Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones says the current England Under-21 side is “one of the best I’ve seen” after they opened their European Championship campaign with victory over the Czech Republic.
Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey scored the opener early in the second half, picking the ball up and exchanging passes with Anthony Gordon before bursting into the box and slotting into the far corner.
Newcastle forward Gordon then had a goal ruled out for an infringement by Morgan Gibbs-White, but Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe sealed victory deep into stoppage time when he tapped in at the far post after being teed up by Cameron Archer.
Lee Carsley’s side, who are now in a strong position to reach the knockout stage, face Israel in their next group match on Sunday (17:00 BST).
“It’s the perfect way to start,” said Jones. “It’s always good to win your first game.
“We’ve got a team that ability wise and talent wise is one of the best I’ve seen. It’s hard to put us all in the team.
“I just get on the ball, I turn and there’s lads there that I can trust on the ball. It’s easy.”
England must ‘capitalise’ on ‘really good start’
England had not won the opening game of a European Under-21 Championship since 2009 and Carsley named an attacking line-up, with Gordon, Gibbs-White, Jones and Chelsea’s Noni Madueke all in the starting XI.
Prior to Ramsey’s opener, England also went close in the first half when Madueke curled a shot against the bar after some good work on the right-hand side, while three other chances also went begging.
The Young Lions did not have it all their own way, with the Czech Republic’s best chance falling to forward Vasil Kusej, who raced through on goal but shot wide.
It is two years ago to the day that the senior England team beat the Czech Republic during their run to the Euro 2020 final – and Carsley’s side will hope their victory puts them on the same path.
“It was important that we got off to a really good start,” said the former Everton midfielder. “The preparation has gone so well.
“But we’ve done nothing yet. We’ve got a good start so we’ve got to make sure we capitalise on that.”
Germany drew 1-1 with Israel in Thursday’s other Group C game, while Switzerland beat Norway and France won 2-1 against Italy in Group D.
Line-ups
Czech Rep U21
Formation 4-1-2-1-2
- 1Jaros
- 4Gabriel
- 2Vitík
- 3Hranác
- 12Cedidla
- 8Cerv
- 22KalocSubstituted forValentaat 82′minutes
- 20ZamburekSubstituted forDanekat 66′minutes
- 11SulcBooked at 45minsSubstituted forKarabecat 66′minutesBooked at 90mins
- 7KusejSubstituted forJurásekat 60′minutes
- 9SejkBooked at 19minsSubstituted forFilaat 66′minutes
Substitutes
- 5Pojezny
- 6Fukala
- 10Karabec
- 13Danek
- 14Fila
- 15Koubek
- 16Neuman
- 17Jurásek
- 18Pech
- 19Vlcek
- 21Valenta
- 23Markovic
England U21
Formation 4-2-2-2
- 1Trafford
- 14Garner
- 5Harwood-Bellis
- 4Colwill
- 2AaronsBooked at 56minsSubstituted forJohnsonat 89′minutes
- 21GomesSubstituted forSkippat 79′minutes
- 17Jones
- 23MaduekeSubstituted forSmith Roweat 79′minutes
- 8J RamseyBooked at 84mins
- 7Gibbs-WhiteBooked at 69minsSubstituted forElliottat 89′minutes
- 11GordonBooked at 20minsSubstituted forArcherat 79′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Thomas
- 6Skipp
- 9Archer
- 10Smith Rowe
- 12Branthwaite
- 13Griffiths
- 15Cresswell
- 16Johnson
- 18Doyle
- 19Elliott
- 20Palmer
- 22Rushworth
- Referee:
- Horatiu Fesnic
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Czechia U21 0, England U21 2.
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Second Half ends, Czechia U21 0, England U21 2.
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Goal! Czechia U21 0, England U21 2. Emile Smith Rowe (England U21) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Cameron Archer.
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Adam Karabec (Czechia U21) is shown the yellow card.
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Adam Karabec (Czechia U21) has gone down, but the referee deems it simulation.
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Foul by James Garner (England U21).
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Martin Cedidla (Czechia U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Ben Johnson (England U21).
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Adam Karabec (Czechia U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt blocked. Harvey Elliott (England U21) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Cameron Archer.
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Oliver Skipp (England U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Matej Jurásek (Czechia U21).
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Substitution, England U21. Ben Johnson replaces Max Aarons.
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Substitution, England U21. Harvey Elliott replaces Morgan Gibbs-White.
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Attempt missed. James Garner (England U21) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Cameron Archer.
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James Garner (England U21) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Adam Karabec (Czechia U21).
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Corner, England U21. Conceded by Matej Valenta.
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Attempt blocked. Taylor Harwood-Bellis (England U21) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Morgan Gibbs-White with a cross.
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Corner, England U21. Conceded by Martin Vitík.
