Dominant Germany overpower France

Germany secured a place in the UEFA European Women's Under-17 Championship semi-finals by overwhelming France 4-0 in Group B.

There was an air of inevitability about the result in Telford from the moment Jasmin Sehan registered her fourth goal of the tournament, and even more so following Nina Ehegötz's exquisite finish. Ricarda Walkling and Michaela Specht then weighed in with second-half strikes. Germany's progression was assured when Scotland drew with Spain, a result that also confirmed France's elimination.

Turning defence into attack with clinical efficiency, Germany landed the first blow just four minutes in. Bursting into the area having outstripped her marker wide on the right, Ehegötz swept into the path of Sehan, whose firm right-footed strike punctured the fingertips of Elisa Launay and looped over the line. A more direct route to goal almost yielded a second moments later as Specht sent a header tricking across the goalmouth from Leonie Stenzel's teasing corner.

So steely and determined, Anouschka Bernhard's side looked in little danger of conceding until Vivien Brandt gifted the ball to Anissa Lahmari on the penalty spot. The Germany No1 immediately atoned for the error, springing low to her left to repel Lahmari's placed finish. Les Bleuettes would soon pay a high price as Ehegötz snaffled Launay's errant clearance and superbly lifted the ball over the scrambling keeper from 25 metres.

A goal of brilliance in creation and execution made France's task mountainous two minutes after the interval, Sehan's shrewd through ball dissecting their back line and allowing Walkling to run through and score. Sehan then rattled the woodwork from another Ehegötz cross as Germany sought to deepen French wounds. Specht made no mistake with ten minutes remaining, though, sweetly caressing the ball into the corner from 20 metres.