On the back of a perfect group-stage run, England Under-21s continue their bid for Under-21 Euro 2023 glory when they tackle last year's runners-up Portugal Under-21s in Sunday's quarter-final.
The continental powerhouses lock horns at the Ramaz Shengelia Stadium after Lee Carsley's charges swept aside the competition in Group C, while the Portuguese youngsters came out second best in Group A.
Match preview
© Reuters
With a pair of comprehensive 2-0 wins over Israel and the Czech Republic ensuring England's place in the knockout rounds as group winners, it came as no surprise to see Carsley make a plethora of changes for the final matchday, even if their opponents were a faltering Germany side.
The defending champions were fighting to salvage their Euros bacon following a duo of dissatisfactory results, but goals from Cameron Archer and Harvey Elliott within the first quarter of the game sealed a third successive 2-0 triumph for England, who sent Germany home with their tails tucked between their legs.
Now preparing to do battle in the knockout stages for just the second time in their last seven appearances - the Young Lions fell at the first hurdle in 2011, 2013, 2015, 2019 and 2021 - Carsley's side have successfully rectified the mistakes of teams gone by, and few would bet against England going all the way on current form.
Furthermore, the Young Lions - European champions in 1982 and 1984 - have never been eliminated from the quarter-finals of the Under-21 Euros, most recently getting to the semi-finals in 2017 before paying homage to the senior team with a penalty-shootout exit to Germany.
Having avenged that heartbreaking loss, and as the only team to have gone through the entire group stage without conceding a goal, some England supporters could be forgiven for having one eye on a possible semi-final with Georgia or Israel, but navigating a Portugal-sized test will be easier said than done.
© Reuters
Two years on from butting heads in the Euros final, neither Germany nor Portugal covered themselves in glory this time around, with the latter largely struggling to assert their authority in the 'Group of Death' with Belgium, the Netherlands and co-hosts Georgia.
Suffering a humbling 2-0 loss to Georgia and drawing 1-1 with the Netherlands left Rui Jorge's men on the brink of an unfathomable group-stage exit, and such a scenario almost came to fruition, as Joao Neves and Yorbe Vertessen's strikes would seemingly force Portugal and Belgium to share the spoils on Tuesday.
However, with 89 minutes on the clock, Tiago Dantas buried a penalty after Henrique Araujo was felled in the area, sending Portugal through to the knockout rounds by the skin of their teeth with four points - good enough for second place behind surprise leaders Georgia.
Jorge will no doubt be aware that such form will not cut the mustard against the big boys in the knockout rounds, where Portugal are appearing for the fifth time in their history, but only once in 1996 have the Hopes been eliminated at this stage of proceedings.
Familiar foes in Under-21 Euros tournaments gone by, Portugal have won their last two meetings with England at this level - most recently a 2-0 triumph in the 2021 group phase - but the form book does not match up with the history book for the Iberian nation, and Sunday's game will mark the first-ever showdown between the two sides in the knockout stages.
- W
- L
- L
- W
- W
- W
- L
- W
- W
- L
- D
- W
Team News
© Reuters
England boss Carsley may have been given some food for thought regarding his team selection, as the Young Lions' reserve players stepped up to the plate and then some against Germany, but the 49-year-old should revert to a familiar setup here.
Max Aarons has now fully recovered from an illness and could start on the left, as James Garner will likely get the nod as a makeshift right-back, while the well-rested Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Levi Colwill will return to the heart of the backline.
Archer's strike against the Germans will likely see him rewarded with a place on the bench as Morgan Gibbs-White returns, while Emile Smith Rowe - who has two goals to his name at the tournament - Anthony Gordon and Angel Gomes are in line for recalls too.
Meanwhile, Portugal came out of their nervy win over Belgium with no fitness concerns to report, and Jorge may be tempted to keep faith with most of the starting XI who contributed to that crucial success.
Centre-back Tomas Araujo - who was sent off on the opening day - was restricted to an unused substitute role on Tuesday and could watch on from the dugouts again here, as Penetra and Andre Amaro link arms in the centre.
Both Fabio Silva and his replacement Henrique Araujo had a direct hand in Portugal's goals last time out, and the former can therefore feel confident of holding his spot from the opening whistle, but Marseille's Vitinha is also knocking on the door.
England Under-21s possible starting lineup:
Trafford; Garner, Harwood-Bellis, Colwill, Aarons; Madueke, Jones, Gomes, Smith Rowe; Gibbs-White, Gordon
Portugal Under-21s possible starting lineup:
Biai; Carlos, Penetra, Amaro, Tavares; Costa, Dantas, Neves; Conceicao, Silva, Neto
We say: England Under-21s 2-1 Portugal Under-21s
Portugal's recent results against England make for positive reading for the Iberians, who will take any good omen that they can get following an underwhelming group-stage affair, which was in stark contrast to England's near-flawless performance.
The Young Lions could also afford to encase several of their biggest names in bubble wrap this week, and while their unblemished defensive record might come to an end, Carsley's side have the attacking wherewithal to dump the 2021 finalists out and set up a semi-final in which they will undoubtedly be the favourites to progress further.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Ben Knapton
Spain U21s
