Strong England Under-21 squad named for crucial Euro qualifiers

Friday 31 Aug 2018
Aaron Wan-Bissaka has had an impressive start to the season with Crystal Palace

England have named a 23-player squad for next month’s key 2019 UEFA European U21 Championship qualifiers.

There are first time call-ups for Derby County loanee Mason Mount and Crystal Palace defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Aidy Boothroyd’s side will face the Netherlands at Carrow Road on Thursday 6 September (7.45pm BST KO).

They will then travel to Jelgava where they will play Latvia at Zemgales Olimpiskais Centrs on Tuesday 11 September (3pm BST KO).

England v Netherlands
  • UEFA U21 Championship
  • Group 4 qualifier
  • 7.45pm, Thursday 6 September
  • at Carrow Road, Norwich
The Young Lions sit top of Group 4, five points ahead of their Dutch visitors with four matches to play.

The teams drew 1-1 in the reverse fixture in Doetinchem in September 2017 with Dominic Calvert-Lewin on the scoresheet for England.

The team enjoyed success in the summer lifting the Toulon Tournament for the third year running, with Dael Fry and Kieran Dowell on the scoresheet in a 2-1 win over Mexico in the final.

Boothroyd said: “This squad has been particularly difficult to select, in a good way, as there are so many players who are in contention for a place.

“We’ve got the group that’s been with us for the qualifying campaign and put us in a really good position, along with some of the younger players who did so well at the Toulon Tournament or were part of the 2017 U20 World Cup-winning team.

Lewis Cook lifts the FIFA U20 World Cup in South Korea

“We have a lot of strength in depth and some really exciting players coming through the system. Our job, across the whole England pathway, is to recognise when is the best time to move them up – the right time, right games and right competitions.

“We know both games will be tough. We played the Netherlands away in our first game last season as well, it was very even and we’re expecting more of the same this time round. It’s a great opportunity to put some more distance between us and them.

“We’re also expecting a difficult game against Latvia. They have got good form at home and we’ll need to play well to break them down. We have four games left, we’re in a good position and we need to make sure we’re professional and finish the job off.

“I’m really looking forward to being back after a great Toulon Tournament and personally, a great learning experience being out in Russia with our senior team this summer where they did so well and there are exciting times ahead for all of our squads.”

Tickets for England v Netherlands are still available, priced at £10 for adults and £5 for under 18s and over 65s.

A family ticket (two adults and two children), priced £20, is available and group booking and Charter Standard discounts apply.

Tickets can be bought via TheFA.com/Tickets, by calling 01603 721 902 or in person at the Norwich City ticket office.

England v Netherlands will be broadcast live on BT Sport 1.

Goalkeepers: Angus Gunn (Southampton), Dean Henderson (Sheffield United, on loan from Manchester United), Freddie Woodman (Newcastle United)

Defenders: Ben Chilwell (Leicester City), Jake Clarke-Salter (Vitesse Arnhem, on loan from Chelsea), Dael Fry (Middlesbrough), Jonjoe Kenny (Everton), Ezri Konsa (Brentford), Fikayo Tomori (Derby County, on loan from Chelsea), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Crystal Palace), Kyle Walker-Peters (Tottenham Hotspur)

Midfielders: Lewis Cook (AFC Bournemouth), Tom Davies (Everton), Kieran Dowell (Everton), Mason Mount (Derby County, on loan from Chelsea), Josh Onomah (Tottenham Hotspur), Ryan Sessegnon (Fulham)

Forwards: Tammy Abraham (Chelsea), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Demarai Gray (Leicester City), Ademola Lookman (Everton), James Maddison (Leicester City), Dominic Solanke (Liverpool).

By FA Staff