England show champion form with France

Holders England and 2004 winners France had few problems advancing from UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualifying round Group 4.

Full results and standings

• France defeated FYR Macedonia with three goals in the last 18 minutes.
• England saw off hosts Cyprus on the opening day with a Layton Ndukwu hat-trick though they lost captain Reece Oxford to a late red card.

• Two days later Lukas Nmecha's 14th-minute strike was enough for England to beat FYR Macedonia.
• France ensured both their and England's progress, brushing aside Cyprus 4-0, Odsonne Edouard netting twice to add to his goal against FYR Macedonia.

• Cyprus bounced back from an early Milan Ristovski goal to win 2-1 against FYR Macedonia through Nikolas Matthaiou and Kostas Pileas.
• In an exciting match for first place, England overcame France 3-1.
• Christopher Willock, William Patching and Jay Dasilva – with a brilliant solo effort that began from the centre of the pitch – hit the target either side of an equally impressive goal from France substitute Yann Karamoh.

Reaction:
John Peacock, England manager
The objective was always to qualify which we did and, on top of that, to try and finish top of the group which they did [against France] and that's all credit to the players. I thought the boys had a very professional game.

I feel we are developing into a nation that knows how to win tournaments. Qualifying for the elite round was fundamental to that today and so we hope can keep progressing like we have done in the last few years.

We learned a lot from all the games. Getting off to the right start against Cyprus was very important. The second game was from our point of view a poor one – a bit of a spoiling game that none of us really liked but we got the result which was important.

We've had some very bright English players over the last several years. I think the clubs are doing some very good things with these players.

Jean-Claude Giuntini, France coach
I feel very sorry for the boys. They gave everything they could, especially in the second half. This is a high level and it's also a learning curve for them about how the score can be cruel, especially when you are punished for your mistakes. England scored from a free-kick and a corner. The game could have gone either way. Until England's third goal, I felt we dominated the second half.

Through to elite round
Group 1: Scotland, Republic of Ireland
Group 2: Poland, Georgia
Group 3: Italy, Iceland
Group 4: England (holders), France
Group 5: Sweden, Greece
Group 6: Portugal, Slovenia
Group 7: Croatia, Hungary
Group 8: Netherlands, Serbia
Group 9: Austria, Norway
Group 10: Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group 11: Spain, Slovakia
Group 12: Czech Republic, Romania
Group 13: Russia, Belarus
Bye: Germany
TBC: 5 best third-placed teams

Draw: 10.40CET, 3 December, involving 32 sides, of which 15 will join Bulgaria in the finals.