France wrapped up first place in UEFA European Under-19 Championship Group A as a goal in each half from Mouctar Diakhaby and Moussa Dembele secured victory against hosts Greece, who nevertheless joined their opponents in the last four despite losing in Katerini.
Wins in their first two games had taken France into the semi-finals with a match to spare but Patrick Gonfalone had urged his side to find their best form against the hosts and his side responded within five minutes. Samed Kilic, an influential figure throughout the first half, delivered the free-kick from the left and Diakhaby beat Konstantinos Kotsaris to the ball to glance in.
Having fallen behind to a goal from a set piece, Greece twice nearly levelled through free-kicks of their own, and on each occasion Zisis Karachalios was the player going close. First the midfielder could not keep his header down from Kostas Tsimikas' delivery and then missed the target again from a similar route.
France, however, managed six shots on target to their opponents' zero in the first 45 minutes, Kotsaris fortunate to see Kilic's powerful striker land on the roof of his net after the ball had squirmed from his grasp. The goalkeeper stood up well to block from Dembele, with the France striker also sending a shot centimetres past the post after running at the defence.
Greece did muster their first shot on goal as Petros Orfanidis span to draw a sharp save from Bingourou Kamara in the 61st minute, but instead of drawing level they were quickly two goals down. Alexis Blin's pass picked out Neal Maupay and the midfielder drew Kotsaris before squaring for Dembele to score.
The goalkeeper did make a fine double save from Maupay and Sehrou Guirassy to keep it at 2-0, but that left Greece nervously awaiting news of Austria's result against Ukraine, knowing an Austrian win would leave their semi-final place in jeopardy. In the event, the draw means the hosts will play the Group B winners in the last four on 16 July.
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