Grishin's girls strike gold

By Kevin Ashby in Zalaegerszeg

Valentin Grishin's skilful team have become the first Russian side to win a youth football event at any level after defeating France in the final of the UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship. The game finished level at 2-2 after 90 minutes, 120 minutes and ten penalties with Oxana Titova and Sarah Bouhaddi missing in the shoot-out to prompt sudden death.

That ended four penalties in as Elvira Todua dived to her left to deny Laure Boulleau and ensure the trophy headed to Moscow for the first time. The teams could meet again next year, when Russia host a FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship in which Europe will also be represented by Germany, Finland and Switzerland. uefa.com rounds up the reaction to a gripping finale in Hungary.

Valentin Grishin, Russia
I'd like to start by saying that this match had everything. Our opponents were formidable and they have our total respect. We know that a football is round and the pitch is flat but after that anything can happen. I felt after the victory against Germany in the semi-final that this was going to be our final and that's the way it went - the force was with Russia. I selected all the penalty takers and fortunately they went our way, although obviously it was touch and go. This means a lot for women's football in Russia which is, unfortunately, not taken too seriously in parts. If this helps to get more girls interested and playing then it's a great success.

Stéphane Pilard, France
I'm obviously really disappointed but football is like this - we had chances but in the end it wasn't to be our day. I'd like to congratulate Mr Grishin and Russia because that game was really what football is all about. I felt the girls deserved to win the title but we can learn from the experience and use it to make us a better team in the future. This really is a good group of players who can do well at the World Cup, so we have to make the most of it. When it came to the penalties it was really difficult to pick the first five, but three players came forward and we went from there. We had a chance to win the game but sometimes these little things happen and fate conspires against you.