This Monday at 7:30pm UK time, England’s U17s will play their final group stage match at the 2025 UEFA European Under-17 Championship. The match takes place at the Stadiumi Arena Egnatia in Albania, one of four host venues for the tournament. After a 1–1 draw against Belgium and a 4–2 defeat to Italy, the Young Lions find themselves in a precarious position heading into the final round of fixtures.
To stand any chance of qualifying for the semi-finals, Liam Bramley’s side must not only secure a convincing win over the Czech Republic, but also hope that Belgium lose to Italy. Even that might not be enough; England currently trail Belgium on goal difference (-2 to +2) and would need to overturn a four-goal swing to leapfrog them into second place. The reward for doing so? A semi-final showdown against France, scheduled for Thursday 29th May.
England XI to Face Czech Republic
Neil Ryan named a highly promising 21-man squad last week, featuring several players who have already made appearances at senior level for their clubs this season. Among them are goalkeeper Jack Porter (Arsenal), left-winger Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool), and centre-back Kaden Branthwaite (Manchester City).
The team also includes Max Dowman, a technically gifted attacking midfielder from Arsenal and the youngest player in the squad at just 15 years old. Dowman, born in 2009, starts this evening’s crucial fixture, a testament to the faith England’s coaching staff have placed in his prodigious talent.
Elsewhere, keep an eye on Finlay Gorman (Manchester City) in midfield, and up front, Rio Ngumoha and Reigan Heskey (Manchester City), son of former England international Emile Heskey. Another standout is Alejandro Gomes Rodriguez, the only player in the squad plying his trade abroad — at Olympique Lyonnais in France. With 8 goals in 9 caps for England U17s, and currently top scorer at the tournament with three goals in two matches, Rodriguez has quickly become one of the breakout stars of the competition.
England’s Starting XI :
- Jack Porter (Arsenal)
- Kaden Branthwaite (Manchester City)
- Freddie Simmonds (Brighton and Hove Albion)
- Malachy Hardy (Tottenham Hotspur)
- Dean Benamar (Crystal Palace)
- Finlay Gorman (Manchester City)
- Seth Ridgeon (Fulham)
- Max Dowman (Arsenal FC)
- Harry Howell (Brighton and Hove Albion)
- Harry Gray (Leeds United)
- Alejandro Gomes Rodriguez (Olympique Lyonnais)
