Bydgoszcz (Poland) (AFP)
The French team was eliminated in the knockout stages of the Under-20 World Cup after their 2-3 defeat against the United States on Tuesday in Bydgoszcz (Poland), after having led 2-1 until the 74th minute.
This is a big disappointment for the players of Bernard Diomede, who were among the favorites of the competition. Unbeaten in the group stage, they remained on eight matches without defeat. They leave the competition at the same stage as in the previous edition.
The Americans, who had already posed problems to the Tricolores during a preparation match in March (2-2), have jostled them from the beginning of the game, disputed in a heat suffocating. Sebastian Soto opened the scoring on a counter (1-0, 25th), after a loss of the ball from PSG striker Moussa Diaby. The Parisian has caught up by serving Lyon's Amine Gouiri perfectly for the equalizer (1-1, 41).
Then largely dominating, the French took the advantage in the second period by Nabil Alioui (2-1, 55th). But the cool break in the 71st minute gave the Americans a second wind.
Soto, again, allowed his team to pick up the mark (2-2, 74th), on a service from Timothy Weah. Then Justin Rennicks, who entered the game shortly before, scored the qualifying goal (83rd, 3-2), helped by a hand foul by French goalkeeper Alban Lafont.
"(The Americans) had already hooked us in preparation, we knew they could put us in trouble, they were able to disorganize us.We did not know how to put this third goal," lamented Bernard Diomede in a telephone interview with AFP.
"It's the same scenario as against Italy last year (Editor's note: Euro U20) We take a goal after a cool break We should have had more maturity But do the same thing to a year of gap, it hurts, "added the coach.
After this early elimination, the French U20 will not imitate Paul Pogba et al., Titled in 2013. The Americans find themselves the quarter-finals as in 2017. They will be opposed Saturday to the Ecuadorians, the Uruguayans in eighth (3-1) .
? 2019 AFP