Coaches predict close contest

By Andrew Haslam in Belfast

England coach Martin Hunter and his French counterpart Jean Gallice are predicting a closely-fought contest as they prepare their teams for the final of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship, which takes place at Windsor Park on Friday evening.

First meeting
The sides also contested the first match of the tournament, a 1-1 draw in which Matthew Fryatt gave England an early advantage before Abdoulaye Balde responded for France. Tomorrow night's game promises to be another tight affair, and both coaches are relishing the prospect.

'Heavyweight contest'
"It's a heavyweight contest," Hunter said. "A game against France is always difficult, they're technically gifted and athletic. We've played them twice this season so we know a lot about each other. It'll be the best team on the night and it'll be a very tight game, but very open at times and with chances at both ends."

One-off encounter
England defeated France 1-0 in a friendly in Barnsley last November, but their coach does not think that gives his side any advantage, adding: "This is a one-off game. Players from both teams will be nervous to start with and the best team on the night will win. I'm sure they're confident as well, but we believe we have the ability in this squad to win."

Gallice expectations
Gallice is equally optimistic, saying: "At the end of the first match, we thought this would be the final. That first match was the opening game of the tournament, so we had to find our feet. The players' preparations were short so we had worries about the physical condition of our team and that had an impact, while a very strong wind made life difficult. Tomorrow, should conditions allow, I think it will be much better to watch, and it's a great chance to show that U19 football is on a par with the professional game."

Full strength
The coaches made a point of praising their receptions in Northern Ireland and the excellence of the hotel and training facilities. Both are likely to have full squads available, although Mark Noble was taken off at half-time in England's impressive 3-1 semi-final victory against Serbia and Montenegro with a back spasm while Andrew Taylor has been carrying a leg injury.

U18 success
Neither has won the competition before, with France winning the European U18 Championship four times, the last in 2000, while England last triumphed in 1993 with a team including future senior internationals Gary Neville, Sol Campbell, Paul Scholes and Robbie Fowler. Hunter therefore has one eye on the progression of his players, as he explained.

Senior chance
"When you look at the strength in both squads, they'll be players who go onwards and upwards from here," he said. "For player development, these tournaments are absolutely vital. It's not like playing in the French or English leagues, there's a different mentality and both sides have got players who will go on to the U21 side and maybe further. That's another massive bonus which is not to be underestimated. The final is in our thoughts now but the future is massively important for both countries."

Player evolution
Gallice, who will take charge of the side for the last time, echoed those sentiments, saying: "This generation is full of players with strong character and moral and physical qualities, which is very important. Part of life is that players have to evolve and leave the team. We are here to help them as much as possible, but the idea is that they go further and play at a higher level."