw.     

The game started very much like it finished - with Spain in the driving seat. A bright start from last year's finalists almost stunned England after only 40 seconds. Richard Stearman gave the ball away too cheaply, and the Spanish attack ended with Carlos Carmona's spectacular drive from the edge of the area striking the inside of Ben Alnwick's left hand upright.

On ten minutes Spain managed to go one better as Marcos handed them the lead with a simple tap-in at the back post following a well-worked move on the right.

Kyel Reid almost levelled a minute later, but his powerful, low drive from the left went just wide. Then on 19 minutes his bizarre equaliser restored parity. It was the persistence of the West Ham United winger that earned a corner-kick out on the right and his low in-swinger somehow crept in at the near-post between 'keeper Adan and Cristian Pecci.

England continued to press and looked the stronger side all around the pitch, finding particular joy out wide where Reid and Shane Paul tried to exploit the uncertainties of the Spanish defence.

Only two minutes into the second forty, Mark Davies capitalised on some over-playing and clipped a nice ball into the run of Paul, but the Villa man saw both his subsequent attempts blocked.

Reid and Davies had other opportunities, but where Reid flashed his powerful volley just wide, Davies' lacked the venom despite testing the handling of Adan.

Spain did have their moments, a Garcia lob that went over Alnwick and the goal represented their best, but all too often they couldn't find a way past England's resolute defence.

That was until the last minute, when England were committed forward. A break unsettled Peacock's boys, and though a penalty was perhaps the wrong decision, England still miss out on that elusive final spot.

They must now pick themselves up for Saturday's third-place play off against Portugal with qualification for the Meridian Cup still up for grabs.    

Team Details

England: Alnwick, Jones, Ashton, Roberts, Noble, Wheater, Paul, Campbell (Walker, 54), Reid (Porter, 69), Stearman, Davies (Doyle, 75)

Goals: Reid 19

Spain: Adán, Pla Mollá, Rodríguez Lombán, Suárez Mata, Carmona Bonet, Fabregas (Granero Molina, 80), García Fernández (Pereira Rodríguez, 52), García Barreno (Capel Trinidad, 59), Pedraza Sarto, Pecci Macias, Del Moral Aparicio

Goals: Marcos 10, Fabregas 80 (pen)

Referee: Zaza Menteshashvili (Georgia)