Spain make flying start

Goals from Iago Falqué and Fran Mérida gave Spain a deserved victory in their opening Group A encounter with old rivals France.

Superior Spain
These teams have now met nine times in U17 and U16 final tournaments, and although France held the edge in recent encounters including the 2004 final, Spain were the superior outfit today in a well-attended fixture in Verviers. The three points will prove invaluable with Germany and Ukraine also involved in this tough group.

Bojan threat
Spain were missing the suspended Pichu and Nacho, but much of the pre-tournament talk had surrounded their striker Bojan Krkić, joint top scorer in last season's finals aged 15. Within a minute there was the first intake of breath that accompanied the speedy FC Barcelona forward's every attacking touch as he ran from halfway and forced France goalkeeper Joris Delle into a save. From the resulting corner Delle had to tip an Isma López header on to the bar and Spain tested the No1 several times early on.

Le Tallec header
However, Delle was totally deceived on 19 minutes by an effort from distance by Bojan's Barcelona colleague Falqué that sneaked inside the keeper's right-hand post. France had not been without their spells of possession, but their guile was not as dangerous as the pace of Bojan and Isma. Thibault Bourgeois was sent clear by Damien Le Tallec, but Spain goalkeeper David De Egea was equal to the shot. Le Tallec, brother of U21 international Anthony, also headed a Mathieu Saunier cross over just before the break.

Bourgeois denied
Les Mini-Bleus had ended the half strongly but within two minutes of the restart Bojan was causing havoc again, winning a free-kick on the edge of the area which he curled not far off target. Mérida struck a strong shot that Delle was relieved to see go wide. Henri Saivet proved a handful late on for France and Bourgeois broke through only to be denied by the legs of Yelco, who then caught Yann M'Vila's header.

Mérida clincher
But Spain counterattacked at pace, and substitute Daniel Aquino's clever ball left Mérida with only Delle to beat and. The Arsenal FC midfielder calmly slotted in to end French hopes of a point. They have another tough match on Friday against Germany in Eupen, after Spain take on Ukraine in Vise.