Young Guns coverage of the UEFA European Under 17 Championship’s comes to a close with the final between the two pre tournament favourites. Gilles Sunu’s France against the holders Spain who overcame Oğuzhan Özyakup’s Holland in the Semi-finals.
The winners of the game would be the first nation to take this title twice, so bragging rights as well the title were at steak for both sides. Despite being subbed of at half time during the win over Turkey, Gilles Sunu was kept his place on the right hand side of a 4-3-3, with the impressive Kakuta and Tafer in support.
Spain lined up with the same formation, and started with two reported Arsenal targets in Carmona and Thiago in the midfield. Both sides came from Group B and the earlier fixture between this two finished 3-3, a game even half that good would be the fitting way to end this exciting tournament.
So to the game and it was Spain who started the better of the sides, and began to move the ball with confidence before Gilles Sunu came crashing in on Carmona with a dangerous and poor tackle, The 17 year old was subsequently booked. France seemed nervous in possession and the Spanish pushed looking for the opener with Keko and Sergi both working the French keeper Mfa Mezui.
The longer the holders went without scoring, the more France came back into it. Sunu played a tidy 1-2 with Grenier before his cross just missed the head of Kakuta. Then Sunu took the ball on the right flank and under pressure used his superb ball control and skills to jink away from the defender, and buy his side some time, he found Grenier who lost possession allowing Spain to break.
Keko’s deflected shot found Sergi and from 4 yards out his low drive was saved by the legs of Mfa Mezui. They hit back quickly in a flowing encounter, Kakuta skipped down the left flank and his deep cross just missed the head of Sunu by inches. Back came Spain and the amazing Keko found himself in down the right flank, he cut inside taking out the French back line, but his low cross missed the arriving Sergi.
Tafer exchanged passes with Sunu before being chopped down on the right flank. Kakuta’s free kick found the unmarked Grenier who from 5 yards out placed the ball wide. However the Spanish pressure would toll in spectacular fashion. Thiago skipped past two tackles before playing a 1-2 with Sergi on the edge of the box, he placed the ball across the goal before finding the impressive Keko, who tapped into the empty net.
1-0 and the advantage to Spain, but the game showed promise of plenty more goals. Keko had one final chance as the first half drew to a close, but his powerful drive curled wide of the target.
Half Time – Spain 1-0 France
Half time brought the closing ceremony, with flags of all the countries being paraded around the ground in a fantastic display to end the exciting tournament. However the dancers drifted away and the sides came out for the second period, with Sunu’s France having 40 minutes to transform there fortunes.
Thiago and Keko played a swift passing move with the latter racing in behind the back line, as the French goalkeeper Mezui came racing out, Keko opted to chip the ball over him for the waiting Carmona, but the danger was read by Nego who cleared to safety.
Spain cranked up the pressure and with just 5 minutes gone in the second half the game seemed over. Keko the Gaizka Mendieta look a like raced over the half way line, and whilst the French back four were dragged out of position he poked the ball through for Sergi, he waited for the goalkeeper to move, before placed it low into the bottom corner from just outside the box.
At 2-0 the holders it seemed had done enough to retain their title, Sunu was too deep and was not helping France, he was quickly instructed to push further on something that without the ball was difficult. Thiago was running the show from midfield. Reale found Sunu who tricked down the flank before winning a corner, however he over hit the ball badly and it missed everybody.
Forfana’s lobbed ball found Sunu, who showed his physical prowess by holding off three Spanish defenders, but he failed to control and it ran out for a goal kick. Spain nearly had the third has Thiago found Manu who’s shot was deflected away, then they had to ride there luck as Forfana raced after a high ball and as the goalkeeper Alex advanced there was a clash in the box between the pair.
Then followed a 15 man mele as both sides clash, Sunu tried to play peace maker between the sides but the referee said no penalty. Gilles then showed some silky skills with a lovely turn but his pass allowed the Spanish to break who then themselves bagged a penalty.
Faure fouled Keko in the box and Thiago had a chance to make sure of the win. He blasted it high into the top corner and with 19 minutes left the game was all over. France will be left to contemplate what might have been, as had the penalty been given at 2-1 it would have been a very different game.
As the game drew to a close both sides added to the previous bookings with France getting several players booked for stupid tackles. Then the amazing Keko jinked past two players, turning them inside out before crossing perfectly for Manu to head home from close range. 4-0 and it was now all about damage limitation.
Keko then should have made it 5-0 after capitalising on a slip from the French defender, he rounded the keeper twice before slipping his effort inches wide when he looked certain to score. Keko then played a delightful back heel, before going down in the penalty area for what looked like a certain spot kick.
Mentally France had gone, Sunu and his team were tired and failed to establish more than 2 passes together as the clock ticked down. But Gilles was one of the best players on his team and raced down the left hand flank before the last man Pulido clipped him down. The referee only gave a yellow card, but all credit to Sunu who tried to stay on his feet.
The game ended as it started with Spain in control, the referee blew for full time to bring to a close what has been a superb tournament. Spain the favourites and hosts the 4-0 winners.
Full Time – Spain 4-0 France
Article By – J.Sanderson
what happened to merida? i thought he was playing in this championship.
He played in the Under 17 world cup last summer mate, but he is too old to play in this one.
Sunu was pretty poor in this match tbh.
Whether it was because of low confidence, or nervousness because of the final I don’t know. He showed few signs in the match that he is gonna make it “big”.
Great Report As Usual ;)
Thank you Chris, i think he is feeling the effects of a long and difficult season, playing out of position and only half fit following many injuries.
Probably, he didn’t look fit at all like you mentioned.
To be fair though, he showed a couple of decent touches and great body strength to fend off a couple of Spain defenders. :D
Allez les Bleus!
To be honest, the Spain was better on that game but french look tired, some players like Kakuta played all the games.
And the played a very tiring game against Turkey ..
I think Kakuta should have been player of the Euro, he was the most talented, he just keeps the ball too much but he’s very good.
Great Report Jamie!
I think Sunu still have some time to mature..he can only get better with some money games with the reserves and the first team in the carling cup …jay do you have any words on Kakuta is he coming with Di Santo ???
I agree mate, It seems i was a wind up in the end mate
Like I said last time, Spain are always the best team in this age group. Lets hope that Wenger finds some gems in this tournament that can become future stars for the Gunners.
Btw. Arsenal are now linked with Miguel Veloso [http://sport.setanta.com/en/Sport/News/Football/2008/05/16/PremBwin-Liga-Veloso-Arsenal-link/]
In my opinion Setanta are one of the most reliable sources in the non-reliable newspaper market. They don’t seem to make up news at least. From what I have heard he is a similar player to Flamini. The board has been emphasizing that we can spend big and Veloso might cost a bit. Veloso is also not a big name, but a big player :) that fits Wenger’s comments
Great report. But how do you know Carmona is a target???
Where does this Keko play? I like killers like him..
Keko plays for Real Madrid.
SweGoo, he plays for Athletico Madrid.
Yes he comes from Atlético de Madrid, he is a right sided midfielder so much like Hleb, but he shoots a fair bit too!
and the commentators on Eurosport mentioned it in the group stages, that he had attracted our interest.
I think he will stay with Athletico Madrid as he has not even made into their team yet so why leave such an up and coming team
He’s more likely to sign for a Spanish side like Real.
Because a side like Arsenal can fast track his career quickly,and give him chances to play rather than bigger teams who could dump him after a few years
Give him chances to play? Like Diarra had? ;)
Stupid comparision as Diarra was a first team player, and failed to wait for his chance, young players will get the chance to develop here, they should just wait for the chance
sunu has been bashed a little bit, fair enough but he has the technique, the pysique and the attitude to make it in the epl – those are all the ingredients he needs – on that level he is mightily impressive – he just needs to transfer that onto the field.
afterall he’s only 17
Why the fuck does he have to wait?
He was a France International at the time, IMO he was a better prospect than Flamini, Sunu is not good enough for Arsenal, and sadly he will never be.
He seems to slow, you and others built him up as a pacey, rugged type of player. He seems to be rugged, but limited pace. I think you should write an article about the players who WON’T make it here.
EVERY1 THIS IS FLAMINI INTERVIEW SINCE LEAVING ARSENAL !!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article1174504.ece
He isn’t that bad .. he just need times.
I remember during the Euro U17 some years ago, the France won with Nasri, Ben Arfa, Benzema, Menez, ect … and when you look the tournament Menez was the best and Benzema was often on the bench. Now Benzema is the best and Menez isn’t playing with Monaco.
It’s hard to know who will be great in the future .. sometimes players are very bad with young teams but became great while the play with the first team. So Wait and See ..
He joined as a bench player at Chelsea, you cant expect to walk into Arsenal and he knew that.
and i agree that Sunu just needs time.
sunu was pooooooor in the first half in the second half he was one of spains better players i like the look of the spanish player keko he plays a bit like messi, twisting and turning the french defenders nearly everytime but hes like hleb becus he always looks for a pass rather than a shot. sergi and carmona were the other two we should look out 4. ps KAKUTA Is going to b world class.
Very good point Vince. Gerrard was rejected to go to a football camp when he was 14 years old. The reason was that he was too small. I think somebody is rejecting his decision now.
Even though Sunu isn’t taking you off the shoes now, I still believe in him. Wenger must have seen something if he bought him for such a sum. Also remember, did you all believe in Song?
If Sunu wants to make it Arsenal he definatly needs to improve. He has not played well in the entire tornument. Altough he is very young and the coaches rate him quite highly.
I thought he was one of their better players in the final but having said that France were aweful in the final so its not saying much. I dont think he was helped being stuck in midfield for much of the tornament either because i feel hes defintly a future striker not a midfeilder. Hes done well for the reserves which is what matters especially if you consider his age, lots of potential but only time will tell.
Keko was great though, defiatly a possible future star, really unselfish player which is great to see especially at that age in a tornament where goals talk loudest. Doubt we’ll beable to get him here though although we could use some wingers in the reserve and youth side, but athletico (im 90% sure thats where hes playing) will fight tooth and nail to keep him and they’re good at bringing talent through so i doubt he’ll be looking to leave.