Sports Blog 23/07/2018: UEFA European Under-19 Championship Preview – England vs France, Monday 23rd July 2018

Can England’s under-19s continue their European Championship title defence by beating France at 4.30pm on Sky Sports Football?

Guaranteed a place in the FIFA World Cup U20 play-offs – a competition in which England are also defending champions – Paul Simpson’s youngsters need a draw in Vaasa to ensure a place in the semi-finals.



So far their tournament has been solid enough, if featuring a few moments of panic. Things got off to a truly worrisome start in their opener against Turkey, England conceding a goal after just 2 minutes. However Tottenham defender Japhet Tanganga equalised 20 minutes later, with Nottingham Forest forward Benjamin Brereton – joint top scorer in 2017 – giving England the lead as the teams headed into the break. Sunderland’s Elliott Embleton then made it 3-1 soon after the interval, and though Turkey pulled one back a few moments later, the 2017 champs managed to hold on and pick up all 3 points.

They weren’t so fortunate in their 2nd game against Ukraine. Taking a leaf out of Turkey’s book, England took the lead early thanks to Middlesbrough’s Marcus Tavernier. Yet their Eastern European opponents equalised just before half time following a goal from Vladyslav Supriaha. And despite dominating in the 2nd half, England couldn’t break Ukraine down, leaving both sides on 4 points heading into the final group game.

As for France, their opening loss to Ukraine, all 3 points stolen by an 86th minute winner from Serhiy Buletsa, left them fired up for their 2nd game against Turkey. There Bernard Diomede’s side absolutely battered the now-eliminated Turks, with a brace from Lyon’s Amine Gouiri’s contributing to a rampant 5-0 victory. Still, that initial defeat leaves France needing a win to progress.

Gouiri goes into Monday’s fixture at a Super Mega PGM spread of 28-34, a price he shares with Lyon teammate Myziane Maolida. As for England, their best bet appears to be Brereton, at 21-26, with George Hirst also at that spread.

Simpson’s kids may struggle if the French carry over their form from the Turkey game, with Spreadex offering a France/England Goal Supremacy spread of 0.2-0.4 alongside a Total Goals spread pf 2.85-3.05.