Mbengi decided the first half
Mbengi completed his hat-trick in the 37th minute, and Didier made it 4-0 in the 44th. France converted their strongest spells without allowing England time to settle after each goal.
The score at half-time reflected the finishing difference rather than a claim about one tactical mistake. England could not turn their possession into the same quality of chance.
France added two more goals after the break
Ba scored in the 66th minute and Keka completed the 6-0 result in the second minute of added time. The hosts remained direct when space appeared, even after the match had already moved beyond England’s reach.
England had previously beaten Japan 3-2, so they finished the tournament with three points. France took four points and ended second, while Italy won the competition with nine.
The result offers a clear development reference
Youth international football is measured by more than the final table, but the size of the defeat cannot be ignored. England’s players now have direct evidence of the speed and accuracy required when defending repeated attacks at this level.
France scored four times before the interval and added two more after it, so England never had a sustained period in which to reduce the deficit. The sequence between the goals, rather than one isolated tactical error, explains the size of the final score.