Failed To Win Champion Status At The 2023 U-17 World Cup, French U-17 National Team Coach Admits His Team Is Less Lucky

A number of French national team footballers participated in training ahead of the 2023 U-17 World Cup final at the Sriwedari Stadium, Solo, Central Java, Thursday (30/11/2023). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The U-17 French national team had to settle for runner-up status after failing to win over Germany in the 2023 U-17 World Cup finals. Jean Luc Vannuchi as coach said this situation occurred because his team was unlucky.

In the final which took place at Manahan Stadium, Solo on Saturday 2 December the French U-17 and German national teams drew 2-2. This situation forced the match to be extended on penalties which were then won by Germany with a final score of 4-3.

Of the six opportunities for kickers, France could only score on penalties three times. Nhoa Sangui was the first to fail, followed by Bastien Meupiyou, and finally Tidiam Gomis.

While Germany managed to score four goals from six chances. Only Eric Da Silva Moreira and Paris Brunner had their kicks saved by Paul Argney.

Seeing the situation, Vannuchi said France was just unlucky. He admitted that his party could not take full advantage of the opportunity.

Vannuchi remembers France's failed memory which both failed in the final through a penalty shootout against Germany at Euro U-17 2023. At that time, France had to be willing to finish as runners up because it was contributed by Germany through the high-fives.

"(Mathis) Amougou has equalized to 2-2. But we lost skills and this is the same situation as the Euros. We missed the penalty and were unlucky," Vannuchi said after the match in a statement quoted on Sunday, December 2.

"We had won a penalty shootout against Senegal. Now we are experiencing the same thing against Germany. There are penalties that have been successful and failed. In training we have trained them, but it is difficult in real matches," he added.