Belarus beaten by France at UEFA European U21 Championship qualification

The Belarusian national football team (U21) have lost to the French side at the 2015 UEFA European U21 Championship qualification.

The Belarus vs. France game was played at the Gorodskoi stadium in Belarus’ Borisov on 9 September. Belarus under head coach Alexei Vergeyenko lost 1-2 to one of the favorites of qualifying group 10 and remained last in the section.

Belarus opened the scoring unexpectedly quickly, Anton Saroka connecting with Maksim Volodko’s delivery from the right hand side to hit home. After the goal, however, Belarus lost ball possession, which resulted in the goal on 65 minutes. Belarusians fouled in their own box and France’s Paul-Georges Ntep De Madiba leveled things up from 11 meters. Paul-Georges Ntep De Madiba did not stop scoring as he beat Belarusian goalie Artyom Soroko for the second time in the 75th minute to set a final score of the game.

This was the second victory for the French side, who had earlier began the UEFA European U21 Championship qualification with the 5-0 home dismantling of Kazakhstan. Belarus lost their fourth consecutive match. Earlier they had been defeated by Iceland twice (1-2 at home and 1-4 away) and lost to Kazakhstan at home 0-1.

The Group 10 standings are as follows: Iceland 9 points (3 games, goal difference 8-3), France 6 (2; 7-1), Armenia 3 (2; 2-2), Kazakhstan 3 (3; 1-6) and Belarus 0 (4; 3-9).

On 10 September Iceland will take on Kazakhstan to try to extend their lead in section 10. On 10 October Belarus will travel to Kazakhstan to face the national team of this country as part of the 2015 UEFA European U21 Championship qualification. In the last game in 2013 Belarus U21 will take on Armenia at home (19 November). In 2014 Belarus will play the remaining two fixtures of the qualification, one against France on 4 March (away) and the other against Armenia (at home) on 9 September.

First-placed teams from ten groups will enter the playoff of the UEFA European U21 Championship qualification. They will be joined by four best second-placed sides from all qualifying groups. The final tournament of the UEFA European U21 Championship, which will bring together eight best European teams, will be held in Czechia in 2015.