France defeated the Netherlands 2-1 in the U17 Euros final.
It’s not the first time the Netanya Stadium has hosted some of the biggest stars of the next generation of footballers.
Back in 2013, it hosted the U21 European Championships and, two years later, the final of the Women's U19 Euros, where a record 7,000 fans saw the game.
The U17 Euros have taken place in Israel before too - in the year 2000, in its previous incarnation as the U16 European Championship, Portugal beat the Czech Republic 2-1 in the final with Ricardo Quaresma scoring the golden goal.
Netanya Stadiums before the kickoff of the U-17 Euros final (Yossi Medina)
Fast forward 22 years to this year’s final, between France and the Netherlands.
As European football stalwarts, both present players with a high level of skill and talent. France captain, Mathys Tel, has already made his debut for Stade Rennais, and Dutch midfielder, Antoni Milambo, has already notched up his first appearance for Feyenoord in the Europa Conference League.
The Dutch players came to Israel as a proud nation, and the reigning champions. They’ve won the last two tournaments, before the pandemic, and since then no tournament has been played.
Things started well too, after withstanding long periods of French dominance, they slotted the ball home just after half time - a nice chip courtesy of Jaden Slory.
But France is also a European football powerhouse. These youngsters saw their idols winning the World Cup only four years ago, and they would like to win some trophies too.
That would require coming back from a one goal deficit, but that wouldn’t take long. Saël Kumbedi equalised in the 58th minute and, just two minutes later, the right-back scored again and gave France the lead.
Sael Kumbedi, stroke twice and led France to the U17 Euro title (Shaul Greenfeld)
Les Bleus were able to hold onto their lead until the final whistle, celebrating the third time they’ve won the tournament - winning previously in 2004 and 2015.
And it was a good three weeks of football in Israel, presenting the best young football talent that Europe has to offer, and offering them a chance to make their first steps on the international stage.
Whilst they still have a long way to go to make it to the top, there’s hope that this could be the start of a long and fruitful journey for these players. When France won in 2004, it was for Karim Benzema and Hatem Ben Arfa; in 2015, Dayot Upamecano and Odsonne Édouard’s started to make their mark. Who from this year’s final will we still be talking about a decade down the line?
Edited by Alex Smith
The French players looking at their medals, first title in a long career? (Shaul Greenfeld)
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