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Spain national football team
Under-20s World Cup | Group Stage
Jun 27, 2013 at 6pm UK
 
France national football team

2-1

Live Commentary: Spain 2-1 France - as it happened

Join Sports Mole for our live coverage of the Under-20 World Cup clash between Spain and France from Istanbul.
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Spain maintained their 100 per cent record in the Under-20 World Cup with a 2-1 victory over France as they sealed their place at the top of Group A.

Julen Lopetegui's side took the lead in the first half through Francisco Alcacer in the 23rd minute, as the Spanish dominated the opening period.

They doubled their advantage early in the second half when Jese notched his third goal of the tournament with a well placed finish.

France got a consolation late on through Thibaut Vion but it was too little too late as the Spaniards held out for the win.

However both teams will qualify for the second round. Follow our commentary to see how all the action unfolded.


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Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Under-20 World Cup clash between Spain and France.

Spain have already qualified for the second round of the tournament and sit atop of Group A following their wins against the USA and Ghana.

France meanwhile can progress even with a defeat in this game pending the USA's result against Ghana. A win for the United States and a five-goal swing in goal difference will see France miss out.

The team news has just been announced so we will begin with the Spain side.

SPAIN: Sotres, Gaya, Derik, Campana, Ruben, Alcacer, Jese, Llorente, Saul, Oliver, Otto

FRANCE: Areola, Foulquier, Zouma, Umtiti, Kondogbia, Sanogo, Ngando, Digne, Lemina, Veretout, Thauvin

Spain have rung the changes as they look to keep fresh for the second round. In come Gaya, Campana, Ruben, Alcacer, Llorente, Oliver and Otto from the team that beat Ghana.

No surprise in those changes from Spain. There's no point risking key players such as Denis Suarez, Suso and Manquillo, who is a booking away from suspension, considering they've already qualified.

France themselves have made three changes to their team that drew with the USA. Paul Pogba is suspended, while Sarr will not be risked as he is a yellow card away from a suspension himself. Ngando and Zouma replace them in the lineup while Veretout comes into the lineup for Bahebeck.

The players are making their way out onto the pitch and the national anthems are just about to be sung. So we should be underway shortly.

We're underway in this Group A clash.

Slow start to the game as Spain lose the ball and Areola launches the ball down field. A few sloppy passes so far.

France start to get on the ball now as Kondogbia raids forward but he's crowded out by the Spain defence.

Kondogbia gets the ball again and raids forward but this time he's caught by Llorente and wins a free kick.

Kondogbia plays the ball short to Umtiti who launches the ball forward and France lose possession again. Not the brightest start from either side.

Nice work by Alcacer and Llorente almosts creates an opening for the Spaniards but a nice break up challenge from Umtiti stops the attack on the edge of the area.

Oliver raids forward from right back and beats the challenge of Zouma but Umtiti is there again to break up the play and France win a free kick a Oliver goes in hard at the feet of Umtiti.

CHANCE!! Thauvin raids down the left and manages to get inside the penalty area, he shoots low and hard at goal but Sotres is there to make the save.

Nothing special from Spain so far, the seven changes to the team seems to have disrupted their rhythm somewhat.

CHANCE!!! Jese goes close to opening the scoring but Areola makes a great save down low to his right to tip the ball past the post, after the striker and Alcacer had combined to with a lovely one-two.

Just when you say Spain haven't threatened they go and do something like that, but that's what makes them such an exceptional team, their ability to produce something out of nothing.

Saul tries to get down the left for Spain and he manages to lift in a cross into the penalty area, however, Umtiti is there to make a clearing header.

Spain win a free kick down the right and they quickly interchange passes to reverse the ball to the left, but Foulquier is there to make a crucial interception to stop Ruben in his tracks.

The Spaniards are really taking the game to France down the left and Saul and Ruben nearly combine to great effect but just as Saul pulls the trigger on a shot, Zouma is there with a well timed block.

France try to hit Spain on a counter as Kondogbia surges forward, he looks for support and finds Veretout in the centre circle, but the midfielder is dispossessed and another French attack comes to a halt.

Digne raids down the left but he can't find an option in the penalty area to hit a cross to, he works the ball across the midfield where Vertout takes a heavy touch and loses the ball to Campana.

GOAL!!! Spain 1-0 France (Alcacer)

Spain take the lead as they hit France on the break, Jese raids down the right and beats his man before sliding a pass to Alcacer who sticks out his left foot and diverts the ball into the top corner. A clinical counterattack.

Digne pushes forward yet again, he tries to bring Sanogo into the game and he tries to slide Ngando in behind the Spain defence but Derik is there to win the ball.

Spain on another free kick as they raid forward yet again this time through Oliver, but he's brought down by Lemina just as he looked to release Jese.

Alcacer stands over the ball for the free kick from 25 yards, but he drills his shot straight into the wall and Areola picks up the loose ball.

Ngando gives the ball away in midfield for France and Jese raids forward, he tries to find Alcacer again but this time Zouma blocks his attempted cross and the Foulquier clears the danger.

The danger is only cleared as far as Oliver who runs through several French defenders on his way into the box, he tries to cut the ball back for Jese but Umtiti puts it behind.

Better football from France and they string some passes together in the final third and Digne wins a free kick in a dangerous position as he is hauled back by Otto.

CHANCE!!! France should be level as Thauvin whips a free kick right onto the head of Ngando but he can only direct his header over the bar. He was unmarked and only yards from goal, that was a chance.

Spain are looking dangerous every time they counter and Oliver surges into the penalty area but Zouma gets across the midfielder and puts the ball into touch.

SHOT! Oliver wins the ball in midfield and he switches the play to the left, Jese cuts inside and fires a shot on his right foot at goal but Areola is there to make the save.

France are looking to calm the play a bit, the up tempo pace of the game is suiting Spain quite well as they're exploiting all the space in behind the French defence.

CHANCE!! Nice interchange of passes from Kondogbia and Sanogo creates an opening for Ngando, who shoots first time on the edge of the area but Camapana makes a block and turns it behind.

Thauvin whips a corner in from the right and Sanogo rises highest in the area but he just can't direct his header goalwards as it goes just over the bar.

Spain are taking it easy and have control of the game at the minute. They seem content to sit on their 1-0 lead going into the break.

Ruben decides to go down the direct route as he beats Digne down the left and whips a cross in but Areola comes out to gather the ball.

OFF THE POST!! Oliver raids forward and slips in a pass for Jese, who takes a touch and shoots at goal but his effort is tipped onto the post by a spectacular save from Areola.

HALF-TIME: Spain 1-0 France

Spain take a deserved lead into the break thanks to Paco Alcacer's strike. They've been all over France and could be further ahead if not for Areola and the post.

Spain's passing has been sublime especially on the break where they've ripped France to bits, time and time again with Jese and Oliver pulling the strings.

France haven't been at it going forward in the first half, however, they improved towards the break, with Digne and Kondogbia becoming more involved in their attacking play. Kondogbia and Sanogo are going to have to come more into the game for France to have a chance of getting back into the match.

The players are making their way back onto the field and we should be underway shortly.

Substitution: Suso replaces Campana for Spain.

We're back underway in this Group A clash.

Better from France as the start the half on the front foot but they still can't force Sotres into making a save.

Strong play from France going forward again as Veretout slips a ball behind Derik for Sanogo but he is flagged offside just as he was about to bare down on goal.

France have been encamped in the Spain half but they're struggling to make any inroads towards Sotres's goal so far.

Spain are looking comfortable after looking somewhat surprised by the strong start to the half by the French. Their passing is looking slicker and controlled.

GOAL!!! Spain 2-0 France (Jese)

Spain double their lead in spectacular fashion as Oliver lifts a long ball over the top of the France defence as Zouma fails to clear the ball and Jese collects it in stride and fires into the bottom corner of the net.

France look to get back on level terms straight away but Sanogo misfires when just outside the penalty area and Sotres gathers the ball with ease.

Substitution: Bosetti replaces Ngando for France.

France are seeing a lot more of the ball in this half but the likes of Kondogbia and Thauvin are not using it well especially in the final third of the pitch, where their crosses have often hit the hands of Sotres.

Olivers shows Spain's prowess on the counter yet again, as he raids down the left and moves into the box, he lifts a pass to Alcacer on the edge of the area but his effort is tame and straight at Areola.

Nasty challenge by Bonetti on Otto deep in Spain territory but he escapes a booking for the tackle from behind.

A short backpass from Derik almost puts his side in trouble as Sanogo looks to race on to the ball but Sotres is alert to the danger and quickly gets off his line and collects.

CHANCE!! Gaya surges forward from left-back and somehow gets into the penalty between Foulquier and Zouma, he shoots across the face of goal but his effort goes wide of the target.

A long ball forward from Lemina almost finds the late run of Sanogo but again he is beaten to the ball by Sotres, who was alert to the danger.

OFF THE POST!! Kondogbia does well to beat a couple of challenges before pushing into the box, he beats the challenge of Llorente before firing at goal, but his shot clips the post and goes wide. So close for France there.

Umtiti makes a good interception to break a Spain attack and immediately plays the ball central to Kondogbia, he tries to find the run of Sanogo but Derik gets there first and clears.

Spain seem very relaxed on the ball now and they haven't been forced to do a great deal in this half. They now may seem to sit on their lead and see out the game.

Yellow Card: Umtiti goes into the book for a cynical challenge on Alcacer. The striker would have been away beyond the France defence without being brought down on the halfway line.

The pace of the game has really dropped, France seem short of ideas at the moment. They may need something out of this game to advance.

OFF THE BAR!! Sbaly hits the bar from France as his effort from distance beats the outstretched hand of Sotres but clatters off the woodwork, after Sanogo had done well to play him behind the Spain defence.

Spain on the counter again and Otto drives into the box all the way from right-back, he tries to cut the ball back to substitute Denis Suarez, but he can't control it and Zouma forces the ball away from him.

It's all been too comfortable for Spain in this half bar, two moments from the French, which were two speculative efforts from distance. With qualification potentially at stake, you would have believed that France would have forced the issue more than they have.

GOAL!!! Spain 2-1 France (Vion)

France are back in this game and it's the substitute Vion who has got the goal as he taps the ball in from close range from Sanogo's cross after Kondogbia had expertly played him behind the Spain defence.

CHANCE!!! Llorente plays the ball back to Sotres and he misses his kick upfield and the ball rolls towards the goalline but the keeper manages to get back and clear.

CHANCE!!! Spain have a chance to wrap up the win as Alcacer collects a long ball forward on the edge of the area and he hits a volley first time but his effort goes over the bar.

FULL-TIME: Spain 2-1 France

Spain secure a win in Istanbul despite a late scare from Vion's goal. It was a comfortable victory thanks to strikes from Alcacer and Jese, as they never really tested this evening.

The good news from France's point of view, is that they have qualified for the second round of the tournament after Ghana beat the USA. However, they will need to improve on this performance to progress any further in the competition.

Spain look good to win the competition if they can keep this level of play up. Jese and Alcacer pulled the strings all game upfront and while Ruben and Oliver were always a threat. The Spaniard seem to have another golden generation at their disposal.

Thanks for joining our commentary today. Until next time, goodbye.

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Spain's Gerard Deulofeu is congratulated by team mate Jese after scoring his team's second goal against USA during the Under-20 World Cup on June 21, 2013
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