England 1-1 France

UEFA Women's U19 European Championship
Perutz Stadium - Papa
25 July 2005

After a 1-1 draw with France, England failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship and will now contest a play-off for a place in the 2006 FIFA U20 Women's World Championship.

England went into this fixture knowing they had to match Russia's result against Scotland in order to finish ahead of them in pool and qualify for the semi-finals.

Marley's side got off to the perfect start when Eniola Aluko scored her fourth goal of the tournament after just six minutes. However, Elodie Thomis's 67th-minute equaliser coupled with a 5-0 success for Russia left England in third place.

England started brightly and on three minutes they had their first chance of the match when Aluko shrugged off Morgane Courteille before touching the ball through to Karen Carney who shot wide.

Carney shot wide with another chance two minutes later and England were rewarded for their positive start a minute after that as a long pass from Stephanie Houghton found Aluko. She created some space in the French rearguard and beat Sarah Bouhaddi with an angled drive.

That acted as a call to arms for group leaders France and they went close through Julie Peruzzetto and Jennifer Moresco, who both unfortunate to hit the post.

Danille Hill did well to save a Thomis effort late in the second half but she could do nothing about the equaliser which came on 67 minutes.

Substitute Marie-Laure Delie played a perfect through-ball to Thomis who went past Hill with a deft side-step and finished coolly.

England realised that with Russia beating Scotland they needed to get a second goal from somewhere.

Despite all their best efforts England couldn't find a way past a resolute French defence and as a result Marley's side will now play Switzerland for a place in the 2006 FIFA U20 Women's World Championship.

England 1-1 France, UEFA U19 Women's Championship, 25 July 2005

England: Danielle Hill - Everton, Stephanie Houghton - Sunderland, Fern Whelan - Liverpool, Michelle Evans - Everton, Katie Holtham - Bristol Rovers (capt.), Amy Kane - Everton, Alex Scott - Birmingham City, Karen Carney - Birmingham City (Dunia Susi - Arsenal, 66), Danielle Bird - Fulham (Chantelle Parry - Everton, 83), Eniola Aluko - Charlton Athletic, Lianne Sanderson - Arsenal
Subs not used: Nicole Hobbs - Sunderland, Nicole Emmanuel - Leeds United, Horwood, Sophie Clough - Stockport County, Heather Scheuber

Goals: Aluko 6

France: Delannoy, Boulleau, Courteille, Pizzala (Dahou, 87), Thomis, Necib, Mula (Delie, 55), Declaud, Moresco (Houara, 46), Peruzzetto, Bouhaddi
Subs not used: Pons, Ducher, Ben Abdel Wahab, Castera, Delie

Goals: Thomis 67