U17 Euro: Armenia lose 4-0 to France in Yerevan as Eliès Diallo hits a hat-trick
- Published
- Place
- Yerevan, Armenia
- Event date
- Past event —
Summary
France beat Armenia 4-0 on Wednesday, 11 November, in Yerevan in their opening match of the first qualifying round for the 2027 U17 Euro. The game was played at the Football Federation of Armenia Academy stadium in the Avan district. It was all over by half-time: Eliès Diallo, an Olympique de Marseille forward, scored a hat-trick in 23 minutes (5th, 16th and 28th). Yanis Kharbouch, of Troyes, added a penalty in the 63rd minute. In the other Group 10 match, reigning European champions Italy thrashed Luxembourg 6-0 in Abovyan. After one matchday, Italy and France have three points each, Armenia and Luxembourg none. Mher Mirumyan’s young Armenians face Italy on Saturday, 14 November, then Luxembourg on Tuesday, 17 November.
France wasted no time. In the 5th minute, Eliès Diallo opened the scoring from a Yanis Kharbouch pass. In the 16th, he doubled the lead with a right-footed volley at the far post from a Souleyman Zeghadi cross. In the 28th, he completed his hat-trick from an Enzo Makumba cross from the right. It was 3-0 at half-time.
In the second half, Johan Radet’s side managed their lead. Yanis Kharbouch converted a penalty in the 63rd minute. The score stayed that way.
Armenia outplayed
It was a one-sided game. France controlled the ball from start to finish and created chance after chance, before and after the break. The Armenian team spent most of the match defending and rarely got close to the opposing goal.
This squad is young, even for the age group. It brings together players born in 2010, assembled around Mher Mirumyan for this qualifying campaign. On the other side, Johan Radet had picked 20 players, including five from Paris Saint-Germain and four from Olympique de Marseille. The French arrived in Yerevan on 8 November after a training camp at Clairefontaine.
Italy, then Luxembourg
Group 10 is being played as a mini-tournament in Armenia, at the Academy stadium in Avan and the Vahagn Tumasyan stadium in Abovyan. Italy opened their campaign with a 6-0 win over Luxembourg, including a brace from Gabriele Borsa. The Italians lead the group on goal difference ahead of France.
Next up on Saturday, 14 November: Armenia v Italy at 3pm Yerevan time at the Academy stadium, and France v Luxembourg in Abovyan. On Tuesday, 17 November, Armenia host Luxembourg at 2pm, at the same time as Italy v France in Abovyan.
Analysis
The score is heavy, but hardly a surprise. France arrived with a squad drawn from PSG and Marseille and prepared at Clairefontaine. Armenia field a generation discovering top-level international football. Their most important game will be on 17 November against Luxembourg, also heavily beaten on day one. A win would give them third place and a first benchmark. For France, the clash with European champions Italy should decide who tops the group.
Possible consequences
Armenia v Italy on Saturday, 14 November, at 3pm (Yerevan); Armenia v Luxembourg on Tuesday, 17 November, at 2pm (Yerevan).
