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U21 Friendlies
Nov 17, 2014 at 8pm UK
 
England national football team

3-2

Sanogo (29', 44'), Coman (73')
FT(HT: 2-2)
Kane (20', 22')

Live Commentary: France Under-21s 3-2 England Under-21s - as it happened

Follow Sports Mole's live coverage of the international friendly between England Under-21s and France Under-21s.
2

France Under-21s came from two goals down to secure a 3-2 win over England Under-21s in a friendly in Brest this evening.

Harry Kane gave the visitors the lead against the run of play when he scored twice in the space of three minutes in the first half.

Yaya Sanogo had a brace of his own to get France back on level terms before the break, while Kingsley Coman scored the winner after coming off the bench in the second half.

Read how all the action unfolded below:


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Good evening! It's just under half an hour until kickoff in Brest where England Under-21s will be looking for their second win of the international break when they take on France Under-21s. The team news is already out, so let's take a look at the sides.

FRANCE STARTING XI: Areola, Laporte, Conte, Tolisso, Ntep, Sanogo, Mendy, Thauvin, Veretout, Imbula, Gbamin

ENGLAND STARTING XI: Bond, Keane, Garbutt, Chalobah, Gibson, Lascelles, Ince, Pritchard, Kane, Carroll, Redmond

FRANCE SUBSTITUTES: Nardi, Foulquier, Amavi, Bakayoko, Sanson, Coman, Bahebeck

ENGLAND SUBSTITUTES: Butland, Robinson, Jenkinson, Hughes, Forster-Caskey, Bamford, Ings, Woodrow, Wilson

Gareth Southgate makes five changes to the side that beat Portugal 3-1 last week. Regular captain Jack Butland drops to the bench as Jonathan Bond comes in between the posts, while Danny Ings, who netted a brace last time out, is also left out, while Harry Kane returns after being rested against Portugal.

With Butland on the bench this evening, Tottenham's Tom Carroll, who is one of six players to retain a place in the starting lineup, takes the captain's armband tonight.

Gareth Southgate will have just two more matches with the unders before his has to name his 23-man squad for the 2015 tournament. He's got just 20 players with him tonight though after Liam Moore and Marcus Bettinelli both pulled out of the squad.

Ahead of this match, the Under-21s manager said: "We have to remind ourselves that we are still coming to play one of the best teams in Europe. It was a bit of an anomaly that they didn't get through to the Finals, but that shows just how hard this competition is. They'll be similar to ourselves in that they'll have one or two changes but they are a powerful, athletic team. The technical and tactical challenge for us will be a bit different to last week, as I don't expect France to keep the ball as well as Portugal did, but they perhaps have more of a threat in the final third."

The Under-21s aren't the only youngsters in action this evening. The Under-18s have already wrapped up a 4-1 win over Poland, while the Under-20s beat Portugal on penalties following a 1-1 draw.

The seniors have a friendly of their own tomorrow as they travel to Glasgow to take on Scotland. We'll have live coverage of that match tomorrow evening.

The players have just headed out of the tunnel ready for this evening's kickoff. As always, the anthems from both countries will be played before the match gets underway.

It's not a sellout this evening, but there's a fair few fans scattered around the ground.

KICKOFF! England get the match underway.

France have all of the ball in the opening couple of minutes, with Thauvin trying to put the visitors under pressure early on, but Garbutt and Chalobah ensure that he's halted. Sanogo tries to play it back in, but his first touch in the box is poor, and it goes straight through to Bond.

Imbula shows his pace with a solid run down the left flank, forcing Keane to concede the opening corner of the match. Ntep tries to fire it in, but Chalobah gets it clear.

CHANCE! Florian Thauvin has the first real sight at goal, unleashing a powerful effort from just outside the box, but Bond watches it all the way, and makes a comfortable save.

There has been a lot of rain in the area today, but it had appeared to ease up just before kickoff. However, the downpour is back, and the heavy shower is making passing rather sluggish.

Thauvin and Imbula are continuing to look a dangerous combination, despite the inclement conditions. However, Garbutt and Chalobah have been able to hold the majority of their runs at bay so far. Incidentally, the pitch seems to be coping well with the deluge at the minute, there doesn't appear to be too much surface water.

The hosts win another corner when Keane comes under pressure again. Gbamin looks to get involved, jumping for a header, but Kane is back to help out at the back, and nods it clear for the visitors.

There's an early injury concern for England as Ben Gibson reaches for his ankle while tracking back. There was no contact, but it looks like he rolled the ankle while landing. It could be a problem, as Southgate hasn't got another centre-back on the bench, so there would have to be some reshuffling if he can't continue.

Sanogo gets the better of Garbutt with some flashy footwork on the edge of the box before unleashing a shot, but it fails to test Bond.

GOAL! France Under-21s 0-1 England Under-21s (Harry Kane)

Completely against the run of play, England are ahead. It's a stunning ball in from Tom Ince that sets up the opener, as he spots Harry Kane making a run, slotting in the through-ball to leave the striker with just Areola to beat, and the Tottenham forward makes it look easy. That's actually the first real chance that the visitors have had this evening.

GOAL! France Under-21s 0-2 England Under-21s (Harry Kane)

It's Ince and Kane linking up again to extend the visitors advantage within three minutes. Ince attempted a shot of his own after Chalobah had played a long ball forward, but it was Kane who got the final touch, making sure from close range at the far post.

France are immediately piling on the pressure down the other end as they try to cut the deficit, but Keane is once again ready to block Thauvin's effort.

CHANCE! England nearly have a third as Nathan Redmond looks to get involved after a quick break from Lascelles. His initial shot is parried by Areola before the home side eventually scramble it clear.

Kane is on the move again as he looks to complete a first-half hat-trick, but he fouls Laporte while battling to get past the defender, giving the ball back to the hosts.

GOAL! France Under-21s 1-2 England Under-21s (Yaya Sanogo)

Antoine Conte gets the hosts back into the game with a shot from a tight angle. The defender comes forward to help out Thauvin and Imbula as they continue to put the England defenders under pressure. Bond comes off his line to try and stop Conte getting the shot away, but he just manages to squeeze it in off Yaya Sanogo, who has been credited with the goal for now.

SUB! England have to make the first change of the game as the wet pitch forces a slip from Nathaniel Chalobah, forcing the visitors to send on Jake Forster-Caskey in his place.

France are pushing to get back on level terms, but Keane is on hand to deny Thauvin the shot. Tolisso attempts to play the ball back in, but he then blasts it well wide.

CHANCE! Thauvin continues to look a threat for France as he weaves around Gibson, but then can't quite curl the shot in from a tight angle. The winger will probably feel a bit aggrieved not to be on the scoresheet so far.

CHANCE! What more does Thauvin have to do?! Sanogo lofts the ball in for his pacy teammate, but he's on his weaker foot, and pokes it just wide. His frustrations are clear as he kicks an advertising board after the miss, leaving a hole in the hoarding!

SUB! We mentioned earlier that Gibson had been dealing with an ankle injury, and he's now had to go off. Carl Jenkinson has come on in his place, although he takes over at full-back, leaving Keane to move into the middle.

GOAL! France Under-21s 2-2 England Under-21s (Yaya Sanogo)

Having dominated for the majority of the first half, France are back on level terms just before the break. Ntep is denied by Bond, but he manages to get the ball back in for Sanogo to blast beyond the England keeper.

France try to put England under pressure again in stoppage time, but Pritchard makes the block, and that should be the last action of the half.

HALF TIME: France Under-21s 2-2 England Under-21s

So a Harry Kane brace gave England a two-goal lead against the run of play, but Yaya Sanogo netted twice before half time to get the hosts back on level terms. In truth, France could have easily had a healthy lead by now but for some good saves from Jonathan Bond, as well as some frustrating finishing from Florian Thauvin.

There could be a bit of an injury problem for England in the second half though, with Ben Gibson and Nathaniel Chalobah both having gone off injured in the opening 45 minutes. France still have the option of making all three substitutes in the second half.

We've mentioned a few times that it's been raining persistently throughout the match. A few puddles have started to form in the pitch now, particularly around the penalty areas. That could affect the game in the second half.

The players are back out ready for the second half.

KICKOFF! France get the second half underway.

SUB! England have made their final change for the start of the second half, with Danny Ings coming on for Alex Pritchard.

England have switched to a 4-4-2 formation following Ings's introduction and it seems to be paying off already as Kane is seeing a bit more of the ball now that he has some help up front. Aside from the two goals, Kane wasn't that involved in the first half.

Forster-Caskey tries to get the ball to Kane, but Laporte manages to stop the striker getting the shot away. France immediately look to capitalise on the counter-attack, with Jordan Veretout getting involved with a swerving shot from the edge of the box, but it goes just wide.

Thauvin is continuing to look sharp for the home side but still can't quite get the final touch right. He finds himself clear in the box again, but Lascelles quickly closes to clear the danger.

CHANCE! Kane tries a cheeky effort from the half-way line after spotting Areola off his line. It's a decent looping effort from the Spurs striker, but the goalkeeper just gets back in time to make the save.

Ntep and Thauvin team up on the edge of the box, eventually setting up Sanogo to try and complete his hat-trick. However, the striker selflessly tries to pull it back for Thauvin, but Jenkinson is there to clear.

CHANCE! France have a free kick in a dangerous position after Garbutt hacks down Thauvin. The winger elects to take on the shot himself, but Bond just about holds on to the slippery ball.

Thauvin quickly puts his saved effort behind him as he looks to set up Sanogo again, but the striker is closely-marked by Lascelles, who blocks his path and gets the ball clear. Meanwhile, England force a corner down the other end.

Tom Ince curls the ball into the box, and it's Garbutt who gets the last touch, but he's unable to test Areola.

SUBS! Florian Thauvin and Gianelli Imbula head off for France, with Kingsley Coman and Tiemoue Bakayoko coming off the bench.

CHANCE! Sanogo seems to catch the England defenders napping, getting into space at the back before unleashing a powerful effort, but it's well wide.

SUB! With this being a friendly, England can make more than the usual three changes, and they're doing so, sending on Callum Wilson in place of Harry Kane.

CHANCE! The France substitutes almost have an immediate impact as Bakayoko tries to fire in from a Coman through-ball. Sanogo and Gbamin both have efforts turned behind from the resulting corners before Wilson, who is on for his Under-21s debut, eventually gets it clear.

Wilson gets involved up front, working hard to keep the ball in play before pulling it back for Ince, but the Hull City man fires wide.

After a good spell from France, England have started to see a little more of the ball agian, but they're struggling to really sustain the threat.

GOAL! France Under-21 3-2 England Under-21s (Kingsley Coman)

England's attacking spell has cost them as a break from Ntep sets up 18-year-old Kingsley Coman of Juventus to find the bottom corner with a fantastic finish to give the hosts the lead for the first time today.

SUB! France make another change, bringing on Morgan Sanson for Corentin Tolisso.

Coman is on the move again, this time trying to create something for one of his teammates. He evades a couple of defenders before trying to slice the ball across for Ntep, but the midfielder misreads the cross allowing Garbutt to clear.

France appear to be lining up another dangerous move as Sanogo wins the ball back in midfield before attempting to find Ntep, but the midfielder loses his footing on the wet surface just outside the box, leaving England with an easy clearance.

England force a corner, which Ince boots deep. Wilson attempts to nod it into the path of Ings, but he can't quite get it back, and France go on the counter.

Ince is seeing quite a bit of the ball in the final few minutes of this match as England look for a late equaliser, but as has been the case for much of this match, England just can't keep hold of the ball for prolonged spells.

CHANCE! The home side win a corner, which Ntep takes short, leaving Mendy to cross it in. Bakayoko stretches to tap in, but he can't quite reach the ball.

England have another late push as Redmond picks out Carroll, who looks to get a cross in to Ings in the cnetre, but his path is blocked. Ntep goes on the counter-attack, putting in a cross for Sanogo, but Keane is there to deny the striker the hat-trick.

Ince tries to weave his way through a crowded France penalty box, but he's crowded out.

CHANCE! Sanogo has another chance to complete the hat-trick as Ntep, who has been superb in the second half, crosses the ball in for the captain again, but his outstretched leg isn't quite long enough.

FULL TIME: France Under-21s 3-2 England Under-21s

So France complete an impressive turnaround, coming from 2-0 down to beat England 3-2 in their Under-21s international. Kingsley Coman netted the winner after a Yaya Sanogo brace had levelled the match. Harry Kane scored both of the goals for England in the space of three minutes before the break.

That's all from this match, but join us again tomorrow to see how the senior side, which could include prolific Young Lions scorer Saido Berahino, fare against Scotland in a friendly. Until then, thanks for joining me this evening. Goodbye.

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Carl Jenkinson of England celebrates scoring his team's second goal with Will Hughes and Danny Ings during the U21 International Friendly match against Portugal on November 13, 2014
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