Euro Under-21 Championship - Group C
England U21England U211France U21France U212

England U21 1-2 France U21: Aaron Wan-Bissaka own goal in injury time gives France victory

By Matt BullinBBC Sport
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Aaron Wan-Bissaka was making his third appearance for England Under-21s

Aaron Wan-Bissaka scored an own goal deep into injury time to hand France a 2-1 victory over England in the opening game of their European Under-21 Championship campaign.

Phil Foden had put England ahead in the second half after Dean Henderson had earlier saved Moussa Dembele's penalty.

Houssem Aouar then missed a second penalty after Hamza Choudhury was sent off for a rash challenge in the box.

Jonathan Ikone equalised late on before Wan-Bissaka put into his own net.

"The sending-off ultimately gave us our biggest problem," manager Aidy Boothroyd told Sky Sports. "As brave and battle-hardened as the team are, it was just too much to take.

"I've had a few last-minute wins in my time, and a few last-minute losses, but that was as tough as I've ever taken and I think the players will feel it more than most.

"After all the drama I think 1-1 would have been fair, but football's not fair, is it? I think some of the football was outstanding, and Foden's goal was a gem."

England dominated the opening moments and could have gone in front on 15 minutes when Ryan Sessegnon's cross was deflected onto the post by Ibrahima Konate before Dominic Solanke's sliding effort drifted just wide.

But it was goalkeeper Henderson who made the first telling contribution for the Young Lions as he kept out Dembele's spot-kick with a good diving save to his left, after England captain Jake Clarke-Salter was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area.

Both sides impressed in a breathless first half put neither could find a goal and it took a moment of magic from Manchester City's Foden early in the second half to break the deadlock.

The 19-year-old weaved through the French defence before applying a precise finish from just inside the area to hand England the lead - with what proved to be his side's only shot on target.

But France grew in confidence as the game went on and they soon had another chance from the spot when, after an ill-timed lunge on Jonathan Bamba in the box, France were awarded another penalty and Choudhury was sent off after the referee consulted VAR.

From then on France dominated and they could have scored well before the 89th minute had it not been for an inspired performance from Henderson and some excellent last ditch defending.

But Lille forward Ikone eventually found a breakthrough as he drove infield and shot low past Henderson.

And it was then a cruel end for England and Wan-Bissaka, who looked shaky throughout, as he miscued a clearance from a corner into his own net in the fifth minute of added time.

Dean Henderson
Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who spent last season on loan with Sheffield United, made a number of outstanding saves

What next for England?

England boss Boothroyd said his side "could not afford to slip up" coming into opener in Cesena but it was their own sloppy errors which cost them.

First, Clarke-Salter's high arm gave referee Srdjan Jovanovic little choice in awarding France's first spot-kick.

And there was no denying Choudhury's lunge on Bamba was both a red card and a penalty.

But they were sloppy in possession for large periods with Wan-Bissaka, who has been heavily linkedexternal-link with a move to Manchester United, one of the main offenders.

Furthermore, France seemingly carved through their backline at will and Henderson did particularly well to deny Dembele in the first half, with the Lyon striker bearing down on goal.

So there is no doubt Boothroyd will be looking for a much-improved performance in his side's next two games.

England now trail in Group C after France and Romania beat Croatia in their opening games and Boothroyd's side face an uphill battle to progress.

Realistically, they need to win their next two games against Romania on Friday and then Croatia on Monday, as only the group winner automatically qualifies for the semi-finals, as well as the best-placed runner-up.

Group C

Line-ups

England U21

Formation 4-3-3

  • 1Henderson
  • 2Wan-BissakaBooked at 88mins
  • 5Tomori
  • 4Clarke-Salter
  • 3Dasilva
  • 8MaddisonBooked at 47mins
  • 16ChoudhuryBooked at 63mins
  • 10Foden
  • 11R SessegnonSubstituted forCalvert-Lewinat 75'minutes
  • 9SolankeSubstituted forMountat 71'minutes
  • 7GraySubstituted forAbrahamat 75'minutes

Substitutes

  • 6Dowell
  • 12Kenny
  • 13Gunn
  • 14Kelly
  • 15Konsa
  • 17Barnes
  • 18Mount
  • 19Calvert-Lewin
  • 20Gibbs-White
  • 21Nelson
  • 22Woodman
  • 23Abraham

France U21

Formation 4-5-1

  • 23Bernardoni
  • 13Dagba
  • 4Konaté
  • 5Upamecano
  • 3Ballo-Toure
  • 12Ikone
  • 22Reine-Adélaïde
  • 6TousartSubstituted forMatetaat 73'minutes
  • 8AouarSubstituted forThuramat 82'minutes
  • 14BambaSubstituted forNtchamat 66'minutes
  • 9DembeleBooked at 77mins

Substitutes

  • 1Larsonneur
  • 2Amian
  • 7Del Castillo
  • 10Guendouzi
  • 11Mateta
  • 15Sarr
  • 16Prevot
  • 17Niakhaté
  • 18Sissoko
  • 19Caci
  • 20Thuram
  • 21Ntcham
Referee:
Srdjan Jovanovic
Attendance:
11,288

Match Stats

Home TeamEngland U21Away TeamFrance U21
Possession
Home46%
Away54%
Shots
Home5
Away18
Shots on Target
Home1
Away7
Corners
Home4
Away6
Fouls
Home4
Away7

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, England U21 1, France U21 2.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, England U21 1, France U21 2.

  3. Goal!

    Own Goal by Aaron Wan-Bissaka, England U21. England U21 1, France U21 2.

  4. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Jean-Philippe Mateta (France U21) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Dayot Upamecano with a headed pass.

  5. Post update

    Corner, France U21. Conceded by Jake Clarke-Salter.

  6. Post update

    Corner, France U21. Conceded by Jake Clarke-Salter.

  7. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Moussa Dembele (France U21) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Marcus Thuram.

  8. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  9. Post update

    Delay in match because of an injury Phil Foden (England U21).

  10. Goal!

    Goal! England U21 1, France U21 1. Jonathan Ikone (France U21) left footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jeff Reine-Adélaïde.

  11. Booking

    Aaron Wan-Bissaka (England U21) is shown the yellow card.

  12. Post update

    Attempt saved. Dayot Upamecano (France U21) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.

  13. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Moussa Dembele (France U21) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

  14. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Marcus Thuram (France U21) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Moussa Dembele.

  15. Post update

    Attempt saved. Olivier Ntcham (France U21) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Marcus Thuram.

  16. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Fode Ballo-Toure (France U21) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Marcus Thuram.

  17. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Moussa Dembele (France U21) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jeff Reine-Adélaïde.

  18. Post update

    Attempt missed. Olivier Ntcham (France U21) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Marcus Thuram following a corner.

  19. Substitution

    Substitution, France U21. Marcus Thuram replaces Houssem Aouar.

  20. Post update

    Corner, France U21. Conceded by Dean Henderson.

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