England v Czech Republic U21, must win for Pearce's boys

England U21's go into tonight's U21 European championship game with one message ringing clear.  You must win.  If they fail to get the full three points against the Czech Republic U21's in Viborg tonight then they will see their Euro dreams in tatters and be unable to progress any further in the competition.

England come into the game of two disappointing results against Spain and the Ukraine, managing only a draw in both sees them currently sitting third in the group B table and a must win situation for tonight.  Positive moves have been made by Pearce ahead of the game and fresh legs will be added.  Danny Rose, Jack Rodwell and Michael Mancienne will all be dropped for the game tonight in favour of Tom Cleverly, Fabrice Muamba and Scott Sinclair as England go all out to ensure a place at this years semi finals.

Muamba will be a straight swap for Mancienne and play the deep holding role in the midfield whilst both Cleverly and Sinclair will push forward in order to help out stand alone striker Danny Welbeck.

The shoe is on the other foot for the Czech Republic tonight, they can afford a draw against England and still make it through providing that bottom side Ukraine are not able to beat group leaders Spain tonight.

The Czechs are likely to be a physical side, and England will have a fight on their hands to ensure their Euro survival.

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England failt to Impress at Wembley

They were tired, is the response we heard from England boss Fabio Capello after his side finished up with a disappointing two all draw with a well disciplined Switzerland side at Wembley stadium.

 

Going into last nights game England sat joint top of group G with Montenegro, a win against the Swiss would have been a big jump toward Euro qualification.  It turned out to be a let off on the night, had Montenegro managed to stop Bulgaria scoring as they have with every other side this campaign.  Montenegro conceded their first goal in the competition missing their opportunity to go 2 points clear at the top.

 

England's team selection lead a lot to be desired on the night, boss Capello had opted to start without inform Aston Villa attacking midfielder Ashley Young, a mistake that proved costly during the first period of the game with no link from the midfield to the forwards.  Darren Bent, Theo Walcott and James Milner all but lost up there on their own having to drop deep in order to pick up the ball. 

 

Not all of this can be blamed purely on England, you have to credit the Swiss they set out their stall from the start, pressing England ensuring they had very little time to get the ball down and play.  Impressive performances were put in from Arsenal's Johan Djourou and midfield playmaker Tranquillo Barnetta who scored two on the night.  They said this is somewhat of a revitalised Switzerland squad with new coach Ottmar Hitzfeld at the helm.  They played a good game but, should they come against a better side who are not "tired" then they may struggle.

 

Good points for England on the night.  Jack Wilshire's performance in midfield was impressive showing some real promise, he outshone West Ham's Scott Parker and was the creative playmaker in the centre.  He and Arsenal teammate Theo Walcott appeared on the same wave length and their pace and ability to run at players put you at times in mind of an attacking Barcelona side.  England did seem to pick it up in the second half and an oppertunity for Darren Bent to close the game off 3 - 2 in an empty net was put over the bar, a chance an accomplished centre forward should be converting.  

 

Two a piece was probably a fair result on the night and as England captain John Terry said in his post match interview, this was not a case of tired players.  It was merely a case of England can and should have done better.