Match ends, Sweden U21 0, England U21 1.
Sweden U21Sweden U210England U21England U211
| Euro U21 Championship |
|---|
| Location: Czech Republic. Date: 18-30 June. Coverage: Live text commentary on BBC Sport website, plus live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live, of all England matches |
Substitute Jesse Lingard's late goal boosted England's hopes of qualifying for the European Under-21 Championship knockout stages as they edged out a stubborn Sweden side.
Harry Kane and Carl Jenkinson had both spurned chances on what looked set to be another frustrating day for England.
But Lingard's fine 85th-minute volley secured Gareth Southgate's team's first points of the tournament in Olomouc.
They play Italy in their final group game on Wednesday.
Italy and Portugal contested a goalless draw shortly after England's victory - meaning that the Portuguese top the group with four points, while Sweden and England have three with Italy one.
England and Italy meet in Olomouc - and Southgate knows victory will guarantee their passage into the last four.
There remains room for improvement, though, after a scratchy performance against a limited Swedish side during which England failed to create many clear-cut openings.
| European U21 Championship | |
|---|---|
| Group A: Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Serbia | Group B: England, Italy, Portugal, Sweden |
| Top two from each group advance to semi-finals | Final takes place on 30 June in Prague |
That their principal attacking threat came from right-back Jenkinson was telling and he carved England's first opening of the game in the 27th minute with a superbly whipped cross into the six-yard area which diving Tottenham forward Kane headed narrowly wide.
The two players drafted into Southgate's starting line-up almost combined to give England the lead two minutes later when Alex Pritchard picked out Will Hughes inside the area, but his effort was superbly diverted wide by Sweden defender Filip Helander.
Sweden, with three points from their opening group game against Italy, played with purpose and physicality, with John Guidetti's low drilled shot held well by Jack Butland.
Danny Ings was introduced at half-time for Hughes to play just behind Professional Footballers' Association Young Player of the Year Kane.
Having already lost Saido Berahino for the tournament and John Stones for their opening two matches, Southgate's side were dealt a further injury blow when Pritchard was forced off after being caught on the ankle by a challenge from Ludwig Augustinsson - the player who had claimed in the build-up that England were "overrated".
Pritchard was replaced by Lingard and the Manchester United forward was the hero when, with the match drifting away from England, he chested Patrik Carlgren's punch to the edge of the penalty area before smashing the ball brilliantly beyond the Sweden goalkeeper.
'Get the ball to Harry Kane'
"I have been very disappointed with the amount of changes England have created," said BBC Radio 5 live's Mark Lawrenson, who is in the Czech Republic covering the tournament.
"Harry Kane is a very good player but England have not managed to create enough chances for him or get enough players around him in the last third - the dangerous areas.
"Goalkeeper Jack Butland has done nothing wrong, Carl Jenkinson has given impetus down the right-hand side and Kane has done as well as anybody, but quite a few have not lived up to their reputations.
"England were a lot better against Portugal even though they lost that game. They moved the ball a lot quicker and the must do that against Italy on Wednesday.
"Watching them at this tournament is a bit like watching the senior side - you never know quite what team is going to turn up, but they have got a chance of going through and that is all you can really ask for."
Line-ups
Sweden U21
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Carlgren
- 2Nilsson-Lindelof
- 17BaffoBooked at 79mins
- 4Helander
- 5Augustinsson
- 8KhaliliBooked at 70minsSubstituted forQuaisonat 87'minutes
- 7Hiljemark
- 6Lewicki
- 16TibblingSubstituted forLarssonat 78'minutes
- 10GuidettiSubstituted forIshakat 82'minutes
- 11Thelin
Substitutes
- 9Hrgota
- 12Rinne
- 13Zeneli
- 14Ishak
- 15Olsson
- 18Holmen
- 19Larsson
- 20Quaison
- 21Konate
- 22Gustafsson
- 23Linde
England U21
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Butland
- 2Jenkinson
- 20Moore
- 6Gibson
- 3Garbutt
- 14Chalobah
- 10CarrollSubstituted forLoftus-Cheekat 73'minutes
- 11Redmond
- 19HughesSubstituted forIngsat 45'minutes
- 7PritchardSubstituted forLingardat 55'minutes
- 9Kane
Substitutes
- 4Forster-Caskey
- 5Stones
- 8Ward-Prowse
- 12Bond
- 13Bettinelli
- 15Keane
- 16Lingard
- 17Ings
- 18Afobe
- 21Chambers
- 22Targett
- 23Loftus-Cheek
- Referee:
- Javier Estrada Fernández
Match Stats
Home TeamSweden U21Away TeamEngland U21
- Possession
- Home37%
- Away63%
- Shots
- Home10
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away3
- Corners
- Home6
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away7
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Sweden U21 0, England U21 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Isaac Thelin (Sweden U21) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Ludwig Augustinsson with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Sweden U21. Conceded by Liam Moore.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Robin Quaison (Sweden U21) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Foul by Harry Kane (England U21).
Post update
Oscar Hiljemark (Sweden U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Nathaniel Chalobah (England U21) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Isaac Thelin (Sweden U21).
Substitution
Substitution, Sweden U21. Robin Quaison replaces Abdul Khalili.
Goal!
Goal! Sweden U21 0, England U21 1. Jesse Lingard (England U21) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner following a corner.
Post update
Corner, England U21. Conceded by Patrick Carlgren.
Post update
Attempt saved. Nathan Redmond (England U21) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Nathaniel Chalobah (England U21) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Post update
Attempt saved. Mikael Ishak (Sweden U21) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Oscar Lewicki.
Substitution
Substitution, Sweden U21. Mikael Ishak replaces John Guidetti because of an injury.
Post update
Foul by Carl Jenkinson (England U21).
Post update
John Guidetti (Sweden U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Joseph Baffo (Sweden U21) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Danny Ings (England U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
