England Under-19s begin their quest for European glory on Saturday when they face Norway Under-19s in their Group B opener at the Ilie Oana Stadium in Ploiesti. Will Antwi’s squad will also face the Netherlands and Germany in what promises to be a fiercely competitive group.
England Chasing Another Youth Title
The Three Lions boast an impressive history at this level, having lifted the European Under-19 Championship trophy 11 times, most recently in 2022. With a talented group of youngsters at his disposal, head coach Will Antwi will be aiming to lead England into the knockout rounds despite the difficulty of their group.
Among the notable names in the squad are Mikey Moore of Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United’s Lewis Miley, and Southampton’s versatile attacker Tyler Dibling. The highly-rated Chris Rigg of Sunderland also makes the cut and is expected to play a central role in the side’s midfield engine room.
England’s recent form heading into the tournament suggests a side capable of challenging the continent’s best. They’ve put together a run of solid performances, including a win over Italy and a draw with France, as they fine-tuned their preparations. The team will be eager to start strong, with matches against Germany and the Netherlands looming.
Victory on Saturday would not only give them a vital three points but also provide momentum for the battles ahead.
Norway Hoping for Another Breakthrough
Norway Under-19s are still in search of their first continental title, but recent progress at this level has been encouraging. Their best performance came in 2023 when they reached the semi-finals, although they exited the competition in the group stage last year.
This time around, head coach Even Sel will be hoping to guide his squad beyond the group once again. His selection includes Hamburger SV talent Alexander Rossing-Lelesiit and Rosenborg’s full-back Jesper Reitan-Sunde, both of whom are expected to play important roles.
Despite the lack of a major trophy, Norway arrive in good form. They’ve won each of their last three matches in the build-up to the tournament, including an eye-catching win over Denmark. However, they’ll need to be at their very best to survive a group that includes three of Europe’s strongest youth setups.
The Norwegians will next face the Netherlands before closing their group campaign against Germany on June 20.
Form Guide
England Under-19s have enjoyed a productive stretch in the buildup to the tournament. They edged past Italy in a hard-fought encounter, shared the spoils with France in a tightly contested clash, and defeated the Czech Republic to round off their pre-tournament friendlies. The Three Lions have shown both attacking flair and defensive discipline in recent matches, raising expectations heading into their opener.
Norway Under-19s, meanwhile, are on a strong run of their own. They have won three consecutive matches leading into this contest, dispatching Sweden, Finland, and Denmark with confident displays. The team has been efficient in front of goal and solid at the back, and that form will give them hope of causing an upset against the tournament’s heavyweight sides.
Team News
Tyler Dibling is expected to be the creative spark in England’s starting XI. After a busy club season in which he featured 38 times for Southampton, the winger is likely to play a wide role for Antwi’s side. Tottenham’s Mikey Moore and Arsenal goalkeeper Tommy Setford are also in line for starts, with Manchester City’s Stephen Mfuni set to anchor the defence.
Sunderland’s Chris Rigg will feature in central midfield alongside Lewis Miley, while Chelsea’s Shumaira Mheuka is poised to lead the line.
For Norway, Sebastian Olderheim will be one to watch after netting four times in five appearances for the Under-19s. The forward is expected to be partnered by William Gonstad in attack. Key players Alexander Rossing-Lelesiit and Jesper Reitan-Sunde are both likely to start, offering creativity and composure in midfield and defence, respectively.
Predicted Lineups
England Under-19s:
Setford; Rowe, Johnson, Abbott, Mfuni; Rigg, Miley; Dibling, Moore, Dyer; Mheuka
Norway Under-19s:
Saetren; Hoyland, Oren, Kjelsen, Reitan-Sunde; Nyhammer, Heredia-Randen; Andraa, Rossing-Lelesiit; Olderheim, Gonstad
Kickoff:
Saturday, June 15 | 14:00 WAT | Ilie Oana Stadium, Ploiesti
Prediction: England Under-19s 2-1 Norway Under-19s
Norway arrive with solid momentum, and this fixture could be tighter than many expect. However, England possess greater individual talent and depth, and we expect them to edge a competitive opener and begin their campaign with three valuable points.