Will Antwi’s England U19 side is gearing up for a pivotal UEFA U19 European Championship qualifying campaign this March. The Young Lions will travel to North Wales, where they are set to face the hosts, as well as Turkey and Portugal. Only the group winner will secure a place in this summer’s finals in Romania, meaning England will need to maintain their momentum and avoid any costly slip-ups in their bid to reach the continental tournament.
A Tough Group and High Stakes.
England enter this stage unbeaten, having comfortably progressed through the first qualifying round in November, with a draw against Belgium and victories over Lithuania and Bulgaria. However, the elite round presents a sterner test, with stronger opposition in Portugal and Turkey, while Wales will be eager to impress on home soil.
The campaign kicks off on 19 March against Wales at Bangor City Stadium, in what promises to be a fiercely contested encounter against a determined host nation. England will then take on Turkey on 22 March at Deeside Stadium, a side known for its physicality and tactical discipline. The final fixture, scheduled for 25 March against Portugal, could prove decisive, with the Iberians boasting technical quality and attacking firepower.
To tackle these challenges, Antwi has named a 21-man squad blending defensive solidity, midfield creativity, and attacking threat. Key figures such as Chris Rigg, a regular starter in the Championship with Sunderland, and Lewis Miley, who featured prominently for Newcastle last season before suffering a serious injury, will be vital in midfield. Meanwhile, Mikey Moore and Tyrique George will provide firepower upfront, having already made their mark this season in the Premier League and European competitions, where both have delivered decisive contributions.
England U19 Squad for March Internationals :
Goalkeepers :
- Ted Curd (Chelsea)
- Finlay Herrick (West Ham United)
- Tommy Setford (Arsenal)
Defenders :
- Zach Abbott (Nottingham Forest)
- Josh Acheampong (Chelsea)
- Joe Johnson (Luton Town)
- Caleb Kporha (Crystal Palace)
- Jayden Meghoma (Preston North End, on loan from Brentford)
- Stephen Mfuni (Manchester City)
- Triston Rowe (Aston Villa)
Midfielders :
- Kiano Dyer (Chelsea)
- Josh King (Fulham)
- Lewis Miley (Newcastle United)
- Lewis Orford (West Ham United)
- Chris Rigg (Sunderland)
Forwards :
- Tyler Dibling (Southampton)
- Tyrique George (Chelsea)
- Shumaira Mheuka (Chelsea)
- Mikey Moore (Tottenham Hotspur)
- Ethan Wheatley (Walsall, on loan from Manchester United)
- Kadan Young (Royal Antwerp, on loan from Aston Villa)
