England U-21s versus Czech Republic U-21s – Under 21 European Championships - Match Preview
England’s U-21 contingent meet their Czech counterparts in this pen-ultimate encounter of group B when Stuart Pearce’s men take the field in Demark on 19th of June, 2010 as both the teams look to battle it out for a
place in the knockout stages. Thus, let’s take a look at how both the teams might perform against each other on Sunday night...
England U-21 team
Stuart Pearce has come out recently and blamed his team’s woeful showing in the U-21 European Championships on their tendency to get nervous before a match. If there are ever a nervous set of players in football, they are the English.
The senior team is a mess as it is but now the youngsters are following in their footsteps too. Criticism will obviously be stepped up if England don’t perform on Sunday night in this last group stage encounter.
England need to win this encounter if they intend to progress past the group stages of the U-21 European Championships after they drew their first two games of the tournament against Spain and Ukraine respectively. Stuart Pearce
has been under fire of late due to England’s weak showing thus far. After an impressive campaign, England are now in danger of going down in the group stages, something that will not be taken lightly back home.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Czech-Republic-c2882 U-21 team
Czech Republic’s U-21 contingent were on an eleven match unbeaten run before they were given a beating of a lifetime by http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Spain-c3011 in their latest group B encounter. Right now the Czechs are the favourites to go through along with the
Spanish as they currently occupy the 2nd place spot in group B. However things will change if they lose to England.
Jakub Dovalil is expected to put out a side which will go for the win regardless of the consequences as playing for a draw even against a below-par England side will be a risky strategy. Czech’s will be out for revenge as the last
meeting between the two sides ended in a win for England at Bramall Lane when the home side won by two goals to nil thanks to strikes form Craig Gardener and Frazier Campbell.
Team News
After their woeful display against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jack-Rodwell-c17462 will start and Henderson will be relegated to the bench. Henri
Lansbury is also expected to start for the younger versions of the three lions.
Expected England line up: Fielding, Walker, Smalling, Jones, Bertrand, Rodwell, Mancienne, Lansbury, Sturridge, Welbeck, Rose
Czech Republic are set to replace Lukas Vacha with Jan Moravek as the former is suspended and therefore not illegible to play against England. Vaclav Kadlec has also recovered from injury but it is unlikely that he will start for
the former U-21 European Championship winners.
Expected Czech Republic line up: Vaclik, Celustka, Mazuch, Suchy, Lecjaks; Dockal, Horava, Gecov, Moravek, Hlousek, Pekhart.
Prediction
England are expected to fight it out under tremendous pressure but given at what is at stake with regard to the result of the encounter, Stuart Pearce’s men are favourites to win. However, Czech Republic are no lousy customers.
A narrow win is expected for England. Prediction: 1-0 to England.
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