England Under-21s kicked off their UEFA European
Championship finals campaign with a hard-fought 0-0 draw against
the Czech Republic on Monday evening.
In their opening group B game, Stuart Pearce's team wasted a glorious opportunity to get off to a winning start as Reading striker Leroy Lita missed an 87th minute penalty after defender Roman Hubnik had handled inside the box.
While Hammers defender Anton Ferdinand was ruled out of the encounter with a slight groin strain, his Upton Park colleagues Nigel Reo-Coker and Mark Noble were involved, with the latter appearing as an 82nd minute substitute to provide the late spark that almost earned England victory.
The Young Lions' next game is again in Arnhem, on Thursday against tournament favourites Italy, who were the subject of an upset later on this evening, as they lost their opening game 1-0 against Serbia in Nijmegen.
England Under-21s: Carson, Hoyte, Baines, Cahill, Reo-Coker (c), Richardson (Routledge 57), Nugent, Young, Milner (Lita 64), Huddlestone (Noble 82), Onuoha. Subs unused: Hart, Rosenior, Derbyshire, Vaughan, Alnwick, Whittingham.
In their opening group B game, Stuart Pearce's team wasted a glorious opportunity to get off to a winning start as Reading striker Leroy Lita missed an 87th minute penalty after defender Roman Hubnik had handled inside the box.
While Hammers defender Anton Ferdinand was ruled out of the encounter with a slight groin strain, his Upton Park colleagues Nigel Reo-Coker and Mark Noble were involved, with the latter appearing as an 82nd minute substitute to provide the late spark that almost earned England victory.
The Young Lions' next game is again in Arnhem, on Thursday against tournament favourites Italy, who were the subject of an upset later on this evening, as they lost their opening game 1-0 against Serbia in Nijmegen.
England Under-21s: Carson, Hoyte, Baines, Cahill, Reo-Coker (c), Richardson (Routledge 57), Nugent, Young, Milner (Lita 64), Huddlestone (Noble 82), Onuoha. Subs unused: Hart, Rosenior, Derbyshire, Vaughan, Alnwick, Whittingham.