England U-19 1-1 France U-19: The Sunday Mirror match report

Matt Phillips, a teenage midfielder from League Two Wycombe Wanderers, last night finally gave English football something to smile about this summer.

After the depressing farce of the World Cup, Phillips’ last minute goal put Noel Blake’s Under-19 side through to the semi-finals of these European Championships in France.

England coach Fabio Capello was not in this small French town of Saint Lo in Normandy but he might now decide to turn up.

Blake’s boys just never gave up after they had conceded a 56th minute goal - yet they looked like they were heading home as the game entered the final of the three minutes of added time.

Then Phillips, who only came on in the 76th minute, pounced with a header that French goalkeeper Abdoulaye Diallo could only push out allowing the Wycombe midfielder to fire in the rebound.

Phillips probably earns less in a year than most of the World Cup superstars cash-in during half a week but he will never forget this moment.

It is 17 years since England won this competition when they were the hosts, with a squad including Paul Scholes, Robbie Fowler, Sol Campbell and Nicky Butt.

But with Austria beating the Netherlands in the Group’s other game, Phillips’ timely intervention turned him into an instant hero,

A host of spies from some of the Premier League’s biggest club were there - mainly to watch France’s teenage wonderkid Cedric Bakambu.

Bakambu, 18, is one of the hottest young properties in Europe and though he did not score, he had a fine match with a series of excellent touches and one superb break on goal.

It is the French stars who were causing the biggest draw at this ground that resembled a non-League stadium.

On the half hour came a glimpse of Bakambu’s superb skills as he cut inside brilliantly from the right and thought he had put France ahead with a low drive.

The shot beat Norwich goalkeeper Declan Rudd but somehow the ball spun around and over him and onto his back before he could save it.

England had their moments and the best three came the way of Aston Villa striker Nathan Delfouneso.

In the 24th minute his shot was superbly saved by Diallo and then in the 52nd minute he broke clear but shot wide.

Four minutes later Yannis Tafer was in the right place to easily head home to put the French ahead.

Delfounese was then denied again in the 82nd minute as his shot from 15 yards was turned aside brilliantly by Diallo in a match England could not lose if they wanted to progress.

Then Phillips ensured a fabulous finale.