Penalty Heartache For Young Lionesses

   It was heartache for the England Women's U17's in the end as they lost their 3rd place play off match against Italy at Burton Albion.
   Having followed the women's U17 team all through the tournament it was only right I travel back over to Burton Albion for the 3rd time in 6 days to see if they could win their 3rd place play off game with Italy. Now this journey went alot more smoothly than the previous 2 as myself and the sat nav found away to go round Nottingham instead of through it. As I mentioned in my previous post there was still alot to play for the winner claiming a place at next years World Cup, to reach the last 4 in a major tournament is no small achievement in itself.
   At Telford in the opening game England had worked hard and were unlucky to concede defeat to Italy being 2 pretty evenly matched sides Italy's style of play suited England meant it would be a strongly fought contest with not many goals in it. Thus it turned out as the game ebbed and flowed from one end to the other without a great deal of clear chances being created. Italy were able to get more bodies in and around the box and for much of the 1st half striker Chloe Kelly was an isolated figure up front.
   1st half ending 0-0 England made a change bringing on Evie Clarke for Atlanta Primus which allowed Lucy Porter to better support Chloe Kelly England had a dominant spell and did score but much to the crowds dismay the flag was raised and it was ruled out. As the half wore on the team's were getting nervous not wanting to commit too many forward for fear of conceding so it ended 0-0 and went straight to penalties. I hate penalties.
    What do you do it is a lottery England had 2 saved as Italy took a 3-1 advantage, England pulled it back to 3-3 as Kirstie Levell saved 1 but Italy needed to score 1 more to claim victory and they did to leave England heartbroken. Congratulations to Italy who join the finalists Germany and Spain at next years World Cup.
    Below is a small tribute to our England U17's of whom I'm sure we will be hearing alot about in the future...

 
  There was was further penalty heartache in the Final itself later that day as England's opponent at Thursday's semi-final were beaten by Germany in another shoot out. This one somewhat harsher than England's defeat as Spain had dominated the final for 75mins taking the lead early on and creating a few clear cut chances to bury the game. They didn't however and the German's hung in there a shot turning into a cross as the player slipped was slotted home with minutes to spare and leave Spain rattled. Very tough on the Spainards they have played some great football and will be a serious contender come the World Cup and perhaps Spain will soon become a more serious force at senior level they certainly will if their youth players are anything to go by but then so will many of the other nations who took part in this tournament. That being said Germany are the champions I congratulate them.
    This has been a great tournament a good showcase of female footballing talent from all the nations I have seen play and so I have been told aswell about the teams I didn't see play. The skill level has been of a high standard the team work first rate and the experience I'm sure of huge benefit to all the players going forwards in their careers a young group who I will follow with interest.

England U17's lose semi final

As the storm built up along the east coast I headed out of Norfolk and back to Burton Albion's Pirelli stadium the venue just three days earlier to England Women's U17 strong 6-1 over Portugal to see them take on Spain in the UEFA U17's Championship semi-final. Having racked up a 4-0 win over Germany in their final group game both teams would have been high of confidence going into the game.
  It was Spain who started the stronger spreading the ball about the pitch quickly and driving at England's centre backs Captain Leah Williamson was called into action several times the clear the lines Spain struck the cross bar from a corner and England couldn't get an attack going space was available on the flanks and left back Jemma Purfield did her best to support Atlanta Primus. It was Spain though that took the lead a cross from the right and Andrea Sanchez was on hand to make it 1-0 and capitalise on Spain's early dominance. 4 minutes later the England post was rattled again.
  England got more pocession as the half wore on creating chances as Spain sat back a little Williamson with the best as she tried to control an Primus free kick floated into the box. At the break it was 1-0 to Spain.
   England needed a strong start to the 2nd half however it was Spain who had the ball on the roof of the net. England with a driving run then shot straight at the keeper Spain broke quickly and as the ball was cleared out of England's box it came to Maria del Pilar Garrote who rifled her shot towards goal Kirstie Levell dived but only in dispair as the ball went past her and Spain took control going 2-0 ahead.
   England needed a goal badly and Ellie Wilkinson was brought on, Leah Williamson was pushed into midfield with Rebacca Lloyd moving into the back line which caused a little communication problem as Spain drove into the box and almost scored Levell gathering at the players feet. England couldn't get an attack going Williamson was magnicient as she tried to make thing's happen and with England pushing on Spain could take advantage of the space left behind on 79 mins Sanchez scored her 2nd of the game and it was all over Spain the deserved winners were through to Sunday's final and having already beaten Germany who won the early semi final 1-0 over Italy they will I think be strong favourites.
   As for England it is a blow they will be hugely disappointed however they have to pick themselves up still alot to play for on Sunday they go into a 3rd place play off with Italy at Burton again (I'm not looking forwards to that journey mind) as the winner will join the 2 finalists at the next World Cup and having seen England lose narrowly to Italy in the 1st group game there is no doubt they can achieve this and will be there cheering them on...

UEFA Women's U17 Championship - England progress

   Last Tuesday saw the start of UEFA's Women's U17 Championships which saw England in competition with 7 other qualifying nations. Having enjoyed watching a few of the Women's U19 Euro matches in the summer I really wanted to go see what the next age group coming through had to offer so booked the tickets to go and see all of England's group matches.
   The 4 venues chosen to host these Championship matches were, Chesterfield FC, Burton Albion, Hinckley & AFC Telford. The 8 participating nations were drawn into 2 groups of 4 with the top 2 in each progressing through to the semi-final stage. England were drawn in Group A along side Italy, Austria & Portugal. Group B was made up of Germany, France, Spain & Scotland.
   
 England's 1st game was against Italy on 26th Nov at AFC Telford taking the day off work for a 12:30 kick off AFC Telford is a nice modern stadium with one large stand running the length of the pitch, terracing either end packed with school children and the England band in town it was a great atmosphere the kids loving it making plenty of noise as the two teams put on a very good display of flowing high tempo football that was end to end (very un-Italian like) without really creating any clear cut chances on goal in fact it was the defenders who stood out the most England Captain Leah Williamson and her defensive partner Gabriel George played very well the game was heading for a 0-0 probably a fair result too however football's not always fair and Italy were making some good runs into the box late on 1 shot took a deflection and Italy claimed the win with just minutes to play. Austria and Portugal played out a 0-0 which was as far as England were concerned a great result.
In Group B Germany won despite a strong Scotland fightback 4-2 with Spain beating France 2-0.

   Onto Friday 29th Nov and group game no 2 this time a 7:00 kick off at Chesterfield's Proact Stadium a new built stadium and very impressive. England's opponents Austria, after an opening day defeat England really needed a win. A Friday night with no school parties to attend the crowd was never the less in excess of 2000 turned out along with the band to watch the same England side that had started against Italy struggle early on to cope with Austria's flank players driving into the box and it was from one of these Austria scored the opening goal. England needed a response Ashleigh Plumptre coming in from the left was causing Austria problems and it was she who scored the equaliser to make it 1-1 at the break.
      The 2nd half was totally different England came out the stronger were the ones asking Austria questions and it was Lucy Porter whom had just come on who tucked the ball home from an inch perfect cross from midfielder Keira Walsh from the edge of the box and England won 2-1. Italy clinched their place in the semi's beating Portugal 2-0. In Group B Scotland kept their hopes of qualifying alive with a 0-0 draw with Spain whilst Germany beat France 4-0 to reach the semi's themselves.

   Now onto today Monday 2nd December and the final round of group matches. Up against Portugal a 12:30 kick off at Burton Albion the most straight forwards of my 3 journeys so far so you would think it was a total nightmare hold ups everywhere and the less said about road 'improvements' in Nottingham the better still got there just in time loads of kids again and the band they really know how to get a crowd going, so long as you're not sitting next to the drummer. A draw would see England progress to the semi's however a Portugal win would see them qualify at our expense so what England really needed was an early goal and on 11 mins midfielder Mollie Rouse rifled a shot into the back of the net England were dominant with Atlanta Primus (daughter of ex premier league footballer Linvoy Primus) making her 1st start in the tournament on the left England were dominant a 2nd goal was scored through no 7 Evie Clarke then a 3rd minutes later this time headed in by Atlanta Primus. On the stroke of half time Portugal pulled a goal back to give them hope through Carolina Ferreira. The 2nd half however was again dominated by England, Portugal could not cope with their strength and movement and the 4th goal was scored by striker Chloe Kelly. The Portuguese keeper Catarina Barradas brought down an England player in the box and was sent off on 50 mins her replacement unable to save the penalty taken by England's right back Alice Hassall. The final goal England's 6th was headed in from a corner by Lucy Porter and England reached the semi finals in emphatic fashion with what will be huge confidence and belief. In the other match Austria got a 1-0 over Italy and finish 3rd in the group. In Group B Scotland needed a win coupled with a Spanish defeat to go through sadly they were beaten 1-0 by France, whilst Spain stole top spot in the group from Germany by beating them 4-0.
    Thus the semi-final line up will be Italy v Germany & Spain v England two fascinating matches the final will be a hard one to call I'm certainly not going to do so. I have been very impressed with the standard of football on display it has been a very good advert for the women's game especially for the young children who have attended the games the venues have been very good and the attendences for the games I've been to excellent. Roll on the semi-finals..