Scotland to face France in under-19 opener

Hosts Scotland will play France in the opening game of this summer’s Uefa Women’s Under-19 Championship. The draw, made in Glasgow yesterday by national team players Jo Love and Erin Cuthbert, placed Netherlands and Norway as the other countries in Group A.

Group B consists of England, Belgium, holders Spain and Germany, with the tournament, which runs from 16-28 July, being staged at Mcdiarmid Park, Forthbank, Firhill and St Mirren Park.

Cuthbert, who was unable to play in the 2017 finals in Northern Ireland because she was with the full Scotland squad at the Euros, said: “It’s great we’ve got a tournament of this calibre straight off the back of the World Cup in France.

“People will be able to watch us on TV and hopefully they’ll be inspired to come out to the games and see the under-19s.”

The 20-year-old has two massive trips to France to look forward to as Chelsea take on Lyon in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Sunday. The French side have won the last three tournaments and hammered rivals Paris Saint-germain 5-0 at the weekend to all but ensure another French title.

“We’re aiming to return to London still in the tie and to be able to do that we’re going to have to score an away goal,” Cuthbert said.