Belgium U19 2-2 France U19
SportOase Eburons Dome (Tongeren)
15 October 2013
Att 600
I think it is safe to say that anything and everything Belgian is vogue at the moment in international football. On the day that the full national team completed its successful Brazil 2014 world cup qualifying campaign (with a somewhat limp draw with the Welsh and a party that was anything but) the Under 19 side was displaying it's talents against a French side that was out to prove that it is better than the results of the first two games, both draws, that left the Belgians already qualified.
There is much anticipation about this latest group, so much so that I figure if you took the players' families and scouts out of the crowd you would have been left with myself and a couple of stewards! There were so may laptops, i-pads, notepads and dicta phones I thought I was at a My-FC game! So as not to be left out I got out my camera, took pictures of about anything that moved and texted alot. I thought I fitted in ok!
The atmosphere was quite bizarre, there was near silence to begin with, save for the clicking of key pads and rustling of paper. Errors were greeted with mutters and groans and I really felt for the players as it seemed more like an audition than a football match.
As for the game itself it was a clash of strength over finesse. The French side were alot bigger and stronger and it took the Belgians a while to adapt. France took a 12th minute lead when a cross from the impressive Said was turned into his own goal by Dendonker.
The Belgians came more into the game in the second half with Marquet and Gerkens controlling most of the play. In the 69th minute Fiore struck home a terrific free kick from 20m, and the subsequent celebration reminded me that these lads were, essentially, just kids.
A flowing move involving the lively Origi and finished by Bongonda put the Belgians ahead in the 77th minute before Rabiot bundled home a corner at the near post in injury time to earn a draw the French just about deserved.
Time will tell whether any of these players passed their audition, but there appeared to be plenty to smile about at the end.
There is much anticipation about this latest group, so much so that I figure if you took the players' families and scouts out of the crowd you would have been left with myself and a couple of stewards! There were so may laptops, i-pads, notepads and dicta phones I thought I was at a My-FC game! So as not to be left out I got out my camera, took pictures of about anything that moved and texted alot. I thought I fitted in ok!
The atmosphere was quite bizarre, there was near silence to begin with, save for the clicking of key pads and rustling of paper. Errors were greeted with mutters and groans and I really felt for the players as it seemed more like an audition than a football match.
As for the game itself it was a clash of strength over finesse. The French side were alot bigger and stronger and it took the Belgians a while to adapt. France took a 12th minute lead when a cross from the impressive Said was turned into his own goal by Dendonker.
The Belgians came more into the game in the second half with Marquet and Gerkens controlling most of the play. In the 69th minute Fiore struck home a terrific free kick from 20m, and the subsequent celebration reminded me that these lads were, essentially, just kids.
A flowing move involving the lively Origi and finished by Bongonda put the Belgians ahead in the 77th minute before Rabiot bundled home a corner at the near post in injury time to earn a draw the French just about deserved.
Time will tell whether any of these players passed their audition, but there appeared to be plenty to smile about at the end.