England Under-21s extended their impressive run in the Euro 2023 tournament, claiming a quarter-final position as Group C victors with a 2-0 win over Israel in Georgia. Lee Carsley’s side won thanks to Anthony Gordon’s early header and Emile Smith Rowe’s second-half score.
England Under-21s displayed their dominance by defeating Israel 2-0 to advance to the Euro 2023 quarter-finals. The win, combined with their earlier success against the Czech Republic, moved them to the top of Group C, setting the stage for an intriguing final group match against Germany.
Lee Carsley, the manager of England’s U21 team, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance, emphasising the importance of the result. He highlighted the team’s mentality and ability to find a way to win as key factors in their success. Carsley also acknowledged that there is still room for improvement and believes there is more to come from this talented squad.
England started the game firmly, with fluent passing and aggressive purpose. England’s early dominance was shown when Emile Smith Rowe’s back-heeled shot was ruled out for offside. Despite the setback, England pressed on, with Anthony Gordon providing a hopeful ball into the box and Curtis Jones testing Israel’s defence with a well-struck attempt.
Anthony Gordon and Emile Smith Rowe Seal Victory for England U21s
England’s persistence was rewarded in the 15th minute when Morgan Gibbs-White’s superb cross from the left found Gordon inside the box, and the Newcastle forward headed the ball into the bottom corner to give England the lead. England’s dominance was mirrored in this goal, although Israel showed signs of life in the falling minutes of the first half, with Dor Turgeman and Ethane Azoulay coming close to equalising.
England had an early chance to expand their advantage after the break, but Noni Madueke’s shot from a well-placed pass by Gibbs-White went wide. Despite the squandered opportunity, England maintained control, with Daniel Peretz making an important punch to stop Gibbs-White’s looping free kick. Israel, on the other hand, applied some pressure of their own, with Karm Jaber’s shot nearly missing the target.
Emile Smith Rowe displayed his exquisite finishing talents in the 68th minute, hitting a low shot into the left corner of the net to secure England’s second goal. Cameron Archer’s entrance almost resulted in a third goal, but Peretz made an amazing save from a difficult angle.
As the match neared its conclusion, Harvey Elliott’s impressive run setup Cole Palmer, but his shot was blocked by the resolute Israel defence. Yoav Hofmeister then made a solid challenge to prevent Jacob Ramsey from getting a shot away, epitomising Israel’s determined defensive efforts.
England U21s Progress to Quarter-Finals
With a quarter-final spot secured, England U21s can now focus on their last group game against Germany. Manager Lee Carsley expressed confidence in the team’s potential, while Anthony Gordon emphasised the team’s goal of continuing to progress and making meaningful contributions in each game. Israel coach Guy Luzon acknowledged the match’s difficulty while praising England’s talent and strength throughout the entire tournament.
