The 'Clasico' between France and Spain did not disappoint
Spain will play in the final of the Under-19 European Championship next Monday against Sweden, after defeating powerhouse France in a penalty shootout. Maximum equality, maximum fight, and maximum suffering summed up a semifinal in which Jorge Vilda's team gave it their all to be in the final. Spain, the reigning runner-up, had the opportunity to take revenge for last year's final loss against the Netherlands. Football often gives second chances and this time the work of the U-19 team will be rewarded with a double revenge, the one for last year's lost final and the one from 2012 against Sweden, in which they lost 1-0. The U-19 team will play their fifth final and will seek their second victory in the European Championship, following the one achieved in 2004 against Germany.
The top four teams on the continent fought tirelessly for the coveted spot in the final, in a tournament marked by the great equality between the four semifinalists, the four European teams that will compete in the Under-20 World Cup in Papua, Oceania next year. In the first semifinal, Sweden forced extra time with two minutes left and eventually won in a penalty shootout against Germany. The one between France and Spain followed the same path.
Once again, Spain managed to come back from a deficit. France took the lead in the 36th minute through their most dangerous and strongest attacking player, Léger, after an unstoppable left-footed shot, in a play where she showed great skill to get free. Spain corrected the mistake before halftime. It was Andrea Falcón who scored the equalizer from a pass by Spanish goal scorer, Alba Redondo.
In the second half, the match was marked by a fierce battle between both teams and Spain withstood the attacks of a France team that had reached the semifinals as the best of the four teams, with a perfect record and without conceding any goals. In the closing minutes, France pushed hard, but Spain held on and the match went into extra time. In extra time, Jorge Vilda's team continued to fight relentlessly. Perrault saved a shot from Alba Redondo and the post prevented France from scoring in a shot by Karchaoui in the last minute of the first half of extra time. In the second half, France and Spain had their big chances. But in the penalty shootout, the Spanish players did not miss. It was Léger who missed the final penalty kick from the spot.