Sean O’Driscoll is already looking to the future after his England Under-19s team narrowly missed out on a place at this summer’s Euro finals.
After elite qualifying round wins over Denmark and Azerbaijan, the Young Lions went into Tuesday’s qualifier against France needing another three points to secure their place at the eight-team tournament in Greece.
But a goal in each half from Les Bleus’ pair Sehrou Guirassy and Gnaly Cornet gave O’Driscoll’s charges a mountain to climb against a physical French side amid gale force-like conditions.
Frace 2-1 England
UEFA U19s Championship
Elite Qualifying Round
Tuesday 31 March
Saint-Lo, France
Fulham attacker Patrick Roberts halved the deficit late on but England were unable to complete the comeback.
O’Driscoll said: “That was probably as difficult a game as you could imagine, on a poor pitch in difficult, windy conditions. But I thought the attitude was first class.
“If you’re going to win the World Cup in 2022, then the experiences these players have gained today should stand them in good stead.
“There are lots of things they will have learnt. They will have gained an experience that will help them in the future if and when they go on to play for other England teams.
“No England team has ever won this U19s Championship. You wonder why, and now I’m a little bit clearer on some of the things you need to do in tournament football. They will be better for the experience and I certainly will as well.
“If they are going to do anything at senior level, the principles have to stick at a younger age level. We’ve got to make sure the experiences they have had here stand them in good stead for the journey ahead.”
France, the elite round hosts, committed 18 fouls against England and had two players booked – but O’Driscoll was happy with the way England stuck to the task.
He said: “I don’t think the game ever got away from us. We set our stall out to try and play a certain way. We were brave at times, and managed our frustrations really well.
“We were focused and just got on with it. We didn’t let our hearts rule our head.
“The conditions were terrible but their focus and concentration was excellent. We always tried to do the right things.”
