It was in pouring rain that the French U19 team won the title of European champion against Spain 2 goals to 1. Achievements signed Grace Geyoro and Marie Antoinette Katoto. Lucia Garcia will reduce the score at the end of the second half for Spain. Back on a meeting thrilling to the end for the Bleuettes.

On slippery ground the Bleuettes ripped this victory against the Spanish vice-champion. In the final for the eighth time, the teammates of Thea Greboval wanted to equalize the record of Germany, with a fourth title U19. A complicated face to face, which saw there the first two of the phase of groups to face each other.

The favorite is not the one we believe

At kickoff, we knew that nothing was played in advance for either team. The confrontation starts on the hurdles between the two nations. Spain finalist in the last edition was bouncing, but the team of France intoxicated by his supporters wanted just as much this title.

Spain was slightly favored in this tournament, as it was the third final in a row for La Roja (2014-2015-2016), which won this title only once, in 2004. This was a major challenge for Gilles Eyquem's players. The Habs were going to face a tough team.

While the Bleuettes had started badly their competition with a short defeat against a very physical team of Norway (1-0), which played on the mental of Bleuettes. The Tricolores have quickly returned to the competition after this blow, in the most beautiful way by chaining the victories until the final.

A last step that will prove very complicated. Slippery ground has made life hard for players on both sides of the field. Clara Mateo and Perle Morroni helped Marie-Antoinette Katoto in the offensive game to keep up the pressure on Spain.

Spain tries at the outset a shot, Bonmati deviated from the end of the gloves by Chavas (3 ') and who finishes on his cross. The Spanish dominate with a high pressing, the Bleuettes are struggling to clean out the ball from their side. A tough start for the French, but they recover quickly enough, lucid to play a final.

Spain gives in to pressure

The match is balanced between the two teams. The goalkeeper of the Bleuettes, Mylène Chavas assures her position without trembling, which frees France and which will allow an effective offensive in the 36th minute. The tricolor captain, Théa Greboval serves Grace Geyoro, who cheat Amaia Pena and scored the first goal of the game in favor of France 1-0! Geyoro is on his second goal of the competition.

Five minutes before the break, torrential downpour falls on Senec's lawn. In the first half, France leads 1-0 against an experienced team from Spain, which however fails to obtain attempts at goal. Due to weather conditions, the match will be interrupted for two hours.

After the break, Spain is overtaken by France, which remains well focused in its match and goal of victory. Les Bleuettes do not stop pressing, but will be harmed in their penalty area.

Spain wants to come back and get a good chance to believe it. Following a slight contact with Cascarino, the referee whistled a penalty for Garcia in the 53rd minute. At this point it's complicated for the Bleuettes, to think losing the advantage on penalty. Mylène Chavas dived in the first period, yet will come to save this Spanish opportunity. The French door diverts the shot of Nahikari García, who will hit his right post, before recovering the ball.

Katoto allows France to double the amount

A few minutes later, the hour of play passed, France will have a new opportunity in gold. A misunderstanding between the Spanish goalkeeper and her defender, Marta Cazalla allows Marie-Antoinette Katoto, gifted with extraordinary agility to score the second goal for Les Bleuettes 2-0!

After having been of paramount importance since the match against Slovakia, Katoto gives way to Cathy Couturier. A defender in addition, in the place of an attacker. The coach of the French team, Gilles Eyquem, now wants to maintain the score, less than ten minutes from the end of the match.

But the strategy will have the opposite effect. This change will allow the score reduction for Spain, a goal of Lucia Garcia in the 83rd minute following a poor control of the French defense. The ball slips between the legs of Mylène Chavas 2-1!

France is starting to retreat, facing a Spanish team that presses more and who will try a final opportunity in stoppage time. A strike unscrewed by Nahikari Garcia alone against the French goalkeeper, in the penalty area, which will move to above the goal! It was the ball of equalization. The Spanish blames, but the rain prevented him from taking the ball well. Les Bleues had a good star on this occasion.

The France U19 team finally holds its trophy in the hands, after a fierce match. A final won with the heart by the Bleuettes, who reward their course since their qualification. A fourth title won, after that of their male counterparts in the same category, last week. A doubled so for the U19 French Team. A generation that will certainly be talked about in the coming years, with perhaps the 2019 World Cup in sight.

IFrame

Individual price
- Katoto wins the Golden Shoe with six goals to his credit during the competition.

The match sheet
France: Chavas, Mansuy, Greboval (c), Cissoko, E. Cascarino, D. Cascarino, Condon, Mateo, Geyoro, Morroni, Katoto (Couturier 84 ').

The bench: Lebastard (GA), Dechilly, Legrout, Thibaud, Clerac, Fleury

Spain: Pena, Beltran, Bonmati (L. Garcia 46 '), Cazalla (Maria Vasquez 87'), N. Garrote, N. Garcia, Guijarro, Sanchez, Menayo, Hernandez, Oroz (Carrion 69 ')

The bench: Aguirre (GA), Sierra, Dominguez, L.M. Pérez