England U21 vs Israel LIVE! Euro 2023 match stream, latest team news, lineups, TV, prediction today
England look to make it two wins from two as they face Israel in their second group-stage match of the European Under-21 Championship this evening. The Young Lions got off to a successful start against the Czech Republic and need more of the same here, with a clash against defending champions Germany to come.
Jacob Ramsey gave England the lead in their tournament opener, before Emile Smith Rowe came off the bench to put the result beyond doubt late on. The Arsenal midfielder comes in to start against Israel, while Lee Carsley has opted for Ben Johnson at full-back as Max Aarons misses out due to illness.
Israel will be on a high themselves after they held Germany to a goalless draw, despite playing half of that match with ten men. Any positive result here would be a huge boost in their bid to qualify for the knockout stages. Follow all the action with Standard Sport’s LIVE blog below!
Live updates
Two changes for England
Emile Smith Rowe starts for England, with Jacob Ramsey dropping to the bench. Looks like the Arsenal man will start on the left of the three behind Gordon, with Morgan Gibbs-White in a central position and Noni Madueke on the right.
The other change comes at the back, with the ill Max Aarons missing out and Ben Johnson coming in at left-back.
Israel U21 team news
Starting XI: Peretz, Jaber, Laios, Revivo, Cohen, Lemkin, Khalaili, Gandelman, Azulay, Gloukh, Turgeman
Subs: Tzarfati, Blorian, Bar, Morgan, Hajaj, Hoffmeister, Preda, Abu Rumi, Bilu
England U21 team news
Starting XI: Trafford; Garner, Harwood-Bellis, Colwill, Johnson; Gomes, Jones; Madueke, Gibbs-White, Smith Rowe; Gordon
Subs: Thomas, Skipp, Archer, Ramsey, Branthwaite, Griffiths, Cresswell, Elliott, Palmer, Rushworth
England with plenty of options
England U21 manager Lee Carsley believes Newcastle star Anthony Gordon can offer something different up front.
Carsley’s team selection in beating the Czech Republic saw him pick seven midfielders, with Newcastle winger Gordon playing as a striker.
“We’ve tried to come up with two or three ways of exploiting the opposition,” the England U21 manager said.
“We’ll try and find gaps and spaces. It surprises me that there is surprise (at his team selection). The players nowadays are multi-functional.
“I see that we’ve got a lot of players within this squad that can do different roles. Part of the squad selection was having that flexibility to play with a different kind of nine (striker).
“I see pretty much any of the forward players, whether they’re wide players or forwards, being able to do that nine. You get a different type of nine with Anthony than you would with Cole (Palmer) or Curtis (Jones) or Emile (Smith Rowe).”
Carsley on strong England start
This is the first time that England have won their U21 Euros opener since 2009, when they reached the final with a team featuring James Milner, Micah Richards and Theo Walcott.
Speaking after the win over the Czech Republic, boss Lee Carsley said: “It was important that we got off to a really good start. Getting the win in the first game is always so important. We were aware of the record from the past.
“I thought it was important that we started the first game with players that have been playing a lot for their clubs, especially towards the end of the season. We felt that it would help us and it did.”
Israel hold firm
Far from routine for Israel as they picked up a point against Germany last time out.
They saved two penalties, played 45 minutes with ten men… still earned a draw against the defending champions!
Colwill eyeing first trophy
Chelsea defender Levi Colwill says he is dreaming of winning his first silverware as a player at the European U21 Championship.
In a lively opener against the Czech Republic in Batumi, Georgia on Thursday, England sealed a 2-0 win courtesy of second-half strikes from Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey and Emile Smith Rowe of Arsenal. England face Israel in their second Group C game on Sunday, and Gareth Southgate will be in attendance in Kutaisi.
Colwill, who impressed this season on loan from Chelsea at Brighton, started at centre-back against the Czech Republic despite joining the squad late having trained with the senior England side over the past week.
“I really enjoyed training with the seniors”, Colwill said. “I learned so much, but I always had this tournament in the back of my mind. It’s such a big thing for me because I haven’t won a trophy in my professional career yet. This would be the best way to start, and hopefully do well.
“When you see the top pros at Brighton and at the [England] seniors, their levels are so high. It drives me to be regarded as a great player like they are.”
Three points on the board
It was goalless at the break in England’s opponent match, and they had to survive a couple of dangerous moments in the first-half.
But the Young Lions took the lead through Jacob Ramsey and Emile Smith Rowe then had the simplest of finishes deep into stoppage-time to seal victory.
Standard Sport prediction
Israel showed against Germany that they are not an easy side to break down, and England could have to be patient once again.
The Young Lions should have enough to make it two wins from two though, giving them a perfect start before the focus turns to a clash with Germany.
England to win, 2-0.
England U21 team news
Emile Smith Rowe scored England’s second goal late on against the Czech Republic, set up by Cameron Archer after the pair both came off the bench, and both are pushing to start tonight
Arsenal midfielder Smith Rowe may have to settle for a place among the substitutes again, but Archer could come into the side should manager Lee Carsley decide to go with an out-and-out striker this time. Either Anthony Gordon or Morgan Gibbs-White would likely drop to the bench.
James Garner looks set to keep his place after impressing in an unfamiliar right-back role, with Max Aarons filling in on the opposite side of defence.
Levi Colwill should partner Taylor Harwood-Bellis again in the middle of the back four, with the pair looking for more of the same after that opening clean sheet.
Predicted England U21 XI: Trafford, Garner, Harwood-Bellis, Colwill, Aarons, Jones, Gomes, Ramsey, Madueke, Gibbs-White, Archer
