England MU19s were hit by two late goals from France as they lost their opening game of the Marbella International Cup by 3-1 in Spain.
Paul Simpson’s Young Lions had done well to work their way back into the match after going behind to a third minute goal from Ulrick Brad Eneme-Ella.
A penalty from England captain James Garner levelled things up in the 71st minute, only for France to hit back with a spot-kick of their own two minutes later with Eneme-Ella scoring his second of the day.
And with the Young Lions chasing a second equaliser in the game, France managed to get a decisive third goal via Ruben Providence to seal their win.
England will be back in action against the Marbella Football Centre on Saturday afternoon when they face Belgium.
England: 1 Luca Ashby-Hammond (Fulham), 2 Vontae Daley-Campbell (Leicester City), 3 Lee Buchanan (Derby County), 4 James Garner (Manchester United) (c), 5 Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Manchester City), 6 Clinton Mola (Chelsea), 7 Morgan Whittaker (Derby County), 8 Paris Maghoma (Tottenham Hotspur), 9 Ryan Edmondson (Leeds United), 10 Curtis Jones (Liverpool), 11 Anthony Gordon (Everton)
Substitutes: 13 Jack Bycroft (Southampton) for Ashby-Hammond 46, 20 Arvin Appiah (Almeria) for Whittaker 62, 21 Bobby Duncan (Fiorentina) for Edmondson 62, 17 Sonny Hilton (Fulham) for Maghoma 83, 18 Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa) for Jones 83
Substitutes not used: 12 Henry Lawrence (Chelsea), 14 Rhys Williams (Liverpool), 15 Ajibola Alese (Acccrington Stanley, loan from West Ham), 16 Luke Thomas (Leicester City), 20 Arvin Appiah (Almeria)
Head coach: Paul Simpson
Goal: James Garner 71
Cautions: Taylor Harwood-Bellis 62
