England continued their Under 19’s campaign today with a semi-final against France. Henri Lansbury managed to shake off any ill-effects of his previous game against Slovenia and started along with Rhys Murphy, who obviously impressed enough in his last outing, despite not scoring. Gavin Hoyte had to make do with a place on the bench.
France started the game as far the better side, and were ahead within 8 minutes. Brahimi, one of France’s players of the tournament, whipped in a corner which was gratefully swept in by an unmarked Magaye Gueye. England had a really tough job on their hands, and France seemed to be doing everything possible to break-up any of their play, in a particularly scrappy first half. The French soon started collecting yellow card after yellow card, which they ended up regretting. Although England had yet to create any chances of note, in Henri Lansbury they have one of the best young players in the world and it wasn’t long until he was given an opportunity to star. One of France’s constant niggling fouls gave England a freekick. Drinkwater could only hit the wall with his effort, but when the rebound landed at Henri’s feet he made no mistake, rifling the ball into the bottom corner from some 20 yards. This goal marked Lansbury’s third in three matches and he certainly stood out once again from the Three Lions.
The Second half started with France trying to take the lead again, but England soon stamped their dominance with Henri twice denied by France Keeper Pillot. The pressure began to show as the French players’ discipline began to wear away, minutes after Young Gun Rhys Murphy was subbed off, Corchia was sent off for his second yellow. However, England couldn’t translate this numerical advantage into more goals and had to face Extra Time.
But as they entered the additional 30 minutes, their persistence was rewarded. Aston Villa’s Delfouneso was at hand to tuck away a Joe Mattock effort which was palmed out into his path. Slightly more than 10 minutes later, Delfouneso secured the victory with a lovely goal. He embarked on a jinking run that saw him skip past the last defender and the keeper before slotting away calmly. There was still time for two more French players, El Kaoutari and Boudebouz, to be sent off, both for second yellows. At the death Henri almost made it four, hitting the woodwork from 25 yards out.
England will play either Serbia or the Ukraine in the Final on Sunday, with Lansbury sure to play a crucial role.
Meanwhile, their younger counterparts beat the Faroe Islands very convincingly in their second game of the Nordic Tournament. Six goals before half time more than wrapped up the points and, similarly to the Under 19’s performance against Slovenia, a disappointing Second Half only saw the young internationals score 2 more goals.
Josh Ress played 70 minutes of this fixture, while Nico Yennaris was an unused substitute. England will play their final group game on Friday evening at the Overlands Minde Stadium.
Watch Lansbury’s England Goal
Article By – Gianni Sonvinco
Very nice goal from Henri, hopefully he’ll get a chance this season.
Didnt see the game so i cant really comment
However i not suprised that Yacine Brahimi set-up France’s goal, he was outstanding against Spain, a real technical pocket dynamo.
Lansbury, Steele (best i’ve seen him play), Defouneso, Bennett impressed the most for England but that’s about it really. The rest were simply mediocre. To be fair, Gavin Hoyte, Nile Ranger and Joe Mattock did well when they came on although nothing too special.
Rhys was played on the right wing which was stupid on Eastick’s part. He just couldn’t get into the game.
The French goal was very much an Arsenal type goal where they cut England to pieces before a pullback from Brahimi for the lad to fire it into the corner J, not from a corner mate.
Yh England should not have won. England couldnt really keep the ball. Gosling had a nightmare lansbury and co couldnt get on the ball cause of gosling and thier centre half just hoofing it to welbeck. Apart from the goal lanbsury didnt do anything cause England couldnt pass properly. Its so frustrating cause when u watch arsenal youth cup final there was 9 english players who could pass the ball under pressure.
Lansbury played well from what I saw. His goal was class, but England were fortunate to get that free kick as the ref punished a french player for protecting his face on the previous free kick farther out. France were claerly better untill the 70th minute untill they began too tire and had a player get a red. Lansbury had a several chances to get a second, including one off the bar. It’s hard to fully rate his performances because the commentors are always too busy talking rubbish to tell you who has the ball. Overall, Lansbury perfromance was at least very good if not great.
I wonder if Wenger’s reluctance to sign a DM this Summer is because he believes Henri will be ready to start some PL games. If its true that we are bringing Paddy back to the club then he could be used in a mentoring role for someone like Henri to cope with the big games.
Unkraine will be very hard to break down again. Not having Krystian Pearce and Martin Kelly (Liverpool)at the back could cost us dear.
Henri lansbury a better central mdifielder than wilshere. His passing is brilliant and he hardly gives it away. I have got a feeling gibbs could play DM? The guys a central midfielder and i can see him doing well in midfield
@ TJ DA GOON – Sorry about the mistake over France’s goal, I actually missed it and relied on the FA and Uefa websites.
The problem is midfield. I liek to see Matty james and lansbury in midfield together with delfouenso and murphy up front. i prefer welbeck on the wing.
Not being funny but Thomas Cruise is a better left back than joe Mattock. I dont rate him at all hes an awful defender
Pingback: England steht im Final
JS what do u think of Nathan Delfounso i think hes a world class player in the making. Hes got everything and hes 17. Hes got great potential. I think arsenal should make a bid for him hes better than giles sunu
You are excellent, JS
Nobody has mentioned how physical the French played.
Towards the end it was disgraceful. They looked like they really wanted to injure Lansbury.
They played well at times but didn’t actually create much and ended up getting what they deserved with the red cards.
Saying England should not have won is ridiculous considering they actually created the better chances by far.
Pingback: Lansbury Scores & Sends U19's Into Final – Video « [» Young Guns «]
The French U17’s played better than us in the first 30 minutes or so of the match, but after that we took over and deserved to win the game, as for Nathan Delfouneso he has every thing in his locker to be a top top top striker for England in the future, and i personally would love him to come and play for Arsenal but that will never ever happen, P.S he also reminds me a bit of Didier Drogba in the way he plays the game IMO.
I like the way delfouenso runs at people hes like a winger playin up front. Very fast and tricky and can score goals. Dare i say it the new thierrry henry? I saw him before coming up with the likes of rodwell, wilshere, cruise, watt, parrett, bostock. And hes impressed me alot.
Henri Lanbsury js do u think he will get more chances in the first team this season?
Gianni – No problem mate. Good report overall though. Keep up the good work. Also, i apologise to J as I din’t realise he didn’t write the report.
I’d also love Delfouneso at Arsenal. Under AW’s guidance he really can become a world class player.
Anyone who thinks England played better in this game is having a bubble. I’m very happy that they managed to get the win in the end but their possesion for the majority of the game consisted of Steele throwing the ball out to one of the back four and the ball being passed amongst them about 4/5 times before it was hoofed forward. The amount of times Walker and Briggs passed to one another before it got hoofed forward was quite comical. I don’t know the actual percentage of possession at the end of the game but France definitely had the majority and played with much more imagination.
Believe that Lansbury should be promoted to the first team. He is a Gerrard style player only with better technique – and he can thank the academy for that!
Hey J, I am a big fan of Lansbury, but he is a year older than Ramsey and similar player, but Ramsey is talking about making the first team this year. How do you honestly rate Lansbury’s chances of making at Arsenal
sorry he is the same age i think
I actually think Henri is good enough for the U21s.
Yh Henri lanbsury is a playmaker but he can play deeper. If u watched the games yesterday Dan Gosling kept giving the ball away or passin it backwards and our centre backs kept hoofin it to welbeck.
I just hope the kid goes on loan to a premiership side why do i have the feeling wigans Roberto martinez is after him. Steve bruce wanted him last year so he could go to sunderland
portsmouth was a club that last season wanted to take him there ! he declined as he wanted to play week in week out ! i now feel he is stronger and fitter than last season and could push for a start in a team like portsmouth/sunderland ! theres also talk of nottingham forest wanting him ! think next season is a big one for him,see what arsene thinks when he returns from u19’s…
Murphy on the right wing? What’s wrong with Eastick, Murphy is a pure number 9.
I’m not sure I’m glad England won as it rewards the wrong way of playing. I still can’t believe he didn’t call Jay Thomas nor Ayling and Bartley. did he really watch the youth cup last year? He would have learned what it’s like to keep the ball
Defender Paul Rodgers has signed a one year deal at Northampton Town, after a loan period with the club.
The 19-year-old made one first-team appearance for Arsenal but spent the second half of last season on loan at Sixfields, making 11 appearances.
Manager Stuart Gray told the club’s website: “We have plenty of experience in defence and Paul’s pace will offer a good blend.
“He has all the attributes to become a very good player.”
Rodgers will officially become a Cobblers player on August 1.
He is the third player to sign for the club after impressing on trial this summer, following Billy McKay and John Curtis.
A young Northampton Town XI, including Rodgers, were defeated by Long Buckby in the Maunsell Cup Final on Thursday.
Mark Withers and trialist Seb Harris scored for the Cobblers in a 3-2 loss.
Martin Kelly and Krystian Perace will be at the U20 World Cup, and Kelly isn’t that good anyway. Who they could really do with his Spence from West Ham.
England under 20s? Any arsenal players going to be on there? maybe Bartley and jay thomas? What about Wilshere and gibbs
Also I thought scunthorpe got first option on Lanbsury. Surely if a premiership club comes in he should go
Martin Kelly is that good. And to the chap above (except Gibbs)all the others didn’t go with the u19s so I’m not sure why he thinks they’ll go with the u20s in Sept. But it will be a case of players going if they’ve been chosen and feel like it i.e. no pressure.
JS U heard anything about Jan vertonghen and arsenal making an enquiry for him? If this is true i personally think it would be a brilliant signing. A better signing than Blaise Matuidi
I’m watching yesterdays game right now. Drinkwater instead of Jay Thomas! don’t make me laugh
Joe Bennett looks a very good prospect. Delfouneso is very impressive, I thought he was disapoiting against arsenal in the youth cup, but yesterday he definitely looked a class act.
TJ DA GOONA –
France definitely had the majority and played with much more imagination.
———————————————————-
They created very little though so it’s you having a bubble. Most of Steele’s work was dealing with crosses and tame long shots.
They had the better of the first half but the second was very even.
They deserved what they got.
If a team has more ‘imagination’ against a team with makeshift centre backs who for periods couldn’t keep the ball then why did they create so little quality final balls and finishing?
This was huge win. I saw the score on ESPN-Soccer. They reported the score 3-1 English win but when you look into the box score. It shows only one goal? Whats Up? Thanks Two weeks and counting I can’t wait
Dooop23 – England only got a foothold in this game once the French were depleted mate. Before that, they dominated. It was like watching Arsenal vs Stoke. One team trying to play with quick interchange passing and movement and the other relying solely on pace and power and the hope of nicking a goal on the odd set-piece. I agree with you on one thing though, France’s final ball and finishing was poor (very much like Arsenal’s) which is the reason they were punished in the end.
So they weren’t more imaginative then because they created little in the final third. Quick interchange passing is all well and good if it’s not in the final third against a team with no width but it’s nothing impressive at all.
Comparing it to Stoke?Arsenal is a complete exaggeration.
I’m not saying England were excellent because the first 30 mins of the first half they were dreadful. After that though they gave France problems and it wasn’t about hoping for set pieces. The Drinkwater/Welbeck move was by far better than anything France did bar their goal.
France started well again in the second half but they were also very physical and fouling continuously. Then England started to play alot better AND were creating chances (Which France were not doing ALL game). Then the French started losing players.
England got their foot in the game towards the end of the first half and about 10 mins into the second half.
We are probably not going to agree but I think this England team is getting too much stick and it’s not their fault.
Considering the coach in tactically inept and makes poor decisions and messed up in picking his squad. Also about 10 players were not released by their clubs. What other country would have to put up with that?
No wingers bar Townsend. It’s very easy for teams like the French because we are too predictable because of a lack of width. They just press our midfielders and smother them.
Murphy and Delfouneso can give their all but they aren’t able to do the roles properly. Look at what happened when Delfouneso played his proper role.
Also lack of centre backs.
So comparing this team to Stoke is very, very harsh!
I’m not comparing the team or players to Stoke mate. It certainly is not their fault either. I’m comparing Eastick’s tactics to Tony Pulis’. Completely boring and what some may call ‘anti-football’. There’s a fair few English managers who are exactly like this, Phil Brown and Sam Allardyce to name but two. The Stoke vs Arsenal comparison i made because i’m trying to say one team played the better/more attractive football for the majority of the game only to still lose the match.
The Drinkwater/Welbeck move i remember quite well and that was the only move that actually cut through the French defence while it was still 11 vs 11 and was definitely not better than any move France put together like you state. France had quite a few moves that actually opened up the England defence only for good recovery tackles being made to deny a goal or France to flop the move with a poor final pass or finish.
I agree with you on the poor selection of players and the lack of out and out wingers. Who are the 10 players that weren’t released by their clubs though? I didn’t know that.
You’re right, we will not agree on this so let’s just agree to disagree. I find it petty arguing over which set of kids played better anyway. Still, i respect your opinion and everyone is entitled to their own.
LOL Honestly France didn’t create anything of great note. They weren’t recovery tackles but basic ones and this is with a very makeshift defence.
This team has played good football even with Eastick but they were at times forced to play long balls because of a lack of options on the wings and alot of hard graft pressing from France.
It’s actually 12 players that were unavailable or not let go by their clubs.
Moses (Palace) Kelly (Liverpool) Rose (Spurs) Parrett (Spurs) Baker (Villa) Amos (Man Utd) all pulled out but I’m not certain which were injured or not allowed to go by their clubs.
Moses has been playing for Palace so he’s one.
I’ve not looked into detail about the others.
The rumour was Eastick wanted Wilshere so he might be one too.
Below are quotes from the FA site about it –
———————————————————–
Each country in the finals submitted a list of 30 players to UEFA for the tournament, with a final squad of 18 making the trip to Ukraine, but England have had their selections hampered with 12 of that initial list made unavailable.
Whilst some of them were injured, the majority have not been allowed by their clubs to take part in a tournament which Eastick feels would’ve been a tremendous experience and benefit for any young player.
“It’s a great achievement so far and it is for any team to reach a semi-final of a major international competition like this,” he said.
“That’s great credit to all of the players involved here and we now go onto the next stage where the bar will be raised again.
“I have to say I’m disappointed that many of the players which we put on our list of 30 have been denied the opportunity to experience it by their clubs, because a few injuries meant that several of them would have been able to do so and that playing in top level competitive games can only help in a player’s overall development rather than pre-season friendly games.”
England have been hardest hit in defence with Matthew Briggs and Kyle Walker, both full-backs, having had to play in central defence in the three games so far.
With injury also keeping Joe Mattock out of Monday’s game and midfield duo Danny Drinkwater and Matthew James absent, it meant that the Young Lions were down to the bare bones for the game.
“We named four central defenders in our list of 30, but none of them could come with us, which has left us in the situation we’re now in,” he added.
“It isn’t ideal, but I’ve been pleased with the way the players have responded and we’re now looking forward to the semi-final and we’ll see if a few of the injuries can clear up for the game.”
They’re obviously gonna play good football at times cos they have players like Lansbury, Welbeck, Delfouneso, Murphy, Gosling, Drinkwater, James and the likes there who can all play.
I don’t know if this pillock Eastick wanted Bartley or Ayling to go along to this tournament or not but i have no sympathy for him having to play two full-backs at centre half. It’s his own doing. He probably wanted Spence there but was rejected by West Ham. A lot of the players he has picked is quite baffling to me. They don’t seem to like the Arsenal boys at the F.A for some reason.
Pingback: Top Posts « WordPress.com
J, what has happened to kerrea gilbert?? where is he?? has he returned from leicester??do u think he will ever make it at arsenal??
I agree Eastick is a clown and he did mess the squad up anyway.
But it’s still a disgrace that those certain players were not allowed to go.
This team actually has some very talented players but an inept coach and a footballing system that refuses to let players go.
That is sad but has been happening for years and will continue o happen sadly.
Pearce took Tomkins, Rose and Rodwell with the U21’s and didn’t play them much at all. They can still play at this level so it shows it’s a strong age group.
Sorry Tomkins isn’t eligible.
But still Rodwell is one of the better players in this group so it was sad to see him hardly used with the U21’s and then miss out on this tournament.
Now I can definitely agree with that. England have some great youngsters coming through. About bloody time too.
with 12 players unavailable, Eastick clearly doesn’t like Jay Thomas. Ok the player can be lazy at times but come on, he scored bags of oals last season, was very often the best player on the pitch. He will always be a danger for the other team. Eastick is a joke
Eastick’s clearly stupid Sharpovic. I agree 100% with what you say. JET has the ability to win a match with a bit of brilliance.
Sankar – I believe Gilbert is gonna sign for Leyton Orient. I’m not 100% on that but i know he played in their 6-1 drubbing of Newcastle and apparently impressed.
We don’t hear much about the wonders of Claifontain these days. i wonder why? lol
What a cool young guns site…… I like the one that Stephen Dent created. It’s a gun site for the ages.