England U21s 2-0 Czech Republic U21s LIVE REACTION: Gordon, Ramsey and Madueke shine as young Three Lions grab opening win
England began their UEFA European Under-21 Championship campaign with a 2-0 win over the Czech Republic to take top spot in Group C.
The young Three Lions carved out a number of good chances in the opening 45 minutes, but couldn't find the opener and had goalkeeper James Trafford to thank for making a couple of top saves,
But Lee Carsley's men controlled the second 45 minutes and opened the scoring when Jacob Ramsey and Anthony Gordon combined before the Aston Villa man lashed home.
Gordon then had a goal ruled out before substitute Emile Smith Rowe added a late second.
England 2-0 Czech Republic – REACTION
Well, that wraps things up from this evening as England start Group C with a hard-fought win.
Anthony Gordon, Jacob Ramsey and Noni Madueke were the stars of the show as Lee Carsley’s men sealed what could be an important win.
However, they did look shaky at the back and will have to improve against Israel and Germany.
We will be back for both of those games as the young Three Lions bid to become the Under-21 champions of Europe.
Head over to talkSPORT.com for all the best reaction from the England game and the rest of the Under-21s Euros.
England 2-0 Czech Republic – REACTION
England 2-0 Czech Republic – REACTION
And here is the Group C table after the opening games.
Germany could only manage a 1-1 draw with Israel, meaning England are top!
England 2-0 Czech Republic – FULL TIME
The referee blows the whistle and England have sealed three points to take top spot in Group C!
Goals from Jacob Ramsey and Emile Smith Rowe sealed the win for Lee Carsley’s men who created a number of good chances.
However, in the first half, they did give away plenty of presentable opportunities that better side would have punished.
Stay with us for all the reaction.
GOAL England 2-0 Czech Republic – Emile Smith Rowe
90+’ – AND THAT’S THE END OF THAT!
Archer, who has been a livewire since coming on, gets free down the left and rolls a pass across the box for Smith Rowe.
The Arsenal man arrives and taps his shot into the back of the net to wrap up a big win.
England 1-0 Czech Republic
90+’ – Karabec gets into the box from the free-kick. Jones gets across and gets his body between ball and man.
Karabec tries to do what he can to win a penalty and picks up a booking for a dive.
England 1-0 Czech Republic
90+’ – Garner appears to win the ball cleanly but the referee thinks it’s a foul and the Czechs have a late free kick from just inside their half.
England 1-0 Czech Republic
90+’ – Archer finds Elliott on the left.
He pushes past a couple of players and drills in a cross that nearly loops up for Archer but Vitik hooks the ball away from the middle of the six-yard-box.
England 1-0 Czech Republic
90′ – We will have four minutes of added time here as the young Three Lions close in on three points.
England 1-0 Czech Republic
88′ – Archer picks up a loose clearance and lays the pass back to Garner.
He tries the spectacular volley from the corner of the box and sees his effort fly miles over the bar.
Gibbs-White and Aarons go off for Johnson and Elliott.
England 1-0 Czech Republic
87′ – The initial corner is cleared before it comes back to Gibbs-White and he wins his side another corner that is dealt with as Elliott and Johnson prepare to enter the fray.
England 1-0 Czech Republic
86′ – Another corner for England won by Archer this time.
Gibbs-White slowly wanders across to take…
England 1-0 Czech Republic
83′ – This is good from England as they aim to take the sting out of the game and ensure they get three points.
And when Ramsey loses the ball, he hauls his man back and gets a yellow card.
Nugent: “It was a good foul.”
England 1-0 Czech Republic
81′ – Gibbs-White wins a corner and delivers an outswinger, but Colwill is penalised for a foul and the attack fizzles out.
Meanwhile, the Czechs make another change as Kaloc comes off for Valenta.
England 1-0 Czech Republic
80′ – Archer instantly comes to life and sees a goalbound effort blocked by Vitik inside the box after being fed inside the box.
England 1-0 Czech Republic
79′ – Gordon, Madueke and Gomes off for Archer, Smith Rowe and Skipp for the last ten minutes plus stoppage time.
Nugent: “Archer reminds me of Jermaine Defoe.”
England 1-0 Czech Republic – Chance
77′ – Danek so close to an equaliser!
The ball in from the left is fantastic and the substitute has a free header from ten yards but crashes his effort over the bar.
What a let-off for England.
England 1-0 Czech Republic
75′ – Gomes gives away a silly free-kick wide on the left.
This is what England didn’t want to do…
England 1-0 Czech Republic
74′ – Gibbs-White finds Gordon.
He’s forced wide and plays it back to Gomes.
The Lille man dinks a pass over the defence for the Nottingham Forest man and he lashes the ball across the face of goal but no one in red is there.
England 1-0 Czech Republic
72′ – This second half display from England has been excellent.
They are in total control but could do with a second to kill the game off.
England 1-0 Czech Republic
68′ – Gordon has the ball in the back of the net, but it’s been disallowed!
The Czechs try to take a quick free-kick, Gibbs-White is in the way and the ball hits him.
It loops to Gomes and he rolls a pass across the box for the Newcastle man, who connects with a lovely finish, but the goal is correctly chalked off.
And Gibbs-White goes into the book.
England 1-0 Czech Republic
66′ – Triple change for the Czechs!
Zamburek, Sejk and Sulc are off for Fila, Karabec and Danek.
England 1-0 Czech Republic
64′ – Gibbs-White’s first corner is cleared before his follow-up cross lands perfectly for Madueke, but he stands on the ball, and it dribbles out for a goal kick.
England 1-0 Czech Republic
62′ – That could have been very nasty for Madueke, but he’s looking good now as he bursts past Cedidla.
Gibbs-White feeds Garner and his cross is blocked for a corner..
Nugent: “I feel sorry for Cedidla, he’s getting the run-around.”
England 1-0 Czech Republic
60′ – Good news for Madueke!
He’s back up and going to carry on for the Three Lions.
Meanwhile, Kusej is off for Jurasek.
