Bini's Bleuettes fulfil promise
Monday 2 January 2006
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France coach Bruno Bini celebrates victory (uefa.com)
Holders Germany seemed favourites to retain the UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship as hosts for 2002/03, but a record 36 rivals stood in their way from the outset.
Eight advance
As in the men's youth events, the tournament was revamped into two preliminary rounds. The first qualifying round groups were won by Belgium, Finland, Switzerland, the Republic of Ireland, 2002 semi-finalists England, Scotland and Ukraine, with unbeaten Slovakia also progressing as best runners-up.
Spain through
Like in 2001/02, four group winners and three runners-up would now go through to the finals. Spain and England each took seven points from Group A1 to advance ahead of Ireland and Denmark. Sweden and France claimed seven and six points respectively in Group A2 to pip Switzerland and Finland.
Norwegian relief
In Group A3, Italy had the only perfect record, while the Dutch saw off Ukraine and Slovakia and, as with France, a positive goal difference proved vital as although Belgium took six points in Group A4 behind Norway, their record of two goals for and two against proved fatal to their chances.
Germany stunned
The finals draw pitted the Germans with England, Sweden and Italy in Group A and provided a memorable sequence of games. Fara Williams's last-gasp goal gave England an opening 2-1 win against Sweden, while Italy stunned Germany 2-0. Two days later Germany were out after losing 2-1 to Sweden thank to Nilla Fischer's added-time winner, while England advanced early by defeating Italy 3-1.
Penalties needed
Departing on a high, Germany crushed England 6-0, Shelly Thompson's four goals eventually leaving her as the tournament's top scorer. But the real drama was in Borna, where Sweden and Italy began dead level. Sweden trailed 1-0 at the break and held a 2-1 lead for mere seconds. Hodan Siid-Ahmed's 83rd-minute goal seemed to have won it only for Guilia Domenichetti to equalise deep into stoppage time. Regulations required a penalty shoot-out, and Sweden advanced comfortably, Siid-Ahmed scoring the clincher in a 4-1 win.
French survive
In Group B, the Netherlands overcame Spain 2-1 in the opener with a last-gasp Marjan Brouwer winner, as France drew 2-2 with Norway. The Dutch then fell 2-1 to the Norwegians as Spain beat France 3-2. Les Bleuettes ended by beating the Dutch 2-1, but looked like they were going out behind Spain before Guro Knutsen's 85th-minute goal gave Norway a 2-1 win and France second place.
Sweden denied
Sweden looked on their way to a semi-final victory with two first-half Fischer efforts against Norway, but goals from Stine Frantzen and, in added time, Tone Heimlund forced penalties, won 4-2 by the Norwegians. In the final they were to meet France, who beat England 2-0 with goals from Cécilia Josserand and Nonna Debonne.
Bini delight
Bruno Bini had coached France since the first U18 tournament in 1997/98, when they lost the final. Now his team were to go one better, as Amélie Coquet and Lilas Traïkia struck early in each half. A host of their squad were to go on to win senior honours.
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