MX23RW : Friday, April 2 03:01:03| >> :120:43084:43084:

Aidy Boothroyd: 'We can still reach Euro 2021 quarter-finals'

Aidy Boothroyd: 'We can still reach Euro 2021 quarter-finals'
© Reuters
The Young Lions must play catch-up to reach the knockout phase following their defeat to Switzerland.

Defiant England Under-21s boss Aidy Boothroyd insists the Young Lions can still reach the Euro 2021 quarter-finals despite losing to Switzerland.

Nice forward Dan Ndoye's lucky late effort condemned England to a 1-0 opening Group D defeat in Koper.

Switzerland had just 34 per cent of possession but were worthy winners, with Bastien Toma hitting the post and Aaron Ramsdale denying Andi Zeqiri.

England v Switzerland – 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship – Group D – Bonifika Stadium
Dan Ndoye's shot loops over Aaron Ramsdale. (Luka Stanzl/PA)

The Young Lions now face Portugal in Ljubljana on Sunday before taking on Croatia in Koper on Wednesday.

The top two from each group qualify for the quarter-finals, with the tournament extended to 16 teams for the first time, and Boothroyd knows England still have a shot.

He said: "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. It's a setback and we don't moan about it, we get on with it.

"There's no time for moping and feeling sorry for yourself with freak goals. We are still in it, we live to fight another day and that's what we'll do.

"It wasn't all doom and gloom but the key thing is the result and we haven't got it. We lick our wounds, focus very quickly on the next game and make sure we get a good result.

"We were safe and we were cautious, we played a lot of the ball in front of them but not in between and behind them. We have got to redouble our efforts and get a good result against Portugal.

"I'm disappointed because we didn't do enough to score. We were positive with possession but that's not enough."

England, unbeaten in qualifying, never got going in Slovenia and Zeqiri should have given Switzerland a 14th-minute lead when Ben Godfrey lost the ball but shot too close to Ramsdale.

Organised Switzerland never looked in trouble with the Young Lions wasteful with their final ball and lacking tempo and direction.

Tom Davies and Callum Hudson-Odoi fired off target and Lloyd Kelly headed wide, but they failed to create clear chances.

Toma drove against the post five minutes into the second half after England again lost the ball and Boothroyd's side failed to improve.

Ramsdale saved from Kastriot Imeri and it was no surprise when Switzerland found a winner with 12 minutes left.

Imeri laid the ball to Ndoye on the edge of the area and, despite slipping with the ball hitting his standing foot, it looped over Ramsdale into the top corner.

ID:440660: cacheID:440660:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6730:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Did you know...?
A general shot of a Premier League football ahead of the Premier League clash between Everton and West Ham United at Goodison Park on October 30, 2016
Read Next:
Premier League 'considering extension to summer window for EFL deals'
>

rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
Championship
La Liga
Primeira Liga
League One
League Two
National League
National League North
National League South
Ukrainian Premier League
NIFL Premiership
League of Ireland Premier
Welsh Premier League
Belarusian Premier League
Segunda Division
Serie B
Eerste Divisie
Copa Diego Maradona
Australian A-League
J1 League
Premier League 2 - Div 2
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City30225364214371
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd29169456322457
3Leicester CityLeicester29175753322156
4Chelsea29149644251951
5West Ham UnitedWest Ham29147845351049
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs29146949301948
7Liverpool29137948361246
8Everton28144104037346
9Arsenal29126114032842
10Aston Villa28125113930941
11Leeds UnitedLeeds29123144547-239
12Crystal Palace29107123147-1637
13Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2998122838-1035
14Southampton2996143651-1533
15Burnley2989122237-1533
16Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton29711113236-432
17Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2977152848-2028
18Fulham30511142338-1526
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2939172057-3718
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2942231650-3414

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!