England face Spain test in European Under-21 Championship
England have been drawn in the same group as Spain for next summer’s European Under-21 Championship in Denmark.
Stuart Pearce’s side will also take on Czech Republic and Ukraine in Group B of the tournament, which kicks off on June 11th.
It’s Spain who are likely to prove the most formidable opponents for the Young Lions. The senior side were crowned world champions last summer, and many of the players in the Under-21 squad are established first-team regulars with their respective clubs.
The likes of Atlético Madrid goalkeeper David de Gea, Real Madrid attacking midfielder Sergio Canales and Barcelona forward Bojan Krkić are all eligible to feature next summer – alongside a long list of equally technically gifted, young Spaniards.
Pearce’s men had an opportunity to avoid Spain in the draw, but they failed to beat Romania in both legs during October’s play-off round – winning one and drawing the other instead - which ensured Iceland would be seeded.
But after finishing runners-up at the previous European Championships in Sweden, and beating Spain in the group stages, England have reason to feel quietly confident.
Goals from Fraizer Campbell and James Milner secured a 2-0 win over the Spaniard in June 2009 in Gothenburg, although they were eventually beaten 4-0 in the final by a rampant Germany.
Encouragingly, England’s Under-21 side has continued to improve since then, with a number of talented youngsters rising through the ranks. However, Pearce may be without the services of influential trio Jack Wilshere, Andy Carroll and Daniel Sturridge, who have all been linked to senior call-ups in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, in Group A, hosts Denmark get the tournament underway in Aalborg against Switzerland. Belarus and Iceland complete the eight-team line-up for next summer’s competition.
2011 European Under-21 Championship draw in full:
Group A: ENGLAND, Spain, Czech Republic, Ukraine
Group B: Denmark, Switzerland, Belarus, Iceland
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