Young Lions lose to Algarve trophy winners Germany

England's U17s ended the Algarve Tournament with a 2-0 defeat to tournament winners Germany. 

First-half goals from Niklas Schmidt and Niklas Dorsch proved enough to ensure the Germans wrapped up their trip Portugal with a 100 per cent record to lift the trophy. 

Despite a much-improved display after the restart, John Peacock’s side were unable to claw themselves back into the contest. Their focus now switches to next month’s European Championship Elite Round qualifiers. 

Reece Oxford, who only joined up with the squad on Sunday following first-team commitments with West Ham, came straight in at centre-half to captain the side. But after a decent opening from the Young Lions, the skipper was caught in possession on halfway by Schmidt. 

The Werder Bremen midfielder nicked the ball and had a clean run on goal finishing under pressure past Huffer from ten yards to give Germany an eighth-minute lead. 

England looked to get back into it quickly and Hayden Coulson won a strong challenge before playing a one-two with Marcus Edwards. But his cross from the left was cleared behind by the German defence. 

Then, after some neat possession play, Manchester United midfielder Callum Gribbin appeared to have an opening on the edge of the area, but he hesitated and tried to find Edwards instead of shooting, and the attack was snuffed out. 

With 16 minutes played the Young Lions task was made all the more harder as they conceded a second. Schmidt reacted to a quick throw and ran into the area before cutting the ball back for Dorsch to finish from eight yards. 

The opposition were now enjoying plenty of the ball as England struggled to build any of attacks of note, with only a free-kick from Edwards testing the goalkeeper. 

Manchester United's Callum Gribbin

Having fired straight at him on his first attempt, Edwards had another go on 34 minutes, but this time shooting high and wide of the target. As the half neared its end, Peacock’s youngsters came into it more, but almost conceded a third on the stroke of half-time. 

A cross from the left was met by the head of Janni-Luca Serra, but Huffer was down well to save. 

Germany made five changes ahead of the second half, as Peacock shuffled his own pack too. Left back Coulson was replaced by Fulham’s Tayo Edun and West Ham forward Jahmal Hector-Ingram taking the place of Layton Ndukwu. 

This was followed by the introduction of Nathan Holland and Andre Green shortly into the half as the attacking numbers were boosted again by the head coach. 

The changes rejuvenated the Young Lions and the raised the pressure on Germany, but all too often the final ball was lacking as they struggled to create clear cut opportunities. Their best opening fell to Hector-Ingram from Holland’s cross, but his overhead kick flew wide of the post. 

England U17s head coach John Peacock

Further changes in personnel were made by both sides as the game reached its closing stages, and despite the Young Lions new-found attacking impetus, they had to remain wary of the counter. 

England looked as though their efforts would be rewarded with nine minutes remaining. Kazaiah Sterling met a through-ball and rounded the keeper, but his touch took him too wide to shoot at the empty net. 

Instead he attempted to float a cross over for three of his onrushing team-mates to convert, but it was too high and the chance was gone. 

Holland then skipped past Paul Graushopf down the right before pulling back inside and letting fly, but his rasping effort was straight at the goalkeeper.

England (4-2-3-1): 1 Will Huffer (Leeds United), 2 James Yates (Everton), 18 Hayden Coulson (Middlesbrough), 15 Reece Oxford (c) (West Ham), 16 Easah Suliman (Aston Villa), 20 Will Patching (Manchester City), 21 Callum Gribbin (Manchester United), 8 Daniel Wright Sunderland), 10 Marcus Edwards (Tottenham Hotspur), 19 Kazaiah Sterling (Tottenham Hotspur), 11 Layton Ndukwu (Leicester City). 

Subs: 22 Jahmal Hector-Ingram (West Ham) for Ndukwu 40; 3 Tayo Edun (Fulham) for Coulson 40; 7 Nathan Holland (Everton) for Gribbin 50; 14 Andre Green (Aston Villa) for Wright 50; 9 Lukas Nmecha (Manchester City) for Patching 59; 6 Danny Collinge (Stuttgart) for Edwards 59; 13 Aston Oxborough (Norwich City) for Huffer 67; 12 Kyron Stabana (Derby County) for Yates 67. 

Subs not used: 4 Foday Nabay (Fulham), 17 Connor Ronan Wolves). 

Head coach: John Peacock. 

Germany (4-4-1-1): 1 Constantin Frommann; 2 Jonas Busam, 3 Enes Akyol, 15 Daniel Nesseler, 16 Felix Passlack (c); 7 Mats Kohlert, 19 Gorkem Saglam, 20 Niklas Schmidt; 13 Erdinc Karakas; 21 Janni-Luca Serra. 

Subs: 12 Markus Schubert for Frommann 40; 10 Salih Ozcan for Schmidt; 11 Beyhan Ametov for Karakas; 4 Gokham Gul for Busam 40; 9 Johannes Eggestein for Saglam; 5 Paul Graushopf for Serra 59; 17 Tim Probst for Dorsch 59. 

Subs not used: 18 Dijon Ramaj, 22 Marco Stefandi. 

Goals: Schmidt 8; Dorsch 16. 

Bookings: Schubert 68. 

Head coach: Chrisstian Wuck