Bruised Germany end England run

Germany secured top spot in Group A and a semi-final meeting with France after beating England 2-1, though victory was tempered by injuries to Hasret Kayikci and Laura Vetterlein.

The three-time UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship winners forged ahead through Annika Doppler on 12 minutes and when Turid Knaak doubled their advantage they looked set to go on. But Lauren Bruton pulled one back before half-time for England, and the holders threatened an equaliser as the second period wore on, especially when Kayikci hobbled off to leave Germany a player short. It proved elusive, however, as Mo Marley's side suffered their first defeat in 20 matches.

England won 4-1 when these sides met in March but were soon behind in Skopje, Knaak cutting in from the right and threading the ball through to Doppler. The winger had time to set herself before coolly slotting past Rebecca Spencer. It was no shock, the only real surprise that Eunice Beckmann was not at the heart of it.

Germany's No17 was in the midst of everything else, occupying that awkward space between midfield and defence and picking holes in the England back line with deft flicks and inviting passes. Too tempting, perhaps, as time and again an over-eager Nicole Rolser attracted the assistant referee's flag as she jumped the gun. Rolser finally got it right five minutes before the interval, running onto Beckmann's pass and squaring for Knaak to make it 2-0 at the second attempt.

The writing was on the wall for England, but suddenly they awoke. Jessica Holbrook's stinging deflected effort went just over, Jordan Nobbs attracted a desperate block and then, on the cusp of half-time, Holbrook's cross was bundled over the line off Bruton's back. England picked up where they left off as Germany rang the changes with an eye on Wednesday's semi-finals, a policy that backfired when substitute Kayikci pulled up with a knee problem.

It left Maren Meinert's team to play out the final quarter with ten players, though they almost extended their lead when Rosler broke through. Not for the first time, Spencer saved England even if Isobel Christiansen's free-kick, which hit the upright, could not. The holders will hope for better against the Netherlands in three days; Germany will hope injuries to Kayikci and Vetterlein, taken off on a stretcher late on, are not as bad as initially feared.