France Under-17s and Netherlands Under-17s will meet in the final of the European Championship in Netanya on Wednesday evening.
The two nations, who squared off in the group stages, booked their place in the showpiece occasion courtesy of winning penalty shootouts over the weekend.
Match preview
Given how standout players get fast-tracked through the various age groups at international level, there is an unpredictability about performances at major tournaments.
That is why two-time defending champions Netherlands reaching a third final in succession is a notable achievement, particularly with the last success coming in 2019.
Mischa Visser's side have been far from perfect this time around, failing to keep a clean sheet in any of their five fixtures, but there has been a relentlessness about how they have continued to churn out results.
That character was required in the semi-finals as they came from behind to force penalties against Serbia, scoring all five of their spot kicks to end the hopes of their opponents.
Their 12 goals have been shared around the squad with Jason van Duiven's return of three strikes enough to see him top his nation's scoring charts.
Three other players got on the scoresheet as the Netherlands defeated France by a 3-1 scoreline during the group stages, each effort coming in the 76th minute or later.
That result represented the first of three games which France have failed to win during normal time, their progress to the final coming courtesy of prevailing in two penalty shootouts.
Since missing their first two spot kicks against Germany in the quarter-finals, Jean-Claude Giuntini has witnessed his players score 10 successive times from 12 yards.
Like with their opponents, 14 goals have come from numerous different players with only Rennes youngster Mathys Tel getting on the scoresheet on three occasions.
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Team News
Both Visser and Giuntini face the prospect of making at least one alteration to their respective sides.
From France's perspective, Mamadou Sarr is a big doubt after sustaining an injury in a collision with Portugal's Ivan Lima, both players being substituted soon afterwards.
Christian Mawissa Elebi is on standby to deputise in the centre of defence, but the remainder of the team could stay the same.
As for Netherlands, Bram Rovers and Gabriel Misehouy also appear likely to miss out after picking up injuries during the game with Serbia.
Oualid Agougil and Tim van den Heuvel are in line to come into the team in defence and midfield respectively.
France Under-17s possible starting lineup:
Olmeta; Kumbedi, Elebi, Bitshiabu, Belocian; Atangana Edoa, Zaire-Emery; Byar, Doue, Saettel; Tel
Netherlands Under-17s possible starting lineup:
Kuijsten; Agougil, Blokzijl, Huijsen, Breinburg; Vos, Milambo; Slory, Van den Heuvel, Babadi; Van Duiven
We say: France Under-17s 2-1 Netherlands Under-17s
As you can appreciate, this is a difficult match to call with both teams showcasing quality and vulnerability at times throughout the campaign. For us, however, France will have learned lessons from the first fixture, leading us to predict a narrow victory for the Giuntini's side.
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