Morgan Schneiderlin's French Under-20's side will battle it out for a bronze medal at the Mediterranean Games after les Bleus missed out on a place in the Final.

Luc Rabat's men had already ensured a place in the top four of the competition by virtue of the fact that they had won Group B leaving the second place teams in each of the four groups to fight it out for 5th to 8th place.

The tricolores, captained by Saints midfielder Schneiderlin, played Spain last night in the semi-finals for the right to face host nation Italy in the final but they suffered a 2-1 defeat in the Teramo Municipal Stadium. Midfielder Franck Tabanou of Toulouse scored a late consolation goal.

The result means that France will now either finish in third or fourth place of the Games, with a bronze medal awaiting the winners of their match with Libya which takes place on Saturday evening in Chieti's Angelini Stadium.