abby
A 1-1 draw this afternoon against France and Russia's 5-0 victory against Scotland mean that England failed to qualify for the U19 European Championship semi-finals.
However, Mo Marley's squad now face a 5/6th place play-off in Buk on Wednesday evening, with the winners earning the final European qualifying spot for next year's World U20 Championship.
France needed just a point against England to win Group B, as they had maximum points from their first two games, whilst England and Russia had three points each prior to the final group fixtures.
England started this afternoon's game against their Gallic rivals in the best possible way when England's 18 year old strike prodigy Eniola Aluko opened the scoring after six minutes, cementing her place at the top of the tournament goalscoring chart.
With 25 minutes remaining, and Karen Carney tiring, Dunia Susi came on, bringing some fresh legs to continue the Three Lions' goal threat, but with just 17 minutes left, the French equalised.
Everton's Chantelle Parry came off the bench to replace Dani Bird but despite throwing everything at the French rearguard, England couldn't make the breakthrough they needed.
With Russia already having already qualified for the World U20 Women's Championship as hosts, should they have finished in the top two in their group, a play off between the third-placed teams in each section would decide Europe's fifth qualifier for the FIFA event.
This now pits England against either hosts Hungary or Switzerland, both of whom are pointless after two defeats each against fellow Group A opponents Finland and Germany, and who play each other later this evening.
TheFA.com will bring you a more detailed match report and post-match reaction tomorrow morning.
England's starting eleven for this afternoon's game was:
Danielle Hill, Stephanie Houghton, Fern Whelan, Michelle Evans, Katie Holtham (capt), Amy Kane, Alex Scott, Karen Carney (Dunia Susi - 66mins) , Danielle Bird (Chantelle Parry - 83mins), Eniola Aluko, Lianne Sanderson
http://www.thefa.com/Womens/EnglandYouth..._stirs_itup.htm
However, Mo Marley's squad now face a 5/6th place play-off in Buk on Wednesday evening, with the winners earning the final European qualifying spot for next year's World U20 Championship.
France needed just a point against England to win Group B, as they had maximum points from their first two games, whilst England and Russia had three points each prior to the final group fixtures.
England started this afternoon's game against their Gallic rivals in the best possible way when England's 18 year old strike prodigy Eniola Aluko opened the scoring after six minutes, cementing her place at the top of the tournament goalscoring chart.
With 25 minutes remaining, and Karen Carney tiring, Dunia Susi came on, bringing some fresh legs to continue the Three Lions' goal threat, but with just 17 minutes left, the French equalised.
Everton's Chantelle Parry came off the bench to replace Dani Bird but despite throwing everything at the French rearguard, England couldn't make the breakthrough they needed.
With Russia already having already qualified for the World U20 Women's Championship as hosts, should they have finished in the top two in their group, a play off between the third-placed teams in each section would decide Europe's fifth qualifier for the FIFA event.
This now pits England against either hosts Hungary or Switzerland, both of whom are pointless after two defeats each against fellow Group A opponents Finland and Germany, and who play each other later this evening.
TheFA.com will bring you a more detailed match report and post-match reaction tomorrow morning.
England's starting eleven for this afternoon's game was:
Danielle Hill, Stephanie Houghton, Fern Whelan, Michelle Evans, Katie Holtham (capt), Amy Kane, Alex Scott, Karen Carney (Dunia Susi - 66mins) , Danielle Bird (Chantelle Parry - 83mins), Eniola Aluko, Lianne Sanderson
http://www.thefa.com/Womens/EnglandYouth..._stirs_itup.htm