UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2019

[Lineker]

GROUP A
 ITALY (hosts)
 SPAIN
 POLAND
 BELGIUM

GROUP B
 GERMANY
 DENMARK
 SERBIA
 AUSTRIA

GROUP C
 ENGLAND
 FRANCE
 ROMANIA
 CROATIA

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• The group winners and the best runner-up advance to the semi-finals and qualify for the 2020 Summer Olympics.
• The tournament runs 16^th June – 30^th June
• The UK broadcasting rights are held by Sky Sports.

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Manchester City's Phil Foden and Leicester City's James Maddison are in the England Under-21 squad for Euro 2019 in Italy and San Marino in June.

Highly rated right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who made 35 Premier League appearances for Crystal Palace last season, has also been selected.

Wolves' Morgan Gibbs-White has been handed his first international call-up by manager Aidy Boothroyd.

"This is a really strong squad," said Boothroyd.

"I'm really pleased with the group of players who will be representing us at the Euros.

"We have a big pool of talent in the England set-up and I had some tough selection decisions to make as there's a lot of strength in depth."

Maddison was called up by Gareth Southgate last year but the England manager did not include the former Norwich player, Foden or Wan-Bissaka in his squad for the inaugural Nations League finals in June - preferring them to gain tournament experience at Euro 2019.

Chelsea players Tammy Abraham (on loan at Aston Villa), Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori (both on loan at Derby) have been selected but will not join up with the squad until after the Championship play-off final.

"We've got Tammy, Demarai (Gray) and Angus (Gunn) who were part of the Euros squad in 2017, but also have nine players who are young enough to be eligible for the next qualifying campaign," said Boothroyd.

"This group have also won a lot at youth level and know the work and application that it takes."

England face France, Romania and Croatia in Group C with their opening game against France on 18 June.

England U21 squad
Goalkeepers: Angus Gunn (Southampton), Dean Henderson (Manchester United), Freddie Woodman (Newcastle United)
Defenders: Jake Clarke-Salter (Chelsea), Jay Dasilva (Chelsea), Lloyd Kelly (Bournemouth), Jonjoe Kenny (Everton), Ezri Konsa (Brentford), Fikayo Tomori (Derby County, loan from Chelsea), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Crystal Palace)
Midfielders: Harvey Barnes (Leicester City), Hamza Choudhury (Leicester City), Kieran Dowell (Everton), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Morgan Gibbs-White (Wolves), James Maddison (Leicester City), Mason Mount (Derby County, loan from Chelsea), Ryan Sessegnon (Fulham)
Forwards: Tammy Abraham (Aston Villa, loan from Chelsea), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Demarai Gray (Leicester City), Reiss Nelson (Arsenal), Dominic Solanke (Bournemouth)

[Baddar]

That is a good squad tbf.

[Colly]

I imagine this is hilarious if you speak Belgian.

 

[Bobfoc]

I understand French and didn't find it funny. Belgian humour is clearly beyond my primitive mind.

[Lineker]

This starts today - Poland vs. Belgium is on Sky.

[MDK]

POLAND STRONG, KURWA POWER

[Baddar]

Been a good first half hour. Belgium have dominated, and Batshuayi's brother gave them the lead, but Poland equalised just now.

[Lineker]

Italy vs. Spain is starting shortly.

[Szumi]

That Italy roster is incredible. I wouldn't be surprised at all if they win this. I think their back line isn't as strong as what others look like on paper, but that midfield and attack has so much depth and class. England are much the same way in that there is talent in the middle and attack, but I think their backline lacks that big leader and player. The French probably have the best overall squad; it'll be interesting to see who wins in that group stage match.

Edited June 17, 2019 by It's Pronounced Zoom-E

[Lineker]

James Maddison is to wear a pair of boots bearing the image of a young friend and supporter who died from bone cancer. Sophie Taylor, five, from Norwich, died in January. Leicester City midfielder Maddison met Sophie and became her friend when he played for Norwich City. He tweeted photos of his new boots which he said he would wear for "my best friend", when he plays for England in the European Under-21 Championship:

 

[Lineker]

England get their campaign underway today, against France:

Phil Foden is expected to be a surprise omission from England’s opening game of the European Under-21 Championships against France on Tuesday night.

The Manchester City midfielder, heralded as one of the potential stars of the tournament and among England’s brightest young talents, is understood to be among the substitutes for the Group C opener in Cesena. Mason Mount, the Chelsea midfielder who excelled on loan at Derby County last season, is expected to start instead.

Aidy Boothroyd, the England head coach, has informed the squad of his plans and insisted on Monday that they had all accepted his decision.

Among other surprises is the inclusion of Dominic Solanke over Dominic Calvert-Lewin in attack. Solanke, Golden Ball winner at the under 20 World Cup in 2017, has scored several key goals in qualifying for England but had a disappointing Premier League campaign with Bournemouth and Liverpool.

Boothroyd, meanwhile, has said England’s hopes of winning will be on the line from the moment their tournament starts against France. Only the three group winners and the best runner-up qualify for the semi-finals in Italy and the England head coach warns there is no margin for error as a consequence. Boothroyd, bidding to lead England to the title for the first time since 1984, has warned his players there will be no gentle introduction to the competition in Cesena.

“It is knockout football from day one,” he said. “You don’t get the luxury of having a game to just assess things whether you win, lose or draw and then have the next game to accumulate some points. With this you are at it from the start. You know teams are going to need to attack to win the groups or claim the best runners-up spot. This is going to be one of the best Euros there’s ever been because of the quality of the teams in the tournament.”

England qualified for the Euros for a record seventh consecutive time whereas France, despite their impressive production line of talent, failed to reach the last six tournaments. Boothroyd believes they pose a formidable threat.

“France are one of the favourites. They are very gifted, strong, fast, very good on the break and in transition. [Moussa] Dembélé is obviously one of the stand-out players who we will look to stop and in [Lucas] Tousart, the captain, there is a solid, tough, competitive midfield player. I could go on because they have a lot of talented players. I expect it to be a really difficult game for us and for them.”

Jake Clarke‑Salter has been appointed England captain for the Euros. The 21-year-old Chelsea defender, who spent last season on loan at Vitesse Arnhem, says he will take inspiration from the former Stamford Bridge captain John Terry.

“John Terry is one of my idols and I look up to him a lot. I came through the academy at Chelsea and he would help me a lot with advice. I am very honoured and privileged to be able to captain this wonderfully talented side.”

[Jimmy]

Oh man, we actually played some good football last night before Choudary's awful challenge and a bit of a calamitous own goal, seeing as the keeper absolutely had it covered. Henderson was excellent in goal and Foden was bright throughout. Baffling subs from Bothroyd, subbing two wingers for two strikers, to play both on the wing after the sending off. 

[Szumi]

Well, England sucked.

[Lineker]

Spain win!