The U-19 Euros start on Tuesday and there is a funny thing happening because of the FIFA U-20 WWC host still not being decided: Thursday 25 July: FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup play-off (tbc) 15:00, McDiarmid Park, Perth Semi-finals 17:00, Firhill Stadium, Glasgow 20:30, Saint Mirren Park, Paisley UEFA's allocation for the 2020 FIFA U-20 World Cup has not been confirmed but if needed a play-off will be held between the two third-place group finishers to determine a fifth entrant The same thing happened two years ago in Northern Ireland between England and Scotland because France had qualified for the semi-finals and were already through to the U-20 WWC as the tournament host. The only way that play-off game should be played is if one of the four semi-finalist will host the U-20 WWC tournament next year and we still have no clue about this. What a mess created by FIFA.
I'm interested to see how England do (getting out of that group would be a big achievement). Lauren Hemp could have gone to the WWC in my view. So it's nice to have her at this tournament. The team should have good midfielders and attackers but I'm worried about the defence.
Poppy Pattinson's injury is a huge miss for England. Georgia EC is a solid CB, Esme Morgan has been with City for two years now and Hannah Hampton is a starter so the base is solid.
Today's games : CET Group A Norway v Netherlands: 17:00, Firhill Stadium, Glasgow Scotland v France: 20:30, Saint Mirren Park, Paisley Group B Spain v Belgium: 17:00, Forthbank, Stirling England v Germany: 20:30, McDiarmid Park, Perth
I like the look of Krumbiegel. Glides about with the ball. It's a typical England women's youth team. Simply cannot defend as a team. They play a system that is very attacking too. All too naive imo.
Germany should have won this game 5-2, at least, but missed a lot of chances. England hand some poor finishing as well, but had fewer opportunities. England were an absolute mess in the second half: They looked tired and not very fit. James, who seems to be a talented attacking midfielder, was lazy--standing around and doing little to no defensive work, which is one reason why German swarmed over England for a large part of the second half. Didn't see the France - Scotland game, but The Netherlands outclassed Norway--were better in every way and helped by a couple of howlers by the Norway keeper. She basically gifted the Dutch two goals.
Same happened in the first half. Whole team lacked balance. They only really played with one CM with the rest being attackers.
Germany 3 Netherlands 1 France 3 Spain 1 aet the last time Spain conceded 3 goals at u19 level was in 2015
can't find any vids on youtube, but if your not geo blocked. than both replays are on ESPN3 France/Spain France vs. Spain (Semifinal) - WatchESPN Germany/Netherlands Germany vs. Netherlands (Semifinal) - WatchESPN REVIEWS; though Spain was favored to win, their hot shot striker of last year's u20 WC, Claudia Pina, tanked this time around, getting zero goals in this tourney. Their top quality winger, Navarro, played well but didn't have anybody to pass it to(or was a real threat, scoring wise). Both are only 18, so hence, the one year under didn't fit them. But glad to see Spain loose as I feel their possession style game is way too rigid/disciplined, or let kids be kids! France came in with star power with Bacha & Baltimore(both start at Lyon/PSG), but added as well a high scoring fwd, Malard & then of all things; a 15 year old wunderkind named Becho, Both came in as subs & turned the match around in France's favor pretty much same thing happened with Germany; I mean I was wondering when the heck are they going to bring on Martinez(who's so much more capable of a goal scorer than the lone striker their been using named Anyomi). Sure, enough, she took charge when she came in around the 70th minute & devasted th Dutch defense. Based on 'star power', I think France would be favored in the finals(they also seem more technical sound). But give the Germans credit; their missing their big name youths, Buhl & Oberdorf(guessing cuz they were on their senior WC squad) plus Bayern Munich starter, Lohmann, and yet, still proved a strong force
I attended both games, it was very hot. Had to get an Uber to go from one ground to the other and the traffic was quite bad in the inner Glasgow area. The France coach reaction will be online soon, he explained what was his tactical plan to combat Spain possession game and why he had kept Malard and Becho in reserves for the later stage of the game. Germany v Netherlands was a much more opened game that the France v Spain. Entertaining with a blundering ref who showed a red card to a player by mistake. She picked up the red one instead of the yellow, then quickly picked the yellow in her other pocket...
This is what he said after the game, the UEFA guy did not get it translated: We started with fresh legs by playing girls who had been rested in previous games and we knew when we would send on Becho and Malard as subs, we would be able to hurt them. We had studied their game, especially their build-up play from the back. So we wanted to stop that build up with our two forwards. We also wanted to prevent their full-backs from attacking to much, so we had asked our wingers to defend tightly on them.
Heavy rain and flood warnings in Scotland this week-end. Rough time to play football, pitch will be heavy.
U-17 update : The top two sides in each group plus the four third-placed teams with the best record against the top two in their section join top seeds Spain and holders Germany in the elite round draw on 21 November 2019 Hosts Sweden have bye to eight-team finals from 9 to 22 May, which will act as Europe's qualifier for the 2020 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in India Through: France, Germany (holders, bye), Greece, Iceland, Republic of Ireland, Spain (bye), Switzerland Also the hosts for the next two editions have been picked: 2021 Faroe Island 2022 Bosnia& Herzegovina.
U-19 update The top two sides in every group plus the four third-placed teams with the best record against the top two in their section go into the elite round draw on 21 November 2019, with the games in spring 2020. Seven teams will eventually join Georgia in the finals in July 2020. Hosts designated for the future tournaments: 2021 Belarus, 2022 Czech Republic As a reminder the 2020 host is Georgia.
U-17 update Russia and Danemark also through to the Elite Round. U-19 games all played between 1 Oct and 08 Oct
U-17 update : Denmark, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey + Spain and Germany U-19 started this week
U-19 update Through to elite round: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Finland, France (holders), Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland
U-19 update, now 24 out of the 28 spots are filled Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Finland, France (holders), Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
U-19 qualifying round is now complete. The 28 teams through to the Elite Round are : Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Finland, France (holders), Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland Seven teams will eventually join Georgia in the finals in July 2020.
U-17 update : Hungary, Poland, Scotland and Italy, Norway and Slovenia through as well. 16 spots claimed out of 28.