Tuesday, June 11, 2013

LIVE: Israel 1 England 0 - the Three Lions' final group game from the European Under 21 Championship as it happened

Follow Sportsmail's coverage of the European Under 21 Championship as England conclude their campaign in their final group stage match against Israel.
Stuart Pearce's team have already been knocked out of the competition following defeats to Italy and Norway and now face the host nation at Jerusalem's Teddy Stadium.
Their opponents still face an outside chance of qualifying for the semi-finals but must hope other results go their way with a six-goal swing.

 
19.00: Well that's it from me, and also from England. The Three Lions may be out but that doesn't mean you should stop following the tournament. The semi-finals will be cracking contests and well worth watching if you can get to a TV. Thanks for following.
18.57: England of course finish rock bottom with no points - four behind Israel as Italy lead Norway into the semi-finals.
If this is indeed the end of Pearce's reign as England boss - this is the worst possible way to go.
18.54: Nil points it is then - just when you thought it couldn't possibly get any worse. Israel may be out but they are celebrating on the pitch after taking a big scalp in England.
Well I say big scalp, how long can England really be considered as a prized team to beat at any level especially after this shambles.
Full-time: Israel 1-0 England
90+2min: All the action is between Norway and Italy at the moment as the Italians have equalised in the fourth minute of time added on through Andrea Bertolacci!
90+1min: Four minutes to be added - England have five in attack but are making no in-roads.
90min: Drama in Norway's clash with Italy as Stefan Strandberg has scored a last minute penalty for the Norwegians. As it stands Norway will top the group ahead of the Italians.
87min: Final change from Israel as Ahed Azam replaces Sallalich.
86min: From Sportsmail's Dominic King at the Teddy Stadium:
'Don't really think there can be any question now about whether Stuart Pearce will be in charge for #EURO2015. This has been utterly woeful.'
83min: England are attempting a late rally but the humiliation is surely close to complete. It's still 0-0 between Norway and Italy - a result that takes both of those teams into the semi-finals.
80min: GOAL! ISRAEL 1-0 England
Oh dear, England are heading for three straight defeats. Altman is again involved as he picks up a pass from Biton, before he plays the ball into the path of Ofir Krieff 20 yards out. The midfielder takes one touch before blasting low into the bottom corner. Not much Steele could have done about that.
79min: And a chance instantly falls for the substitute. Wickham cushions a Zaha cross into the Bolton striker's path, but he snatches at the ball and volleys way over the bar.
78min: Final switch for England as Chalobah is replaced by Bolton forward Marvin Sordell.
77min: Improvements from England. Pearce's side build patiently inside the Israel half but Shelvey's cross into the box for Wickham is nodded clear by the host nation's defence.
74min: It's getting a touch desperate for England now. Zaha is again closed down by the Israel defence as Shelvey fires well off target from 35 yards. A very quiet half for the Three Lions attack.
71min: Fulham attacker Altman races along the byline before clipping a pass across goal, but there is no team-mate around to poke the ball home.
That has forced England into a second change as Nathan Redmond replaces Josh McEachran.
69min: A busy few seconds for Steele. The England keeper races out of his box to cut out a long pass but as a result is caught in no-mans' land as Zaguri picks up possession 40 yards out.
The midfielder attempts to lob the keeper but Steele manages to track back to punch clear the effort.
66min: It's been a poor 10 minutes for England who don't look anything like as dangerous as they did in the first half. Israel continue to play with confidence but the growing crowd are also starting to inevitably get more vocal in driving the host nation on.
63min: Second switch for Israel as Orr Barouch replaces Alon Turgeman.
61min: Now it's Israel's turn to counter England, but this time it results in Ofer Verta firing low across goal and off target.
60min: An hour gone and England are again toiling in attack. Much credit to the Israel defence though who are constantly closing down Zaha with great success.
57min: Wow - this nearly results in being a contender for goal of the tournament! Nir Biton lines up a shot from 30 yards and his powerful dipping drive beats Steele before rattling the crossbar. Bizarrely the ball rebounds straight back to the player who tries again but this time shoots over.
55min: Change for Israel as Fulham's Omri Altman replaces Munas Dabbur.
54min: The ground has filled up a bit since kick-off but the fans' interest has waned slightly as a Mexican Wave circulates the stadium. An international sign of boredom if ever there was one.
51min: Now for something completely different. England counter through the centre and once again pick out Wickham on the edge of the box. This time the Sunderland striker manages to find space to shoot, and his right-foot effort towards the top corner drifts just wide. Kleyman looked well beaten as he stood rooted to the spot.
48min: Excellent build up from England. Henderson and Nathaniel Chalobah combine with short one-touch passing before finding Wickham on the edge of the area. Some things never change though and the Sunderland striker rifles straight at a defender.
Second-half: Intriguingly, England make a change at the break with Jordan Henderson replacing Ince
17.59: Aside from winning a game or even taking a point, it would be great to see England actually score from open play in this tournament. Ince wasting the first half's best opportunity.
17.54: An improved performance from England at the very least in a half Pearce's side have shaded as the better team. It's also goalless at the break between Norway and Italy.
Half-time: Israel 0-0 England
45+2min: With Rose off the pitch for treatment, England show their weakness at defending set-pieces as Omri Ben Harush heads over a corner to conclude the half's action.
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45min: 
England counter Israel but it only ends with Zaha firing straight at Kleyman from an acute angle.
42min: With a meaty filling of England pressure, this half has been sandwiched by decent spells of possession for Israel. The hosts seem to have weathered that storm where England were looking good value to open the scoring.
39min: Wickham's game is following a pattern now. The striker accelerates across the penalty box to make an angle on his left foot, only to see his powerful shot cannon off a defender. Israel are now starting to regain composure on the ball.
36min: This has been a really bright spell from England but the Israel defence continues to stand strong as Rose and Wickham see their shots from inside the box blocked once again.
33min: How has this stayed out?! Zaha slips through Ince on goal, but the midfielder is blocked in a one-on-one opportunity with Kleyman. 
Zaha's header on the rebound is too close to the stopper who punches away before Connor Wickham's shot is blocked behind for a corner. That's perhaps as close as England have come to scoring from open play all tournament.
31min: England are getting closer. Zaha skips past his marker on the left before firing in a low cross from the byline. The ball ricochets into the path of Rose six yards out but with two defenders blocking his path to goal, the full-back rifles a first-time shot well wide of the target.
30min: A couple of half-chances for England. Shelvey fires over the bar while Ince sees a shot from inside the box blocked.
27min: Clyne's late foul on the right concedes a free-kick. Ofir Krieff float a cross towards the six-yard-box but Steele comes off his line with confidence to punch clear.
24min: It's been a common feature at this tournament but England have really struggled to create chances so far. Danny Rose does well down the left flank before cutting a ball back for Zaha inside the box, but the hosts are quick to make a tackle and clear their lines.
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21min: 
Very poor defending from England. Sintayehu Sallalich is completely unmarked as he is fed a through ball inside the box. But with a tight angle to goal he sees his shot/cross blocked behind by Jason Steele.
18min: It's still 0-0 between Norway and Italy as England win a corner on the right. The cross is claimed eventually by keeper Boris Kleyman, who needs two attempts to gather the ball.
15min: Good breakaway from Israel results in Israel Zaguri finding space on the edge of the box, but the midfielder's shot is blocked behind by Nathaniel Clyne for a corner which England clear.
12min: Another neat move from England. Shelvey runs on to a Zaha through pass on the right flank before crossing low into the box. Ince is unmarked as he attempts to make contact but the Blackpool midfielder just can't quite reach the ball which skids away to safety.
11min: Huge whistles from the home crowd as a tidy passing move from England results in Tom Ince laying the ball off to Zaha inside the area. But the Manchester United forward is quickly closed down by Israel defenders before the hosts clear.
9min: Better response from England but they haven't forced through a chance yet. Wilfried Zaha runs into a corridor of three Israel defenders on the right, while Jonjo Shelvey loses possession on the edge of the box trying to run into the penalty area.
6min: It's not happened yet though as Israel impress with some patient passing at the back. The hosts build down the right flank but a cross to the back post fails to find a team-mate.
3min: An even opening but one that has seen Israel start slightly better. It's the hosts doing much of the attacking but England are keen to counter-attack. I expect the Three Lions to take control at some point though.
Kick-off: Away we go then in the climax of Group A. England wearing their new red away kit for the first time at this level.
16.58: Both anthems are impeccably observed, England boss Stuart Pearce had both arms around his coaching staff giving his best rendition of 'God Save The Queen.' Good on him.
16.55: Dominic isn't wrong either. Both teams are welcomed on to the pitch but I would be surprised if this ground was even half full.
16.52: From Sportsmail's Dominic King at the Teddy Stadium:
Promises of a 31,000 sell out here in Jerusalem look off the mark; plenty of empty seats around but not in VIP box where Roy Hodgson will be.
16.49: The Teddy Stadium will host the final this time next week, but today it's where England conclude their campaign. It's been another very warm day in Jerusalem as the sun begins to set and cast a shadow over the pitch.
16.44: It's not just Pearce who has been unhappy with England's restricted selection policy. Sportsmail's Jamie Redknapp has also voiced his concerns over the lack of established stars in the Under 21s. You can read more on that here.
16.39: Stuart Pearce has taken a lot of criticism for England's failing at this tournament but he has hit back at the policy reflecting team selection, especially after the 3-1 defeat to Noway.
The manager has told Sky Sports that Norway's ability to bring seven players overnight from the full national side into the Under 21s is something that wouldn't be allowed to happen with England.

16.34: 
This is the only group still with a question mark over it. Spain and Holland have already advanced from Group B, while only Italy are guaranteed a last four spot from group A.
Norway are big favourites to complete the semi-final line-up as even if they lose, Israel need to win with a six-goal swing going in the host nation's favour.
16.29: Full line-ups from the Bloomfield Stadium:
Norway U21 v Italy U21Norway U21: Ostbo, Linnes, Nordtveit, Rogne, Hedenstad, Konradssen, Henriksen, Berisha, de Lanlay, King, Nielsen. Subs: Nyland, Strandberg, Elabdellaoui, Singh, Berget, Pedersen, Semb Berge, Eikrem, Kastrati, Johansen, Ibrahim, Kongshavn.
Italy U21: Bardi, Donati, Capuano, Caldirola, Regini, Saponara, Crimi, Rossi, Sansone, Paloschi, Destro. Subs: Colombi, Biraghi, Verratti, Florenzi, Immobile, Gabbiadini, Bianchetti, Bertolacci, Borini, Leali.
Referee: Ivan Bebek (Croatia)
16.24: It's not just England in action at 5pm. Tonight's other group game will also take place at the same time as Italy and Norway clash in Tel Aviv.
I expect a draw in that contest. Italy need a point to claim top spot while Norway need the same result to guarantee a semi-final place.16.21: Despite the Under 21s being out, full national team boss Roy Hodgson has stayed behind in Israel and has spent the day along with FA chairman David Bernstein visiting Yad Vashem - the country's memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. 
16.18: England Under 21s manager Stuart Pearce names a starting line-up with the next few years in mind against European Championship hosts Israel tonight.
The Young Lions' elimination is already confirmed heading into tonight's clash at the Teddy Stadium, where Andre Wisdom captains the side on his first start of the tournament.
The Liverpool defender is eligible for the next qualifying campaign, as are Connor Wickham and Josh McEachran, who also start in Jerusalem.
Under 21 mainstays Jason Steele and Tom Lees also get a game this evening, while Nathaniel Clyne and Jonjo Shelvey also start.
16.15: Full line-ups from the Teddy Stadium:
Israel U21 v England U21Israel U21: Klaiman, Verta, Vahaba, Ben Haroush, Davidadze, Kriaf, Biton, Sallalich, Dabbur, Zaguri, Turgeman. Subs: Levy, Dasa, Levi, Klebat, Gotlib, Barouch, Twatha, Azam, Altman, Yanko.
England U21: Steele, Clyne, Wisdom, Lees, Rose, Chalobah, McEachran, Zaha, Shelvey, Ince, Wickham. Subs: Butland, Smith, Caulker, Dawson, Henderson, Lowe, Redmond, Delfouneso, Sordell, Rudd.
Referee: Sergiy Boiko (Ukraine)
16.12: Israel starting XI:
Kleyman, Davidzade, Vahaba, Verta, Ben Harush, Biton, Krieff, Zaguri, Sallalih, Dabour, Turgeman.
16.09: Interesting to note that Liverpool full-back Andre Wisom also captains Stuart Pearce side, with Anfield team-mate Jordan Henderson left out of the starting line-up.
16.06: More chopping and changing from England then as they make seven for this final group clash. Jason Steel replaces Jack Butland in goal while Connor Wickham is restored to the attack.
16.03: England starting XI:
Steele, Clyne, Rose, Lees, Wisdom, McEachran, Chalobah, Shelvey, Ince, Zaha, Wickham.
16.00: From a neutral's perspective it's been a terrific week of football in Israel but from an England viewpoint this Under 21 Championship cannot end soon enough.
Stuart Pearce's team are already out having lost their opening two games and the only question left in this group stage is who will they drag out of the competition with them? Team news is coming up up as the Three Lions hope to end on high note.

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