Preview: Czech Republic Under-21s vs England Under-21s - prediction, team news, lineups

England Under-21s begin the defence of their European Championship title when they face Czech Republic Under-21s in their opening fixture of the 2025 tournament at DAC Stadion on Thursday.

Both nations are joined in Group B by Germany and Slovenia, who will all battle it out for a top-two finish and a place in the knockout rounds.

Match preview

England ended their 39-year wait for European Championship glory when they triumphed in the 2023 tournament after winning all six matches without conceding a single goal, including their 1-0 win over Spain in the final.

Under the tutelage of Lee Carsley, who recently signed a contract extension, the Young Lions have landed in Slovenia feeling optimistic of going all the way once again, as they endeavour to become the first nation to retain the Euros title since Spain between 2011 and 2013.

England accumulated 25 points from a possible 30 available in qualifying to top their group, scoring 41 goals and conceding only six in the process, while their most recent victory came against Portugal (4-2) in a friendly three month ago, a result which ended a three-match winless run.

They are now preparing for their opening Group B fixture against the same opponent they faced on matchday one in 2023, with goals from Jacob Ramsey and Emile Smith Rowe securing a 2-0 win over Czechia on that occasion.

While England are competing at their tenth successive Under-21 Euros, Czechia have progressed to their fifth finals in the last six editions of the tournament after defeating Belgium 2-0 in a playoff at the end of last year.

The Little Lions crashed out in the group stage in 2023 and have in fact exited at the first hurdle in each of their last four participations; not since 2011 have they advanced to the knockout rounds.

Head coach Jan Suchoparek will be keen to see his side kick-start the group stage in positive fashion this time around, but if history is anything to go by, that could prove challenging as they have won their opening match in just one of their previous eight appearances at the Euros, beating Ukraine back in 2011.

Seeking to follow in the footsteps of the triumphant 2002 side that included the likes of Petr Cech and Milan Baros, a new generation of talented Czech prospects are hoping to impress in Slovakia, starting off with a clash against an England side whom they have not beaten since the 2011 Euros (2-1) en route to reaching the semi-finals.

Czech Republic Under-21s form (all competitions):

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England Under-21s form (all competitions):

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Team News

Czech Republic midfielder Adam Karabec, who plies his trade at club level with German outfit Hamburger SV, is set to become the first player to represent the Little Lions at three Under-21 European Championships in a row.

Karabec will likely operate in an advanced midfield role alongside Krystof Danek, who is competing at his second Euros along with attacking duo Daniel Fila and Vaclav Sejk, the latter of whom has scored 12 goals in 33 international outings for the Under-21s and is expected to lead the line.

As for England, they will be without midfielder Jobe Bellingham who has completed a big-money transfer from Sunderland to Borussia Dortmund and will represent the German side at the FIFA Club World Cup.

Archie Gray, Elliot Anderson, Hayden Hackney, Alex Scott and Jack Hinshelwood are among those who will now battle for a start in centre-midfield, while either Tino Livramento or Samuel Iling-Junior could be deployed as full-backs or wing-backs.

With Liam Delap opting to play for new club Chelsea at the Club World Cup, Carsley will weigh up whether to select an out-and-out centre-forward in Jay Stansfield, or chose from the likes of captain James McAtee, Ethan Nwaneri and Omari Hutchinson to operate as a false nine in a fluid frontline.

Czech Republic Under-21s possible starting lineup:

Hornicek; Chaloupek, Prebsl, Spacil; Kozeluh, Vydra, Langhamer, Suchomel; Karabec, Danek; Sejk

England Under-21s possible starting lineup:

Beadle; Egan-Riley, Quansah, Cresswell; Livramento, Gray, Anderson, Iling-Junior; Nwaneri, Hutchinson; McAtee

We say: Czech Republic Under-21s 0-2 England Under-21s

England have failed to win two of their previous three meetings with Czech Republic at the Euros, but they will be regarded as favourites to come out on top on Thursday. With Carsley expected to name a strong starting lineup, we can see the Three Lions roaring to a routine win on matchday one.

Written by
Oliver Thomas

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