At around the time that Hugo Lloris was picking the ball out of net in the Stade de France for the first time last night, France’s under-20 team were picking up their winners’ medals down in the Stade Mayol.

Following the France Under-17 team’s European championship win last month, Francis Smerecki’s under-20 side added another piece of silverware to the Clairefontaine trophy cabinet, as his team came from behind to beat Morocco 3-1 and win the Tournoi de Toulon for the twelfth time.

France went into the final as favourites, having for the most part impressed in winning all four of their Group A matches, disposing of the USA, Qatar, Costa Rica and the Netherlands, scoring 11 and conceding only two along the way. Morocco, meanwhile, squeezed through as Group B winners after two wins and two draws. The match was also an opportunity for the tournament’s joint-leading scorers, France’s Enzo Crivelli of Bordeaux and Morocco’s Achraf Bencharki (four goals apiece), to attempt to take the outright top-scorer award.

In front of a passionate, vociferous Moroccan support which far outnumbered the French fans, the north Africans took the game straight to their hosts, and scored the opener after only three minutes, Adam Ennaffati finishing brilliantly with the outside of his right foot.

For the rest of the half and the beginning of the second, France struggled to compete with the speed and passing of their opponents, who spurned several chances to extend the lead. France survived a handful of goalmouth scrambles and, when the backline was breached, the woodwork came to the rescue, a superb Anas Al Asbahi shot from distance thundering off the crossbar with Metz keeper Thomas Didillon beaten.

That effort proved the turning point as minutes later and totally against the run of play, France levelled, PSG’s Romain Habran catching Moussadak in possession, stealing the ball and slotting home.

Habran then ill-advisedly celebrated in front of the Moroccan crowd, causing bottles to be thrown from the stands, one of which hit Valenciennes’ Jean-Luc Diarra Dompé on the head, leaving him needing treatment. He would gain his revenge.

Minutes later, France took the lead as a Habran corner was headed home by Marseille defender and team captain Stéphane Sparagna. Habran this time kept a low profile, but a couple of minutes later received a second yellow card for a hefty tackle, completing an eventful 10 minutes for the Sochaux loanee.

By then, however, Moroccan heads had dropped and France saw out the remainder of the match, adding some gloss to the scoreline with an excellent one-man breakaway goal from Diarra Dompé in injury time.

Amidst hostile crowd scenes – stoked up by the fact that France had earlier brought on Younès Kaabouni, who qualifies to play for Morocco, to scathing abuse from the stands – France quickly left the pitch, but returned minutes later to receive their trophy.

So a very satisfying tournament overall for Francis Smerecki and his squad. Didillon looks a very good keeper in the making, excelling in particular against Costa Rica when France were under the cosh. Sparagna continues to grow into a classy-looking centre back and leader, who can also find the back of the net. Likewise, Rennes’ Adrien Hunou confirmed that he is a talented ball-playing midfielder who will surely break into the Rennes first team sooner rather than later. Habran, Caen’s Thomas Lemar and Diarra Dompé all thrilled with their attacking intent down the flanks, and Farès Bahlouli showed that Lyon have another skilful, close-dribbling player ready to come off the production line that brought Nabil Fekir to the fore.

The senior team may have disappointed this weekend, but France’s youngsters continue to show that the youth system is still in rude health.

France XI: Didillon – Dussaut (Diakese 25’), Sparagna (c), Kimpembe, Nganioni – Ilaimaharitra (Diarra Dompé 54’), Hunou – Habran, Bahlouli, Lemar (Bodiger 70’) – Crivelli (Kaabouni 74’)

Goals: France – Habran (56’), Sparagna (64’), Diarra Dompé (80’ + 3) ; Morocco – Ennaffati