Nathaniel Chalobah took the captain's armband in his 92nd (!!) cap as an England youth international, but the Three Lions fell 3-2 to France in Monday night's friendly just north of Paris. Both Lewis Baker and Tammy Abraham started as well, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek missing out through injury. None of the Chelsea boys were spectacularly outstanding in this one -- it was all a bit disjointed from England, overall -- but Baker did grab a goal and an assist.
Sunderland's Duncan Watmore got England off to a great start with an audacious chipped goal in the 9th minute, but Celtic's young prodigy Moussa Dembele equalized not ten minutes later and then put France ahead just past the hour-mark with a well-taken free kick. Baker then delivered a free kick special of his own to level things with 10 minutes to go, but parity was restored for only a couple minutes before France found a winner through yet another free kick, this time from Wylan Cyprien, who's been one of the breakout stars at current Ligue 1 leaders Nice. Questions could be asked about the goalkeeping on the winning goal.
The result is obviously a bit disappointing for England after last week's victory over Italy, but these are all just preparatory friendlies ahead of the summer's U21 European Championship, where England will undoubtedly be one of the favorites.