England will face a FIFA Women’s U20s World Cup play-off on Thursday following a 1-0 defeat by France in Ballymena.
Coming into the match with a win and a defeat in their previous two Group B encounters, Mo Marley’s side needed to defeat Les Bleues to prolong their stay at the U19s Euros, and although they were on top throughout they fell to Lina Boussaha’s 88th–minute winner.
England carved out a number of half chances but the closest they came to scoring was when Alessia Russo curled a second-half free-kick goalwards to force an excellent save from Mylene Chavas, who stretched to palm the ball over the bar.
Megan Finnigan had a good opportunity blocked with 15 minutes remaining before Boussaha struck the late blow.
But the Young Lionesses still have a chance to seal their place at next year’s World Cup when they take on the side that finishes third in Group A.
France now face Germany in the Euro semi-finals.
England (4-3-3): 1 Sandy MacIver (Clemson University); 14 Taylor Hinds (Arsenal), 5 Grace Fisk (capt; University of South Carolina), 6 Megan Finnigan (Everton), 3 Mayumi Pacheco (Doncaster Rovers Belles); 8 Georgia Allen (Syracuse University), 4 Mollie Rouse (University of Louisville), 18 Chloe Peplow (Birmingham City); 17 Niamh Charles (Liverpool), 11 Rinsola Babajide (Watford), 16 Alessia Russo (University of North Carolina).
Substitutes: 9 Ellie Brazil (Birmingham City) for Allen 40, 2 Anna Patten (Florida State University) for Charles 80.
Substitutes not used: 4 Mollie Rouse (University of Louisville), 7 Chloe Kelly (Arsenal, on loan at Everton), 10 Zoe Cross (University of Missouri), 13 Ellie Roebuck (Manchester City), 15 Lotte Wubben-Moy (University of North Carolina), 19 Isabella Sibley (Chelsea).
Bookings: MacIver 89
Head coach: Mo Marley
