French eyes were teary and their hearts heavy as they took their leave of Manahan Stadium in Surakarta on Saturday evening. Not even in their worst nightmares did they imagine that the final of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Indonesia 2023™ would pan out in the same cruel way as the final of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship they contested six months ago. And yet that is exactly what happened.

Just as in Hungary in June, the French had Germany standing between them and the trophy. While that game ended goalless, this was a thrilling 2-2 draw in which one side dominated before the break and the other after. And when the shootout came around, Les Bleuets took an early advantage, with Paul Argney keeping out Eric Da Silva Moreira’s opening kick, just as he had done against Noah Darvich in Budapest. Then France went and missed three penalties, leaving themselves empty-handed again.“We can take some pride, but I’ve honestly never felt so frustrated,” the France keeper told FIFA after a shootout in which he heroically denied Paris Brunner to keep his team’s hopes alive, albeit momentarily. “Losing two finals to the same team on penalties… I just don’t feel like we deserved it, but there you go. They’re mentally stronger than us, but I’m proud of the team all the same, of the spirit we showed. Congratulations to them [Germany].”

The next best thing to invincible, France had lost only one of their previous 30 games in regulation time, a 3-1 reverse to who else but Germany in the group phase at this year’s Euros. Beaten by the Germans to not one but two trophies in 2023, Les Bleuets will find it hard to put this latest setback behind them.

“I’m very disappointed for the group because they maybe deserved better, but if it didn’t happen, then it’s because there’s still something missing,” said France coach Jean-Luc Vannuchi, pointing to the hold Germany seem to have over his team. “Just as we did at the Euros, we had chances. We also had a numerical advantage [after Germany’s Winners Osawe was sent off in the 69th minute]. We had opportunities to kill the game off and we didn’t do it. That’s elite sport for you, though.”