Substitute Pauline Bremer scored one and set up another as Germany edged past Denmark to set up a meeting with France in Friday's UEFA European Women's Under-17 Championship final.

An even encounter looked to be heading for penalties in Nyon when, nine minutes from time, Bremer was put through on the left of the area. She skilfully held off her marker and finished low across goalkeeper Maria Christensen and into the bottom corner. Denmark suddenly looked brittle at the back; Venus El-Kassem went close and Sara Däbritz hit the post before the latter, Germany's captain, converted an inviting Bremer cross three minutes into added time.

Victory ensures Anouschka Bernhard's charges a place not only in Friday's final against France, but also at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Azerbaijan in September. Yet for a long time an even game hung in the balance. The Denmark back line repelled countless deliveries into the box with real authority, while at the other end centre-backs Franziska Jaser and Lena Lückel were holding firm equally impressively for Germany.

The first genuine shot on goal did not arrive until midway through the first half when Janina Meissner side-stepped her marker in the middle and ran through on goal. Her stinging shot was straight at Chistensen, however, the goalkeeper gathering at the second attempt. Denmark responded well, with the impressive Maja Kildemoes given licence to bring the ball forward from the back.

Frederikke Thøgersen and Sarah Hansen tried gamely to pick the lock of the Germany defence but Jaser was there both times to calmly mop up. Kildemoes was an equally assured presence at the other end as she did enough to put off Manjou Wilde, whose shot went wide. On the stroke of half-time Meissner, too, wasted an opportunity after good work by Vivien Beil.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with staunch defending and combative midfield action from both sides. Däbritz released El-Kassemon and though the danger was once again snuffed out by the Danish defence, they ultimately had no answer after the 62nd-minute introduction of Bremer.