Sports Mole previews Friday’s European Under-19s Championship clash between Denmark Under-19s and France Under-19s, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Denmark Under-19s will go toe-to-toe with France Under-19s in Friday’s European Under-19s Championship clash at Inver Park in Larne, Northern Ireland.
France are hoping to claim consecutive victories, while Denmark are looking to get off the mark after losing their tournament opener to Spain.
Match preview
Denmark are competing at their first Under-19s Euros after they successfully negotiated their way through two stages of qualifying.
They collected seven points from three games to top their first qualifying group ahead of Friday’s opponents France, before they went on to claim maximum points in the elite round to punch their ticket to Northern Ireland.
Unfortunately for Denmark, their first-ever outing at the European Under-19s Championship ended in a narrow 2-1 defeat against the 10 men of Spain.
Mikel Kruger-Johnsen cancelled out Chema Andres’ opener before Rayane Belaid was dismissed in the 77th minute to give Denmark a numerical advantage.
However, just two minutes later, Iker Bravo netted a 79th-minute winner to condemn Denmark to their first defeat in regulation time since losing to Norway in September 2023.
With Denmark looking to produce a positive response, they may be able to take confidence from the fact they recorded a 2-1 win over France in November’s qualifying clash.
In contrast to Denmark, France have already put three points on the board after they came from a goal down to beat Turkey in their tournament opener.
Lucas Michal came off the bench to cancel out Yiit Fidan’s early opener, before Jeremy Jacquet netted an 86th-minute penalty to snatch all three points.
That result extended France’s winning run in the European Under-19s Championship group stage to nine matches since they lost 2-1 to Ukraine in the opening game of the 2018 competition.
With a win under their belt, France are already well-placed to continue their impressive record of reaching the knockout rounds, having progressed from the group stage in each of their previous 11 appearances at the Under-19s Euros.
They will also be well aware that a top-two spot would secure them automatic qualification for next year’s Under-20 World Cup in Chile
The current crop of highly-rated French talents will currently be focused on claiming their country’s first win over Denmark since cruising to a 4-0 win in March 2016.
Denmark Under-19s European Under-19s Championship form:
France Under-19s European Under-19s Championship form:
Team News
Denmark’s Ludwig Vraa-Jensen is poised to resume his central defensive partnership with Villads Nielsen, while Lucas Hogsberg and Mads Lauritsen will operate as the two full-backs.
Oskar Boesen could be considered for a starting spot after he came off the bench to play the final half-hour against Spain.
Denmark boss Morten Eskesen is likely to keep faith with Copenhagen’s Alexander Simmelhack as his main centre-forward.
As for France, Michal and Jean-Matteo Bahoya could be rewarded with starting berths after the pair came off the bench to combine for the equaliser in Tuesday’s win over Turkey.
Jacquet may have produced a composed penalty to clinch three points on matchday one, but his primary focus for Friday’s clash will be on his defensive duties when he features in a back four alongside Sael Kumbedi, Aboubaka Soumahoro and Dehmaine Assoumani.
Steve Ngoura is set to lead the line once again, with the striker looking to add to the four goals he has scored at Under-19 level.
Denmark Under-19s possible starting lineup:
Andresen; Hogsberg, Vraa-Jensen, Nielsen, Lauritsen; Bomholt, Jorgensen, Byskov; Boesen, Gogorza, Simmelhack
France Under-19s possible starting lineup:
Bengui Joao; Kumbedi, Jacquet, Soumahoro, Assoumani; Benama, Y Gomis, Mayulu; Michal, Bahoya, Ngoura
We say: Denmark Under-19s 1-1 France Under-19s
Denmark may have got the better of France in qualifying, but we think they may find it difficult to repeat the feat against a team that will be full of confidence following Tuesday’s win over Turkey,
However, we do believe Denmark will do enough to pick up a point, especially as they have lost just one of their previous 10 matches.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.