England U17s had to settle for a point from their Euro opener against France on Friday evening.
The Young Lions kicked-off their group stage in Ireland with a hard-fought game in Longford, as Sam Greenwood’s first-half penalty was cancelled out by a late French equaliser.
It was an open game, with both teams attacking each other from the off in a bid to make a winning start to a group which also contains the Netherlands and Sweden.
And while France shaded possession and attempts at goal in the opening stages, England also looked dangerous and Steve Cooper’s Young Lions drew first blood ten minutes before the break.
A well-worked set piece from the right-hand side of the area saw the ball worked from Nonso Madueke across the box to debutant Cole Palmer, who was dragged down as he was about to pull the trigger.
The referee awarded a penalty and Arsenal striker Greenwood confidently slotted the ball past Marvin Zinga to put the Young Lions ahead.
France had a chance to equalise in first-half stoppage time, when they won a free-kick just outside the area but Theo Zidane, son of France legend Zinedine, struck his effort against the wall and it was easily saved by Louie Moulden.
After the break, it was Les Bleuets who spent the majority of the second half on the front foot as they looked to impose themselves on England with their strength through the middle and pace down the flanks.
But England’s lead could’ve been doubled in the 67th minute when sub Lewis Bate’s cross from the left picked out Greenwood, whose close range effort was somehow kept out by Zinga.
France got the equaliser which their play had threatened in the 79th minute when after a scramble in a crowded box, Moulden turned a shot from sub Dilane Bakwa onto the post but another sub, Adil Aouchiche, was on the spot to turn home the rebound from close range and prompt celebrations of relief.
And they could’ve nicked a late winner too, with Moulden making a stunning save to deny Christian Matsima, after the ball had dropped to the midfielder's feet following another scramble. He blasted a shot at goal, but Moulden showed great reactions and strength to beat it away to safety.
England held firm and managed the end of the game well to keep their point, ahead of Monday’s game with the Dutch in Dublin.
England: 1 Louie Moulden (Manchester City), 2 Malachi Fagan-Walcott (Tottenham Hotspur), 3 Haydon Roberts (Brighton & Hove Albion), 4 Miguel Azeez (Arsenal), 5 Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Manchester City) (c), 7 Nonso Madueke (PSV Eindhoven), 8 Jensen Weir (Wigan Athletic), 9 Sam Greenwood (Arsenal), 11 Morgan Rogers (WBA), 19 Samson Robinson (Manchester City), 20 Cole Palmer (Manchester City)
Substitutes: 15 Matt Bondswell (RB Leipzig) for Robinson 54, 17 Lewis Bate (Chelsea) for Palmer 65, 16 Joe Gelhardt (Wigan Athletic) for Madueke 89
Substitutes not used: 13 James Trafford (Manchester City), 6 Tegen Mengi (Manchester United), 12 Teddy Jenks (Brighton & Albion, 14 Ben Knight (Manchester City)
Head coach: Steve Cooper
Goals: Sam Greenwood 34 (p)
Cautions: Robinson 4, Fagan-Walcott 45, Cole Palmer 63, Harwood-Bellis 90
France: 16 Marvin Zinga, 2 Brandon Soppy, 4 Christian Matsima, 5 Nianzou Kouassi, 6 Lucien Agoume (c), 7 Amadou Traore, 8 Enzo Millot, 9 Georginio Rutter, 10 Theo Zidane, 14 Jean-Claude Ntenda, 19 Nathaniel Mbuku.
Substitutes: 18 Adil Aouchiche for Zidane 59, 11 Dilane Bakwa for Traore 59, 12 Isaac Lihadji for Mbuku 81, 20 Johann Lepenant for Millot 81, 3 Timothee Pembele for Soppy 90
Substitutes not used: 1 Amjhad Nazih, 13 Melih Altikulac, 15 Etienne Youte Kinkoue, 17 Kelian Nsona Wa Saka
Head coach: Jean-Claude Giuntini
Goals: Adil Aouchiche 79
