Full TimePosted at 90’+4′ Second Half ends, England U21 2, Israel U21 0.Post updateAttempt blocked. Emile Smith Rowe (England U21) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.Posted at 90’+3′ Corner, England U21. Conceded by Yarden Shua.Post updateAttempt saved. Emile Smith Rowe (England U21) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.Posted at 90’+2′ Corner, England U21. Conceded by Yarden Shua.
England Qualify for European Under-21 Championship Quarter-Finals
England have qualified for the quarter-finals of the European Under-21 Championship with a comfortable win over Israel in Georgia. Anthony Gordon powered home a 16th-minute header from a Morgan Gibbs-White cross to open the scoring, and Gibbs-White set up England’s second, finding Emile Smith Rowe on the edge of the area in the 68th minute to fire home low into the bottom corner.
The win means England top Group C and face the runners-up from Group A next. That group is in the balance with hosts Georgia, the Netherlands, Belgium and Portugal all able to qualify for the knockout stage.
Match Report
Israel rarely threatened and Oscar Gloukh’s free-kick on the stroke of half-time, saved low by Manchester City’s James Trafford, was their only shot on target. England manager Gareth Southgate was in attendance at the Ramaz Shengelia Stadium in Kutaisi and a number of the U21 side will have impressed the Three Lions boss.
Nottingham Forest’s Gibbs-White was excellent while Arsenal’s Smith Rowe, the only player in the squad with a senior cap, scored his second goal in as many matches after also having an opener disallowed. Germany lost 2-1 to the Czech Republic in the group’s other game and the defending champions need to beat Lee Carsley’s England – who have not conceded so far – on Wednesday to progress.
Line-Ups
England U21: Trafford; Garner, Harwood-Bellis, Colwill, Johnson (Palmer 61′); Madueke (Skipp 70′), Gomes (Elliott 70′), Jones; Smith Rowe, Gibbs-White (J Ramsey 79′), Gordon (Archer 61′).
Israel U21: Peretz; Jaber, Lemkin, Cohen, Revivo; Khalaili (Hajaj 45′), Azulay (Giorno 59′), Gandelman, Layous (Hofmeister 59′); Gloukh, Turgeman (Bilu 77′).
Referee: Rade Obrenovic
Match Stats
England U21 2 – 0 Israel U21
Shots: England U21 8 – 1 Israel U21
On Target: England U21 5 – 1 Israel U21
Possession: England U21 58% – 42% Israel U21
Conclusion
England’s victory means they top Group C and will face the runners-up from Group A in the quarter-finals. The result also means that Germany need to beat England on Wednesday to progress to the knockout stages. With England having not conceded so far in the tournament, it looks like they are in a strong position to reach the semi-finals.