France: representing the opponent of Ukraine's youth team in the semifinals of Euro 2024 (U-19)

The Ukraine U-19 team has joined a very solid company — the quartet of strongest teams at Euro 2024 (U-19), plus they have already qualified for the World Cup U-20, which will take place next year in Chile.

France: representing the opponent of Ukraine's youth team in the semifinals of Euro 2024 (U-19)

Photo from fff.fr

The Ukraine U-19 team has joined a very solid company — the quartet of strongest teams at Euro 2024 (U-19), plus they have already qualified for the World Cup U-20, which will take place next year in Chile. However, in the continental semifinals, under Dmitro Mykhaylichenko's guidance, they have a chance to make another step up by winning against France's national team.

As shown by the results of Bernard Diomède's team during qualification stages, there is nothing unrealistic about their goal to knock the French off. They lost to Denmark and even Lithuania.

However, Ukraine will have to play without three key players who received disqualifications in the match against Italy (central defensive midfielder Vashchenko, left winger Matveychuk, central forward Ponomarenko).

Matches of France's National Team in Euro 2024 (U-19)

Date Opponent Score Goals by France's National Team
15.11.2023 Estonia 2:0 Duy, Jacque
18.11.2023 Iceland 1:0 own goal
21.11.2023 Denmark 1:2 Sumaoro
20.03.2024 Belgium 2:0 Meullu, Tel
23.03.2024 Netherlands 1:0 Tel
26.03.2024 Lithuania 0:2  
16.07.2024 Turkey 2:1 Mishal, Jacque
19.07.2024 Denmark 4:2 Baya, Eké, Bouabre, Assumaní
22.07.2024 Spain 2:2 Bouabre, Atangana

However, at Euro 2024 (U-19), we see a far from the strongest version of France's national team in this age category. Due to various reasons, the coaching staff did not include 14 players born between 2005 and 2007, who are valued by the authoritative Transfermarkt portal at over one million euros.

Eight of them are valued at ten million or more, and it's fortunate that they are currently not in Bernard Diomède's squad. Some of their names fans might have heard: goalkeeper Guillaume Rest ("Toulouse"; valuation - 18 million euros), defenders Lenny Joró (English "Manchester United"; 50), El-Shaddal Bitshyabu (German "RB Leipzig"; 12) and Jeanuel Belosian (German "Bayern"; 10), midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery ("PSG"; 60), forwards Mathys Tel (German "Bayern Munich"; 40), Désiré Doué ("Rennes"; 30) and George Ihenigba (Belgian "Antwerp"; 10).

Roster of France's National Team for Euro 2024 (U-19)

No. Goalkeepers Date of Birth Club Matches Mins. Goals
1 Justine Bengi 09.07.2005 "Lyon" 3 209  -3
16 Alexis Mirbash 04.03.2005 "Metz" 2 180  -4
  Defenders Date of Birth Club Matches Mins. Goals
2 Sayel Kembedi 26.03.2005 "Lyon" 7 630  0
3 Aboubakar Sumaoro 04.02.2005 "Paris" 4 355  1
4 Yoni Gomis 23.09.2005 "Le Havre" 8 654  0
5 Jeremy Jacque 13.07.2005 "Rennes" 8 675  2
12 Mamadou Sar 29.08.2005 "Molenbeek" (Belgium) 1 79  0
15 Elias Zidan 26.12.2005 "Sevilla" (Spain) 6 347  0
  Midfielders Date of Birth Club Matches Mins. Goals
10 Demen Assumaní 17.04.2005 "Nantes" 9 518  1
14 Senni Meullu 17.05.2005 "PSG" 6 332  1
18 Mathis Amugu 18.01.2006 "St Etienne" 5 309  0
  Forwards Date of Birth Club Matches Mins. Goals
7 Lucas Mishal 22.06.2005 "Monaco" 5 297  1
  Coach Date of Birth Matches
  Bernard Diomède 23.01.1974 9  

Note: The statistics are for the Euro 2024 (U-19) cycle.