Confident France rout Russia

By Margus Luik at Municipal stadium

The 2003 UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship winners France made a confident and emphatic start to the 2005 edition in Hungary, running out 4-0 Group B winners against Russia in sunny Andrashida.

Starlets shine
Three of coach Stéphane Pilard's starting XI featured at UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2005™ and each of them played a part tonight. Forwards Louisa Necib and Elodie Thomis - a survivor from the side which triumphed in Leipzig - both found the net in the first half along with Julie Peruzzetto, while Sarah Bouhaddi proved impenetrable in goal. Substitute Marie-Pierre Castera completed the scoring in added time.

Necib drive
Necib enhanced her status as one of France's rising stars for the senior side in England, and was making an impression as early as the second minute here when rattling a shot off the crossbar. Two minutes later she forced Russian goalkeeper Elvira Todua into action from distance. Those efforts were indicative of the early French pressure, their dominance forcing Russia to solely rely on the skills of Elena Danilova - a tactic which did not pay dividends.

Powerful opener
Les Bleuettes broke the deadlock in the 24th minute when Thomis slipped a pass into the path of the on-rushing Peruzzetto whose powerful left-footed shot left Todua powerless. Nine minutes later the French won a free-kick just outside the penalty area and playmaker Necib's curling shot took a deflection off the wall, wrong-footing Todua who was powerless to prevent the ball rolling over her line.

Thomis strikes
Another nine minutes had passed when Todua was forced to pick the ball out of the net for a third time, Thomis nipping in ahead of the Russia No1 before rolling into an empty net. A commanding French advantage coupled with the heat in Andrashida combined to reduce the pace of the game after the break, although the quality of play remained high.

Busy Todua
France retained the initiative and Todua was kept busy, particularly in the 73rd minute when two great saves repelled Peruzzetto's drive and Lorene Duclaud's clever cross. Bouhaddi was also at her best at the other end in the final ten minutes, saving a powerful shot from Victoria Afanasova and tipping Oxana Titova's long-range effort over the crossbar.

Final say
Fittingly, it was France who had the final say as Todua missed a cross from the right and Castera was able to stroke the ball in. Russia are now in need of points on Friday when they face an England side that overcame Scotland 3-1, while France face the other British challengers.