France go on despite Swiss effort

France are through to the UEFA European Under-17 Championship semi-finals after coming from behind to beat Switzerland 3-1 and secure second place in Group A.

Guy Ferrier, without three suspended players, admitted that he did not know "how the players will recover" after Friday's win against Portugal; and considering the scorching temperatures at the Sportpark Eschen-Mauren, it was little wonder to see his side emerge slowly from the traps.

Indeed, Aleksandar Zarkovic gave Switzerland a first-half lead, but France were a different proposition after the break. Yaya Sanogo struck twice in quick time and Anthony Koura added the gloss to a result which ensures France progress as runners-up behind Spain, who ended Portugal's chances with a 2-0 win in Vaduz, and play England in the last four on Thursday.

Despite losing their first two games, Switzerland's endeavour caught the eye early, though how they would succeed in passing a route to Maxime Dupé's goal was less clear. After 29 minutes of frustration, all was revealed. A series of attempted set-piece crosses had proven fruitless so Zarkovic went direct and crashed in a shot from 25 metres that went spinning past Dupé via a hefty deflection off the French wall.

Leading at the break, Swiss hopes of an unlikely progression were quashed seven minutes into the second half. It took France just three to equalise in a manner every bit as direct as Switzerland's opener, Paul Pogba's quick free-kick catching their defence napping and allowing Sanogo to race clear and finish with aplomb.

The AJ Auxerre striker showed considerable poise to beat Yanick Brecher on that occasion but surpassed himself just four minutes later, using his languid style to dance through before opening up his body and curling into the bottom corner.

The final nail in the coffin came with 16 minutes remaining, Koura wriggling clear inside the penalty area and unleashing a wicked shot which whistled past Brecher and cemented France's place in the last four, leaving Switzerland at the bottom of the section.