France edge Germany late, win 2019 UEFA Women’s U19 Championship

France’s Sandy Baltimore and Germany’s Nicole Anyomi look like potential stars

Walking away from this match, I felt the two standout performers on the day were France’s Sandy Baltimore and Germany’s Nicole Anyomi. The two strikers were consistently threatening the opposition throughout this one, both players close to multiple goals in this final.

Both Baltimore and Anyomi are already making regular first-team appearances for their respective clubs, Paris Saint-Germain and SGS Essen. If they continue on their current development trajectory, it wouldn’t be that shocking to see one or both of these players at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

A special shout-out has to go to the French goalkeeper Justine Lerond. She made numerous spectacular saves throughout this game, especially in stoppage time. She was phenomenal in this one, and without her, Germany likely wins comfortably.

Photo by Ian Rutherford/EMPICS/PA Images via Getty Images

Germany comes up short again

UEFA holds the U19 Championship every single year, so it makes sense that Germany would often be in contention. Despite five semifinal appearances in recent years (two runners up, three semifinal losses), however, Germany last won the competition in 2011. Since that win, France has won the competition three times, Spain and Sweden each twice, and the Netherlands once.

This is the second tournament in a row that Germany lost on a late goal. In 2018, Spain’s Maria Llompart scored in the 80th minute.

(Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images for DFB)

Bayern Players

Both Laura Donhauser and Leonie Koster had good tournaments for Germany and were instrumental in helping them get to the final.

Donhauser has the potential to be a special player for Bayern. The club has promoted her to the first team this summer, and she won’t turn 18 until September. With the turnover of experienced players leaving the club this summer and a new coaching staff coming in, Donhauser has a real opportunity to make a name for herself in the first half of this season. It’s just a little unfortunate for her that she’ll be getting a later start than the rest of her teammates.

Koster will be with FC Bayern II in the 2.Frauen Bundesliga next season. The 18 year old will hope to use this season to hopefully have Bayern II repeat as champions and potentially springboard into a first team opportunity.