Germany savour more success

Germany made it a hat-trick of titles at this level after coming from behind to defeat France 3-1 in the UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship final in Helsingborg, Sweden.

Worthy winners
The Germans had won the two previous UEFA European Women's Under-18 Championships (the former name of this inaugural tournament) and were also worthy of this crown after winning all five of their matches. Coach Silvia Neid was "ashamed" of Germany's 1-0 semi-final victory over England but was in ebullient mood after first-half goals from Isabelle Bachor, Barbara Müller and one after the break from the outstanding Viola Odebrecht cancelled out Sandrine Rouquet's sublime opening goal.

'Very disciplined'
"Germany were the better team today and we deserved to win the game and the European Championship," Neid said. "We were very disciplined, especially in defence. Our passing combinations were excellent, particularly after we had gone 2-1 in front. We were sleepy in the opening ten minutes and it took France's goal to wake us up." Neid's opposite number, France coach Bruno Bini, added: "In Europe we play and play and play and in the end Germany win. The best team won."

Similar pattern
The match was a repeat of the opening game of the tournament ten days ago, which Germany won 3-2, and this game followed a similar pattern. France dominated from the off, no doubt buoyed by an excellent showing in Friday's semi-final when they accounted for Group B winners Denmark 1-0 in Landskrona. Bini stuck with the 3-4-3 system which was so effective against Spain and it was one of his striking triumvirate who found the opening goal in the ninth minute.

Wonderful opener
France won a free-kick 25 metres from goal after a German defender brought down Claire Morel following a long goal-kick from Geraldine Marty. Rouquet, who started the competition as captain but was relegated to the bench at the start of the Spain game, stepped up and curled a quite wonderful dead-ball high over the head of Elling and into the roof of her net.

Best spell
The leaders enjoyed their best spell of the game after Rouquet's opener and Germany's equalising goal in the 33rd minute came both against the run of play and as something of a killer blow to their hopes of success. A superb flicked header from influential right winger Annelie Brendel landed at the feet of Müller who showed tremendous power to shrug off the attentions of Meilleroux before squaring to Bachor who tapped the ball into an empty net.

Missed penalty
Two minutes later Müller, who struck a fine hat-trick in the earlier victory against France, was presented with an excellent chance to join Morel at the summit of the goalscoring charts after she was blocked by Ophélie Meilleroux in the box for a penalty. The chance went begging in poor fashion, however, as Müller dragged a weak spot-kick two metres wide of the post.

Müller on target
Despite admitting that she nearly "had a heart attack" when watching the penalty miss, Neid revealed that her faith in Müller never waned and it was rewarded in the 43rd minute when the forward atoned for her miss by rifling in Germany's second goal after strike partner Anja Mittag had rolled the ball into her path.

Player of the match
France struggled to find a way back into the game after the break with Germany's outstanding central midfield player Odebrecht, later voted player of the match by UEFA's Technical Support Group, playing a crucial role in snuffing out French hopes of playing the ball through the centre of the park. Odebrecht capped another memorable display with a clinching third goal in the 70th minute, beating Marty with a low effort after a fine ball from Brendel.

Lessons learned
Neid heralded the display of her players after they had improved by "three classes" their showing against England. "We used soft words not hard words to inspire the team as they are intelligent players," Neid added. "I told my players at half-time that Germany were 2-0 up against Sweden in the [FIFA Women's] World Cup in 1995 and lost 3-2 and they listened well."

World Cup warning
Germany may well be preparing to fly the flag for UEFA at the FIFA Women's Under-19 World Cup in the summer as champions of Europe, but France will also be among the teams to beat in Canada after an excellent display in Sweden. Coach Bini said he was "disappointed but not sad" at the result, while lamenting his side's inability to break down the Germans. "I have learned a lesson that you cannot play on the floor against Germany," he said. "You have to play the long ball game otherwise you are dead." The rest of the world has been warned.