Stage set for final to remember

By Kevin Ashby in Heviz

Having contested the opening match of the fourth UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship, Russia and France will bring the competition to a close in Zalaegerszeg this evening as they vie for the continental crown.

Early control
It is eleven days since France wrested early control of Group B by putting four goals without reply past the disillusioned Russians, going on to win the pool with relative ease before seeing off Finland 1-0 in a one-side semi-final. Since that crushing loss in Andrashida, Russia have gone from strength to strength, overcoming England and Scotland before settling an old score with Germany by defeating them 3-1 in a last-four encounter which enthralled to the last.

Analysis
The Russians can take heart from Spain in 2004: the Iberians were humbled 7-0 by Germany in the group stage yet recovered to pull off a shock 2-1 success in the final. "We have analysed the game we lost to France and obviously we will try to show our best in the final rather than playing like we did against them before," said Russia coach Valentin Grishin.

'Too excited'
"The most important thing after that game was to calm the players down because they were too excited before the game. That excitement turned into nerves and that's why we started so poorly. We found a new strength leading up to the Germany game and you could see we were a different team," Grishin added.

Tactical switch
Victoria Afanasova played up front alongside Elena Danilova against France but Russia have profited enormously from a change in tactics which has seen Afanasova drop back into midfield and Elena Terekhova playing in a more advanced role. The tricky No7 excelled against Germany, while Elena Morozova and Olga Petrova were industrious and inventive out wide, laying on three goals for Elena Danilova in the semis.

Leading scorer
The striker also scored a hat-trick against Scotland and two goals against England and will be collecting the top scorer award before the medal ceremony. Whether she subsequently collects a winners' medal remains to be seen, however, as France have consistently been the most impressive team in Hungary. Stéphane Pilard is unbeaten since replacing Bruno Bini as coach and is confident of adding another victory to the 14 France have recorded this season.

Attractive football
"I'm very proud of my team," he said. "I read a story about Rinus Michels in a UEFA magazine and he said with the Netherlands he was in the right place at the right time with the right players and I feel the same way." Like the Dutch masters of old, France play attractive football on the ground, with Louisa Necib dictating things from the centre of the field.

Wing confrontation
Russia attempted to man-mark the No10 in their opening defeat and it will be interesting to see whether they adopt the same tactic. Captain Ksenia Tsybutovich seems certain to continue as sweeper in a 4-3-1-2 formation, with France continuing with 4-4-2. The key to victory could lie out wide with Morozova and Petrova coming up against raiding full-backs in Laure Boulleau and skipper Sabrina Delannoy.

'Interesting final'
"Russia have some very good players and it should be an interesting final," Pilard said. "Danilova is able to score at any time and we know anything can happen in one game." France won this competition in 2003, while Russia are competing in a first youth final at any level since the break up of the Soviet Union.