📰 Table Of Contents
England vs Israel: Head to head statistics
[STATISTICS]
England vs Israel recommended bets
[RECOMMENDED_BETS]
England vs Israel match preview
Will England begin a under-21 European Championship campaign with back-to-back wins for the first time since 2009, the year they most-recently reached the final?
On Thursday night, the Three Lions claimed a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Czechia in Batumi, with both goals coming in the second half.
Just 75 seconds after the restart, Jacob Ramsey burst into the area and slotted home the crucial breakthrough.
Then, deep into stoppage time, with the Czechs having sent everyone forward, substitute Cameron Archer pounced on the loose ball and put it across for Emile Smith Rowe to tap home; he literally couldn’t miss.
2-0 it finished, which represents the perfect start for Lee Carsley’s men in Group C.
Given that the Three Lions final group game is against defending champions Germany on Wednesday, England will be desperate to warp up a quarter-final spot with a victory in this clash in Kutaisi.
Dor Turgeman broke the deadlock in the 20th minute, jinking one way and then the other before firing into the far corner.
Germany were then level shortly after before, in first half stoppage time, Israel seemingly had a mountain to climb when Eden Kartsev was sent off for a second bookable offence, lunging in wildly.
However, Guy Luzon’s team defended resolutely and held on for a share of the spoils, with goalkeeper Daniel Peretz the hero, saving not one but two spot-kicks on the night; remarkable!
The Blues and Whites are seeking to make it into the knockout stages for the first time ever, having previously fallen at this hurdle in 2007 and 2013, the latter as hosts.
Given that their final group game is against Czechia, any sort of result here would be seen as a positive one.
So, can Israel spring a surprise, or will England’s perfect start continue at Ramaz Shengelia Stadium?
England team news
Lee Carsley elected to play James Garner, usually a midfielder, at right-back against Czechia, with Max Aarons switching over the the left.
With both Luke Thomas and Ben Johnson on the bench, this was a curious decision.
In attack, the top-scorer in qualifying Folarin Balogun is now American, so England played without a recognised number nine on Thursday; Cameron Archer is the only centre-forward in the squad.
Noni Madueke was excellent cutting in from the right, thwacking the crossbar twice, while Jacob Ramsey took his goal brilliantly.
Anthony Gordon and Morgan Gibbs-White both also started while, having scored off the bench, Emile Smith Rowe will be hoping for more minutes to build up his fitness.
Midfielders Oliver Skipp and Harvey Elliott also came on as substitutes in mid-week, emphasising the depth this squad posses.
Israel team news
Goalkeeper Daniel Peretz is very much the star of this team, saving not one but two penalties on matchday one.
He was also the hero as Israel beat Republic of Ireland in the play-offs to get to this tournament, saving three spot-kicks last September, whilst also converting from 12 yards himself in Tel Aviv.
Eden Kartsev red card against Germany means he is suspended, with Arad Bar likely to come into midfield.
Under-21 Euros Group C table
Under-21 Euros Group C results and fixtures
[FIXTURES]
More betting offers
[BETTING_OFFERS]
