England U21 0-1 Switzerland U21: Young Lions lose opening game at Euro U21 finals

England have not won the European Under-21 Championship since 1984

Aidy Boothroyd says England can still reach the European Under-21 Championship quarter-finals despite their opening-game loss to Switzerland.

Dan Ndoye's late goal was decisive for the Swiss on their first appearance at the finals for a decade.

"We are still in it, we live to fight another day and that's what we'll do," said Three Lions manager Boothroyd.

England face Portugal, who beat Croatia 1-0, in their second fixture on Sunday (20:00 BST).

They will then meet Croatia in their final Group D match on Wednesday, 31 March (17:00 BST) in the tournament hosted in Slovenia and Hungary.

• Uefa European Under-21 Championship: All you need to know

The knockout phase is scheduled to take place between 31 May-6 June, with the final due to be played in Ljubljana.

And England, who have not advanced past the group stage in four of the last five finals, now have their work cut out to progress, albeit their task is slightly easier than in previous years with the top two from each group going through.

"The format is different so we have more of a chance, we are not out of it yet and we are going to go for it," Boothroyd added.

"It's a setback and we don't moan about it, we get on with it. This is the biggest test and we have to go through a bit of adversity to come through the other side.

"Am I worried about it? No I am not because the team that goes out against Portugal will be a very attacking team and we will see if we can improve."

In truth a number of refinements will need to be made to address a lack of cutting edge that saw Switzerland enjoy the better chances despite England's dominance in possession.

England goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale saved superbly from Brighton forward Andi Zeqiri following lax play from Ben Godfrey, and another error, this time from Tom Davies, saw Bastien Toma hit the post for Switzerland.

In response England were restricted to few chances of note, with a dipping Davies effort from distance, Lloyd Kelly's wayward header from a corner and a Callum Hudson-Odoi free-kick all they could muster.

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

England U21

Formation 3-4-3

1Ramsdale

4Godfrey5Guehi3Kelly

2Aarons6Davies16Skipp21McNeil

10Hudson-Odoi9Nketiah18Smith Rowe

• 1Ramsdale
• 4Godfrey
• 5GuehiBooked at 60mins
• 3Kelly
• 2Aarons
• 6DaviesSubstituted forJonesat 66'minutes
• 16SkippBooked at 90mins
• 21McNeilSubstituted forR Sessegnonat 76'minutes
• 10Hudson-OdoiBooked at 83mins
• 9NketiahSubstituted forBrewsterat 76'minutes
• 18Smith RoweSubstituted forEzeat 66'minutes

Substitutes

• 7Cantwell
• 8Gallagher
• 11R Sessegnon
• 12Wilmot
• 13Bursik
• 14S Sessegnon
• 15Tanganga
• 17Jones
• 19Brewster
• 20Eze
• 22Griffiths
• 23Madueke

Switzerland U21

Formation 4-4-2

21Racioppi

23Lotomba4Bamert5Zesiger20Muheim

8Toma6Domgjoni22Jankewitz14Ndoye

9Guillemenot11Zeqiri

• 21Racioppi
• 23Lotomba
• 4BamertBooked at 63mins
• 5Zesiger
• 20Muheim
• 8TomaSubstituted forRüeggat 85'minutes
• 6Domgjoni
• 22JankewitzBooked at 85mins
• 14NdoyeSubstituted forMambimbiat 79'minutes
• 9GuillemenotSubstituted forImeriat 66'minutes
• 11Zeqiri

Substitutes

• 1Köhn
• 2van der Werff
• 3Sidler
• 7Rüegg
• 10Pusic
• 12Fayulu
• 13Rieder
• 15Stergiou
• 16Sohm
• 17Imeri
• 18Stojilkovic
• 19Mambimbi

Referee:

Giorgi Kruashvili

Match Stats

Home TeamEngland U21Away TeamSwitzerland U21

Possession

Home66%

Away34%

Shots

Home12

Away10

Shots on Target

Home1

Away4

Corners

Home6

Away3

Fouls

Home14

Away16

Live Text

1. Post update

   Match ends, England U21 0, Switzerland U21 1.

2. 90'+5'

   Full Time

   Second Half ends, England U21 0, Switzerland U21 1.

3. 90'+4'

   Booking

   Oliver Skipp (England U21) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

4. 90'+4'

   Post update

   Foul by Oliver Skipp (England U21).

5. 90'+4'

   Post update

   Felix Mambimbi (Switzerland U21) wins a free kick on the left wing.

6. 89'

   Post update

   Offside, England U21. Oliver Skipp tries a through ball, but Ryan Sessegnon is caught offside.

7. 86'

   Post update

   Attempt missed. Curtis Jones (England U21) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.

8. 85'

   Substitution

   Substitution, Switzerland U21. Kevin Rüegg replaces Bastien Toma.

9. 85'

   Booking

   Alexandre Jankewitz (Switzerland U21) is shown the yellow card.

10. 84'

    Post update

    Rhian Brewster (England U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

11. 84'

    Post update

    Foul by Alexandre Jankewitz (Switzerland U21).

12. 83'

    Booking

    Callum Hudson-Odoi (England U21) is shown the yellow card.

13. 83'

    Post update

    Callum Hudson-Odoi (England U21).

14. 83'

    Post update

    (Switzerland U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

15. 80'

    Post update

    Callum Hudson-Odoi (England U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

16. 80'

    Post update

    Foul by Miro Muheim (Switzerland U21).

17. 80'

    Post update

    Attempt missed. Kastriot Imeri (Switzerland U21) right footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.

18. 80'

    Post update

    Foul by Marc Guehi (England U21).

19. 80'

    Post update

    Andi Zeqiri (Switzerland U21) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

20. 79'

    Substitution

    Substitution, Switzerland U21. Felix Mambimbi replaces Dan Ndoye.

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