Friday, 30 June 2023

ENGLAND UNDER 21 UEFA TOURNAMENT

The 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship is the 24th edition of the biennial international football competition. 

England U21 has looked menacing in their opening group games of the tournament in Georgia and Romania, with Lee Carseley's Young Lions already qualifying for the quarter-finals at the weekend. 

Aston Villa's Jacob Ramsey and Arsenal's Emile Smith Rowe helped England beat Czech Republic 2-0 in their opening game of the tournament. A goal from the latter and Newcastle's Anthony Gordon helped them achieve the same score line against Israel. Germany, meanwhile, have fared a lot worse, and will need to beat England to keep their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages alive. A 1-1 draw against Israel to start with wasn't a disaster for them, but a 2-1 defeat to Czech Republic in their second game certainly was. 

In order to make it out of the groups, Germany will need to beat England and hope that Czech Republic don't beat Israel - if they do, then the young side will be out. Only James Trafford, Noni Madueke and Ben Johnson retain their places in England's starting XI from the side that beat Israel, with Lee Carsley opting to make wholesale changes to give his preferred players a rest. Tommy Doyle is the only outfield player in the squad not to make a start at the tournament as a result. It's by no means weakened, though, with the likes of Harvey Elliott, Jacob Ramsey and Cameron Archer all coming into the line up. Strong performances will leave Carsley with a difficult decision to make in the quarters against Portugal. Meanwhile, Brentford's January signing Kevin Schade leads the line for Germany, and will be hoping to score against England to give his nation the best chance at reaching the knockout rounds.

Through to the quarter-finals so far:

Group A: Georgia*, Portugal     Group B: Spain*, Ukraine     Group C: England* (*Group winners) 

U21 EURO group stage fixtures    

Match Day 1    Wednesday 21 June 

Group A Georgia 2-0 Portugal (Paichadze Stadium, Tbilisi) Belgium 0-0 Netherlands (Meskhi Stadium)

Group B Ukraine 2-0 Croatia (Giulești Stadium, Bucharest) Romania 0-3 Spain (Steaua Stadium) 

Match Day 2    Thursday 22 June 

Group C Czechia 0-2 England (Batumi Arena, Batumi) Germany 1-1 Israel (Shengelia Arena, Kut)

Group D Norway 1-2 Switzerland (CFR Cluj Stadium, Cluj-Napoca) France 2-1 Italy (Cluj Arena)

Match Day 3    Saturday 24 June 

Group A Georgia 2-2 Belgium (Paichadze Stadium, Tbilisi) Portugal 1-1 Netherlands (Meskhi Stadium,

Group B Romania 0-1 Ukraine (Steaua Stadium, Bucharest) Spain 1-0 Croatia (Giulești Stadium,

Match Day 4    Sunday 25 June
Group C Czechia 2-1 Germany (Batumi Arena, Batumi) England 2-0 Israel (Shengelia A)

Group D Switzerland 2-3 Italy (Cluj Arena, Cluj-Napoca) Norway 0-1 France (CFR Cluj Stad)

Match Day 5 Tuesday 27 June 

Group A Netherlands 1-1 Georgia (Paichadze Stadium, Tbilisi), Portugal 2-1 Belgium (Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi)

Group B Croatia 0-0 Romania (Steaua Stadium, Bucharest), Spain 2-2 Ukraine (Giulești Stadium, Bucharest)

Group C Table: England top 9 pts: Israel 4 pts: Czech Rep 3 pts: Germany 1 pt

Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Germany 1–1 Israel
Report
Attendance: 2,442
Referee: Willy Delajod (France)
Czech Republic 0–2 England
Report
Attendance: 8,168

England 2–0 Israel
Report
Czech Republic 2–1 Germany
Report
Attendance: 5,023
Referee: Espen Eskås (Norway)

England 2–0 Germany
Report
Attendance: 9,587
Israel 1–0 Czech Republic
Report
Attendance: 2,175
Referee: Duje Strukan (Croatia)

To come: Quarter-Finals

Saturday: Georgia v Israel: Spain v Switzerland 

Sunday: France v Ukraine: England v Portugal

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