France sweat their way to glory

Substitute Alexandre Lacazette lashed home a long-range shot in the final minute to earn France an opening-day victory against Republic of Ireland in Group A.

Tough going
Temperatures of around 35C in Antalya made the going tough for both sides on the opening day of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Antalya, Turkey, but it was France who found the extra piece of class to win the game late on. Paul Murphy had earlier opened the scoring for the Irish but Yannis Tafer's effort after 65 minutes restored parity before Lacazette's late winner.

Good defending
Robert Brady and Aaron Doran on the Irish flanks offered some early threats to the France defence but Francis Smerecki's charges responded in kind as the first half ticked on. However, Clément Grenier, Enzo Reale and Gilles Sunu all found the Irish defence hard to unpick, with Mark Connolly in particular giving the small band of Irish supporters a display of his potential.

Opening goal
Having soaked up that pressure, the Irish took the lead 37 mninutes into the first 40-minute period. Gregory Cunningham gathered the ball on the left and crossed for Murphy in the penalty effort with his fierce effort giving Anthony Mfa Mezui in the France goal no chance. However, France had a chance to level before the break with Gerard Hanley saving captain Gueida Fofana's shot.

Pressure mounting
France emerged revived after the interval, and Thimothée Kolodziecziak shot narrowly wide before Sunu tested Hanley in the Irish goal again. With the pressure mounting, and Gaël Kakuta marshalling the French offensive, Tafer dribbled through the Irish defence to level the scored after 65 minutes, before Lacazette – who had come on for Sunu – settled matters at the death.