France
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Article summary
World champions France are in the finals for the fifth time and hoping to go one better than their three runners-up finishes.
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Runners-up in 2008, 2011 and 2012, France missed out only twice on the previous four-team UEFA European Women's Under-17 Championship. In 2012 they atoned for their third final reverse against Germany by going on to lift the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Azerbaijan.
Former men's youth national coach Guy Ferrier took over the reins from Paco Rubio in 2012, masterminding the World Cup victory and leading France to this season's European finals in England. In the elite round in Northern Ireland they made light work of holders Poland 3-0 before beating the home side 2-0 and 2013 runners-up Sweden 1-0.
Qualifying round: Bye
Elite round: Poland 3-0, Northern Ireland 2-0, Sweden 1-0 (Group 4 winners)
Key players
Delphine Cascarino (midfielder, Olympique Lyonnais), Estelle Cascarino (defender, Olympique Lyonnais)
Coach profile: Guy Ferrier
Date of Birth: 6 December 1951
Playing career: FC Orléans, RC Paris, Arago Orléans, USM Malakoff Coaching career: France U16/U17/U19, France women's U16/U17
Ferrier split his player career between Paris, his native city, and Orleans, where he was a professional midfielder for the local second division club. He ended his career in 1981 after three seasons as a player-coach at Orléans.
A former youth international, Ferrier joined the French Football Federation (FFF) staff in 1981 as technical adviser in the Orleans area. He remained for 21 years before joining the national youth team staff in 2002 and became a national coach in 2005.
Switching in 2012 to the women's squads, he won the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Azerbaijan. In 2013 he qualified for his first European finals at this level at the second attempt.
Qualifying top scorer
Mathilde Jouanno: 2
UEFA European Women's Under-17 Championship best
Runners-up: 2008, 2011, 2012
Honours in UEFA women's youth competitions
UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship
Winners: 2003, 2010
Runners-up: 2002, 2005, 2006
UEFA European Women's Under-18 Championship
Runners-up: 1998
Other honours
FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup
Winners: 2012