England Under-21s will face defending champions Sweden in the opening game of this summer’s Euro Finals.
The Young Lions have this week learned of their schedule in Group A, which also sees them take on host nation Poland and Slovakia.
And after Sweden lifted the title in Czech Republic in 2015, they will get the tournament kicked-off on Friday 16 June in Kielce.
For a few members of the squad, the fixture will bring back memories of the last meeting between the nations at the Euro Finals of 2015, when Gareth Southgate’s side inflicted the only defeat of the competition on the Swedes thanks to a late winner from Jesse Lingard in Olomouc.
England will play all three of their games at the Kielce Stadium, a venue which was opened in 2006, with their second match against Slovakia coming three days later on Monday 19 June.
They will then finish their group stage against the Poles on the evening of Thursday 22 June.
The 2017 final tournament will contain an expanded field of 12 teams and alongside England’s Group A rivals there are Czech Republic, Italy, FYR Macedonia, Portugal, Denmark, Germany, Serbia and Spain.
All three group winners and the best of the runners-up will progress to the semi-finals, scheduled for Tuesday 27 June, before the final takes place in Krakow on Friday 30 June.
Tickets for the Euro 2017 games go on general sale on Tuesday 21 February. Click here for more details.
This week also saw the U21s' qualifying dates for the 2019 Championship confirmed by UEFA. Click here for details on that.
England’s Euro 2017 fixtures
Sweden v England
5pm, Friday 16 June
Kielce Stadium
Slovakia v England
5pm, Monday 19 June
Kielce Stadium
England v Poland
7.45pm,Thursday 22 June
Kielce Stadium
