Nearly 12 months on from the Under-19 sides locking horns in the Euros final, England Under-21s and Israel Under-21s square off in Group C of the Under-21 Euro 2023 Championships on Sunday.

Lee Carsley's side laid down a marker with an opening 2-0 win over the Czech Republic on Thursday, while the Young Chosen Team head to the Ramaz Shengelia Stadium after holding Germany to a 1-1 draw with 10 men.

Match preview

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How the Czech Republic and England entered the changing rooms at half time without scoring is anybody's guess, as in a frenetic battle between the Young Lions and the Little Lions, it was the former who dominated the lion's share of possession in the opening 45, albeit while giving up plenty of chances themselves.

However, Carsley's half-time team talk went down a treat, as a silky piece of link-up play between Jacob Ramsey and Anthony Gordon ended with the former curling home the opening goal in the 47th minute, before Emile Smith Rowe tapped in his country's second with the final kick of the game.

To say that England's opening three points were hard-fought would be an understatement, but Carsley's men have already established a healthy lead at the top of the rankings, and victory on Sunday would propel the Young Lions through to the knockout rounds with a game to spare.

Still searching for their first continental crown since the 1984 European Championships, England are already on course to avoid a sixth group-stage exit from their last seven appearances at the Under-21 Euros - falling at the first hurdle five times since 2011, including each of the last two editions.

Some doubts were harboured when the Young Lions lost to Japan and Croatia in their warm-up friendlies, but Carsley's men have now netted in 17 of their last 18 matches across all tournaments and must flaunt such attacking superiority if they are to best an inspired Israeli goalkeeper.

Having played with a man advantage for the entire second half, as well as restricting Israel to just 22% of the ball and firing 17 shots on goal, champions Germany will be waking up wondering how they failed to begin the defence of their crown with a maximum on Thursday night.

A chaotic first half saw Youssoufa Moukoko miss a penalty with just three minutes gone, before Dor Turgeman and Yann Aurel Bisseck made the net ripple for their respective nations, and two yellow cards inside the space of seven minutes for Eden Karzev saw him take the walk of shame.

Germany's unrelenting pressure would seemingly pay off when they were awarded another penalty 10 minutes from the end, but Israel goalkeeper Daniel Peretz replicated his heroics from 12 yards to keep out Jessic Ngankam and glean the unlikeliest of points for the Young Chosen Team.

However, Guy Luzon's side will enter the weekend outside of the automatic qualification spots in third place owing to their ill-discipline in that affair, and they have also now gone winless in five successive games in all tournaments, but credit where credit is due for thwarting the Germans in torrid conditions.

A handful of Israel players will be seeking vengeance after the heartbreak of losing the Under-19 Euros final to England last year, and the two nations have one win apiece at Under-21 level, but Sunday's game will mark the first meeting in 10 years since the Young Chosen Team prevailed 1-0 at the 2013 Euros.

Team News

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With no new injury or suspension concerns to worry about for matchday two, Carsley has the best kind of selection dilemmas to solve for the trip to Kutaisi, particularly in the final third.

Two substitutes in Smith Rowe and Cameron Archer combined for the former to net the Young Lions' second on Thursday, and the Arsenal man - whose fitness issues may have played a part in him starting on the bench - could feel optimistic of forcing his way back in.

However, none of Noni Madueke, Gordon or Ramsey - all of whom were real livewires against the Czech Republic - deserve to be demoted, while Everton's James Garner was used in an unconventional right-back role on Thursday but held his own admirably.

In contrast, Israel boss Luzon must rejig his midfield as Karzev prepares to serve his suspension on Sunday, so FC Zurich man Arad Bar - who came on for the second half on Thursday - should now be introduced from the off.

To make matters worse for the Young Chosen Team, Red Bull Salzburg protege Oscar Gloukh was forcibly withdrawn in the dying embers with an apparent injury, so Hisham Layous and Idan Toklomati Jorno should be prepared for possible recalls to the attack.

England Under-21s possible starting lineup:
Trafford; Garner, Harwood-Bellis, Colwill, Aarons; Madueke, Jones, Gomes, Ramsey; Gibbs-White, Gordon

Israel Under-21s possible starting lineup:
Peretz; Gandelman, Cohen, Lemkin; Jaber, Azoulay, Bar, Revivo; Layous, Bilu; Turgeman

We say: England Under-21s 1-0 Israel Under-21s

Sitting back and absorbing pressure did the trick for Israel against Germany, but an England side brimming with attacking excellence will no doubt make Luzon's side pay should they employ similar tactics on Sunday.

Patience may be the name of the game for Carsley's side, as it was against the Czech Republic, but the Young Lions should eventually find a way through to seal a spot in the quarter-finals.

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