France 2 - Spain 1

France: Costil; Akakpo, El Mourabet, Thicot, Mangani; Constant (Songo'o 58'), Ducasse, Nasri, Yahiaoui; Menez, Ben Arfa. 4-4-2.
Spain: Adán; Cristián, Lombán, Pequé, Pepe; Mario, Cesc; Carmona, Javi García (Pereira 41'), Marcos (Diego Capel 41'); Marc Pedraza. 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 01. Constant. Fired ball past Adán after cross deflected off Pequé.
1-1. 62. Piqué. Ran in to head corner down across Costil.
2-1. 78. Nasri. Picked up ball outside area and bent low shot past Adán.

For the second year in a row, Spain were beaten in the under 17 European final. A late goal gave France a 2-1 victory and left Juan Santiesteban's side without the title they wanted only 12 months after they lost to Portugal. The youngsters got off to the worst possible start, going behind with only twenty seconds on the clock when Constant found the net after a cross from Menez deflected off the prostrate body of Piqué. For the next half hour though it was all Spain, with Carmona, Cesc and Javi García all going close and Cesc hitting the crossbar with a free kick.

The French front pairing had been causing some problems as they had in the match between the two earlier in the tournament which the hosts had won 1-0, and Menez brought out good saves from Real Madrid goalkeeper Adán either side of half time. Santiesteban had brought on two substitutes at the break though and both made their mark early on, Pereira curling a shot just over the bar and the battling Diego Capel (a year younger than his colleagues) having a clear penalty appeal turned down by the Greek referee.

The youngsters finally drew level on the hour mark when Barcelona's Piqué ran in to head Carmona's corner down past Costil. After that it was end to end stuff, with Yahiaoui and Ben Arfa shooting just wide for the locals and Pereira, Capel and Pedraza all failing to find the target at the other end. But just when everybody was thinking of extra time, Nasri picked up the ball 25 yards out and struck a low shot which Adán couldn't prevent from going in. France had won, and Spain will have to wait another year or so before they get another chance.