2013 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Thread

[Duty281]

Starts on the 5th June in Israel. Only 8 teams are in it, so it will all be over in a fortnight. Very simple format, 2 groups of 4, with the top 2 from each group going through to the Semi-Finals. The groups are:

Spoiler:

The schedule (all times BST):

Spoiler:

Squad Lists
BBC's Preview

From an England perspective, it does look like a good squad. Butland, Caulker, Henderson, Rose, Zaha, Shelvey, and Wickham are all names that jump out at you. England are once more led by the experienced Stuart Pearce, who has led England in this tournament in 2007 (lost on penalties in the semis), 2009 (tonked in the final by Germany), and 2011 (knocked out in the groups). Hopes are high, but England haven't triumphed in this tournament since 1984.

All games for UK viewers are live on Sky Sports with commentary of England games on Radio Five Live.

[mystiroakey]

Hopefully Zaha's fitness will be good.

We are actually going to be one of the favs in this..

Come on ENGLAND!

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Yeah our squad actually looks really quite decent, maybe lacking a bit up front if Wickham is off form

[VDT]

Looks a decent squad but i wish we'd take these championship more seriously and get all eligible players in the squad even if they are full internationals like Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Phil Jones and Wilshere.

Surprises me that Managers like Wenger (who is all about developing young players) don't encourage his young players to go to these championship and try win a medal. Being a winner can only be a good thing for England and the likes of Arsenal

[Ent]

I think they have taken it seriously since Pearce took charge.

Jones has certainly been before but the aim of the game isn't winning at all costs by playing "ringers" who are full internationals, it's to get them ready to play at fill international level.

[Duty281]

http://www.uefa.com/under21/season=2013/matches/live/index.html?day=1&session=1&match=2010945

Israel 1-1 Norway at the moment. UEFA's text commentary is absolutely superb.

[Duty281]

Finished 2-2 after 10 man Norway got an injury time equaliser.

Teams for England - the England that have 9 consecutive wins and scored 22 goals without conceding - against Italy (thanks to the BBC):

England U21: Butland, Clyne, Dawson, Caulker, Robinson, Henderson, Lowe, Redmond, Shelvey, Sordell, Wickham. Subs: Steele, Smith, Wisdom, Lees, Chalobah, McEachran, Zaha, Lansbury, Delfouneso, Rudd.

Italy U21: Bardi, Donati, Bianchetti, Caldirola, Biraghi, Florenzi, Marrone, Verratti, Insigne, Borini, Immobile. Subs: Colombi, Capuano, Gabbiadini, Destro, Sansone, Bertolacci, Paloschi, Saponara, Regini, Rossi, Crimi, Leali.

Referee: Antony Gautier (France)

Zaha injured for England, Rose and Ince both suspended. Come on England!

[mystiroakey]

U21 's is where its at. They play so much better than the full team!!

I would love to see a match between England and the under 21's..

My money would firmly be on the U21's

[Ent]

U21 's is where its at. They play so much better than the full team!!

I would love to see a match between England and the under 21's..

My money would firmly be on the U21's

You been drinking?

[mystiroakey]

No

[Ent]

There's no way the u21 would even compete with the full side.

[Crimey]

Yeah, England would wipe the floor with them I'd have thought. That's not to take anything away from the U21s, at the youth level they're obviously good. It's also nice to see Liverpool represented in the side.

[mystiroakey]

Nah I think they would beat them in a one off game- just look what at what Ireland can do(championishp/ low level pl players) ..

They would be up for the game a lot more

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Marvin Sordell is awful

[Ent]

Nah I think they would beat them in a one off game- just look what at what Ireland can do(championishp/ low level pl players) ..

They would be up for the game a lot more

Ireland would beat this u21 side - they aren't very good and their best players are championship players....

Italy are all over them.

[Crimey]

I wouldn't say the U21 side are poor, they just lack the quality most full international sides do, Ireland included. That's to be expected at this level.

If the U21 had a better forward, they be a much better outfit as well. Sordell isn't very good and Wickham was an overhyped youngster at Ipswich and now is an average striker at Sunderland where he struggles to get into the starting XI even when they have no forwards available.

[mystiroakey]

Nope I dont agree at all ent(re Ireland)
I agree England are off course the better side over the u21's . the point was that I would back them to beat england in a one off game..

Anyway ..

Italy have a few decent players. Good game this one..

[Ent]

Well that's a red card.

[mystiroakey]

He got the ball!

[mystiroakey]

Maybe not!!!

Bad challeneg that one

[Crimey]

He only seemed to stand on his foot.

Have only seen one replay though.

[Ent]

Nope I dont agree at all ent(re Ireland)
I agree England are off course the better side over the u21's . the point was that I would back them to beat england in a one off game..

Anyway ..

Italy have a few decent players. Good game this one..

Well you are wrong.

Ireland either have better or more experiences players in most positions.

There is no mission on earth the u21s would beat the full side just because they would be up for it. Anybody eligible and of sufficient quality is already I the full international squad.

[Ent]

He only seemed to stand on his foot.

Have only seen one replay though.

Turned his back and stamped down, pure luck he didnt damage the guy.

[Fernando]

1-0 England - Dawson

Much better start to the 2nd half from England

[Ent]

I take it that goal hasn't stood as it isn't on the scoreboard?

[Fernando]

or not apparently been disallowed

[Fernando]

I take it that goal hasn't stood as it isn't on the scoreboard?

Well the commentators have only just found out so ive no idea

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

What? That was not a goal??!

Bull crap

[mystiroakey]

err.. whats going on!

[mystiroakey]

I like rodwell today!

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Why was it disallowed?!?!

[Ent]

I like rodwell today!

Is he even playin?

[mystiroakey]

This pitch is reaaly slippy!

[Ent]

Is zaha fit/ on the bench - only watching to see him!!

[mystiroakey]

Hope he gets on!

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Zaha is injured I think. Otherwise he'd be starting

[mystiroakey]

Yes he has a niggle.. I was hoping he could still play a bit though!

[Ent]

On another note, how crap is Shelvey?

[mystiroakey]

Shelvey seems like your typical england player from the past doesnt he..

[Ent]

On another note, how crap is Shelvey?

Scary that! He's just been subbed.

[Ent]

This ref is on something lol

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Butland should have saved that. Very weak hand

[mystiroakey]

Btw I meant Redmond(not Redwell) Ent!

ANyway. Well played Italy.. Better team won on the day..

Flashes from England- but its do or die. We are allready in virtual Knockout!

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Redmond by far our best player tonight

Seriously lack a striker tho. Wickham/Delfonseuo/Sordell not good enough atm

[mystiroakey]

Pearce stated that he had no problem not having an additional striker due to him having Zaha that could play up there for him..

Well firstly he shouldn't be playing as a front man. He wouldn't get enough of the ball and secondly he is injured!!

[Duty281]

England beaten by an Italian side who kept the ball better and understood the technical side of the game well. We had one goal weirdly chalked off, they had a clear pen not given. Thought Butland should have saved their winning free-kick in truth. I remember Wickham had a lot of hype around him a couple of years ago - I can't see why, he was virtually non-existent. Only shining lights were Redmond, raw but with plenty of potential, and Henderson, who is vastly maturing as a player. Lose to Norway on Saturday and we'll be out - fortunately, we'll have Zaha, Ince and Rose back. One stat to sum the game up courtesy of OPTA:

76 - Marco Verratti made 120 passes in tonight's game, at least 76 more than any England player (Henderson 44). Conductor.

Must pass the ball better, particularly in the Israeli heat.

[Ent]

Ref was bonkers.

England are a bit crap really.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I'd be tempted to start with Zaha up top tbh if he's fit

Ince and Redmond on the wings. Would be harsh to drop Redmond after his performance tonight

[Ent]

Redmond was good, very good.

A lot of it comes down to attitude and approach in my opinion, some of the Italian players (especially a few at the back) weren't the best technically and did give it away at times but they were determined to pass the ball and retain possession- mixed it up with long and short passes.

England worked the channels and hit long balls, nothing really through the middle.

Veratti was excellent and looks a top player in the making.

[mystiroakey]

I'd be tempted to start with Zaha up top tbh if he's fit

Ince and Redmond on the wings. Would be harsh to drop Redmond after his performance tonight

I would play Zaha the way Holloway played him end of the season. He mixed him up well. So the opposition couldn't work out what was going on..

He can start on the left.. Redmond was so impressive it wouldn't be fair to take him from that position

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