England U17s held to draw by Holland in Euro Group

Having led through Timothy Fosu-Mensah’s first-half own goal, John Peacock’s side were pegged back by Reda Boultam’s penalty shortly after the restart – although Trent Arnold looked to have avoided contact with Dani De Wit.

The result leaves England top of Group D on four points, with Italy sitting a point behind after their 2-0 victory over Republic of Ireland earlier in the afternoon.  

With Tom Davies ruled out through a knock picked up in the opening victory over Italy, Peacock switched to a midfield diamond. Arnold, who replaced Davies during the second half of Thursday’s win, sat at the bottom of the diamond, tasked with protecting an unchanged back four.

Herbie Kane retained his spot in the middle and he was joined by Fulham’s Tayo Edun, with Marcus Edwards, scorer of the only goal against the Italians, sat at the top behind forwards Chrissy Willock and Stephy Mavididi.

It wasn't a lively start as both teams looked to be feeling each other out in the early exchanges with the opposition winning several early corners, but the best chances were created by Peacock’s charges.  

England defender Jay Dasilva brings the ball out against Holland

Willock danced and weaved his way through the defence on eight minutes, but he was denied a memorable goal when his left-foot shot was smothered by Justin Bljlow guarding the Dutch net.

Five minutes later and another opportunity fell England’s way, this time it was Edwards who burst forward from halfway. The Tottenham youngster reached the edge of the box before slipping in a pass to Mavididi down the left of the area, but the Arsenal striker’s attempt from wide was straight at the keeper and then cleared off the line.

The pace of the attack was causing problems for the Dutch as England built up a head of steam and their efforts were rewarded after 18 minutes. 

Edwards again collected the ball in the middle and set off forward, playing it to the overlapping  Edun on the right. He ran the ball onto the 18-yard line and whipped a low centre across the face of the goal that Dutch skipper Fosu-Mensah could only divert into his own net to break the deadlock.

The match with Holland was John Peacock's 100th UEFA U17 game

It should have been two just seconds later as Mavididi was played clean-through by Arnold, but the chance was squandered as he fired into the side-netting. 

Shortly after this, the game’s first change arrived as Holland full-back Giovvanni Troupee was replaced by Donyell Malen with a switch to a 3-5-2 formation.

The move looked to settle the side as the men in orange began to press themselves, and the sub tested Paul Woolston with a stinging drive from 20 yards – but due to a floodlight failure any momentum they hoped to build was squashed as the game was forced into a short delay before the break, which arrived without any further incident.

Holland began the second half on top as England found it hard to match the level of their ball retention in the first half. They had a scare when a deep cross was headed back across goal by Jay-Roy Grot, but with the goal gaping, De Wit failed to meet the knockdown.

A minute later the scores were level, although it arrived in controversial fashion. Arnold looked to have pulled out of a challenge on De Wit as the Dutch attacker crumpled to the floor in a heap – but the referee thought otherwise and pointed to the penalty spot. Boultam placed down the ball and converted to even the score.

England right-back James Yates in action against the Dutch

Two changes were made by Peacock as he looked to rejuvenate his attack, Ike Ugbo and Layton Ndukwu replacing Mavididi and Edwards, and the former headed over with his first opportunity from a cross on the left.

As the contest reached the closing stages it was the Dutch who had the best opportunity to snatch a winner as Jay-Roy Grot latched onto a loose ball and raced clear on goal, but his low strike went around a foot wide off the far post.

Daniel Wright then arrived off the bench for the final few minutes, and he came close to a winner with a fierce drive from 18 yards, but the keeper saved well to ensure the honours ended even.

England now only need a point in their final game against Republic of Ireland on Wednesday to qualify for the last eight.

Holland (4-3-3): 1 Justin Bljlow; 2 Giovvanni Troupee, 3 Timothy Fosu-Mensah, 4 Mats Knoester, 5 Rick van Drongelen; 12 Dani de Wit, 8 Carel Elting, 6 Reda Boultam; 17 Jay-Roy Grot, 10 Javairo Dilrosun, 11 Javairo Dllrosun.

Substitutes: 18 Donyell Malen for Troupee (26), 7 Rashaan Fernandes for Dllrosun (62), 13 Sherel Floranus for Boultham (79).

Substitutes not used: 16 Thijmen Nljuis, 9 Nigel Robertha, 14 Matthijs de Ligt, 15 Mink Peeters

Goals: Boultam(56)

Bookings: Elting (60), Boultam (77)

Head coach: Maarten Stekelenburg 

England (4-1-2-1-2): 1 Paul Woolston (Newcastle United); 2 James Yates (Everton), 5 Reece Oxford (C) (West Ham), 6 Danny Collinge (Stuttgart), 3 Jay Dasilva (Chelsea); 14 Trent Arnold (Liverpool); 18 Herbie Kane (Liverpool), 12 Tayo Edun (Fulham); 10 Marcus Edwards (Tottenham); 11 Chrissy Willock (Arsenal), 16 Stephy Mavididi.

Substitutes: 9 Ike Ugbo (Chelsea) for Mavididi (55), 17 Layton Ndukwu (Leicester City) for Edwards (62); 8 Daniel Wright (Sunderland) for Edun (77)

Substitutes not used: 13 Will Huffer (Leeds United), 7 Nathan Holland (Everton),  15 Easah Suliman (Aston Villa)

Goals: OG Fosu-Mensah (18)

Bookings: Oxford (65)

Head coach: John Peacock