Published 30 May 2024 4 min read
Men's U17
Report: England MU17s 1-1 Italy (4-5 on pens)
Young Lions exit EUROs after penalty shootout defeat in the quarter-final
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England men’s under-17s’ run at the UEFA U17 EUROs came to an agonising end at the quarter-final stage, falling to defeat in a penalty shootout against Italy.
Despite an impressive performance which piled the pressure on the Italians in the second half, Greg Lincoln’s side narrowly missed out on a semi-final spot.
England started confidently, playing out neatly against a high Italian press and finding early space for a forward line that has proved an efficient force throughout the competition.
Mikey Moore and Ethan Nwaneri picked up where they left off in Monday’s win against Spain within 15 minutes when another rangy driving run from Moore into the area was laid off to Nwaneri, whose confident touch and thumping finish fired England ahead.
But Italy grew into the game as the first half went on, and pulled level through a moment of class from Mattia Liberali.
Despite an impressive performance which piled the pressure on the Italians in the second half, Greg Lincoln’s side narrowly missed out on a semi-final spot.
England started confidently, playing out neatly against a high Italian press and finding early space for a forward line that has proved an efficient force throughout the competition.
Mikey Moore and Ethan Nwaneri picked up where they left off in Monday’s win against Spain within 15 minutes when another rangy driving run from Moore into the area was laid off to Nwaneri, whose confident touch and thumping finish fired England ahead.
But Italy grew into the game as the first half went on, and pulled level through a moment of class from Mattia Liberali.
The compelling contest continued in the second half as strikes from Shumaira Mheuka and Nwaneri were well saved and struck the post respectively as the Young Lions ramped up the pressure.
A flurry of further chances for England came, the closest from Christopher Rigg whose effort was brilliantly saved by the feet of Alessando Longoni.
England dominated the final quarter, persisting to press for a winner as the match ticked into a tense end, but could not find the net in regulated time.
And despite penalties put away by Moore, Harry Amass, Nwareri and Baylee Dipepa, another important stop by Longoni denied England while his teammates showed a clinical edge by scoring all five of their spot-kicks.
England: 13 Oliver Whatmuff (Manchester City), 2 Leo Shahar (Newcastle United), 3 Christian McFarlane (New York City), 5 Stephen Mfuni (Manchester City), 7 Jack Fletcher (Manchester United), 8 Christopher Rigg (Sunderland) ©, 9 Shumaira Mheuka (Chelsea), 10 Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal), 11 Mikey Moore (Tottenham Hotspur), 16 Samuel Ammisah (Fulham), 20 Divine Mukasa (Manchester City)
Substitutes: 4 Ollie Harrison (Chelsea) for J.Fletcher 46, 19 Callum Olusesi (Tottenham Hotspur) for Musaka 58, 14 Baylee Dipepa (Port Vale) for Mheuka 58, 18 Harry Amass (Manchester United) for Rigg 82
Substitutes not used: 1 Spike Brits (Manchester City), 6 Kian Noble (Manchester City), 12 Jaden Dixon (Stoke City), 15 Luca Fletcher (Manchester City), 17 Christian Dunbar-McDonald (Manchester City)
Goals: 16 Nwaneri
Head coach: Greg Lincoln
A flurry of further chances for England came, the closest from Christopher Rigg whose effort was brilliantly saved by the feet of Alessando Longoni.
England dominated the final quarter, persisting to press for a winner as the match ticked into a tense end, but could not find the net in regulated time.
And despite penalties put away by Moore, Harry Amass, Nwareri and Baylee Dipepa, another important stop by Longoni denied England while his teammates showed a clinical edge by scoring all five of their spot-kicks.
England: 13 Oliver Whatmuff (Manchester City), 2 Leo Shahar (Newcastle United), 3 Christian McFarlane (New York City), 5 Stephen Mfuni (Manchester City), 7 Jack Fletcher (Manchester United), 8 Christopher Rigg (Sunderland) ©, 9 Shumaira Mheuka (Chelsea), 10 Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal), 11 Mikey Moore (Tottenham Hotspur), 16 Samuel Ammisah (Fulham), 20 Divine Mukasa (Manchester City)
Substitutes: 4 Ollie Harrison (Chelsea) for J.Fletcher 46, 19 Callum Olusesi (Tottenham Hotspur) for Musaka 58, 14 Baylee Dipepa (Port Vale) for Mheuka 58, 18 Harry Amass (Manchester United) for Rigg 82
Substitutes not used: 1 Spike Brits (Manchester City), 6 Kian Noble (Manchester City), 12 Jaden Dixon (Stoke City), 15 Luca Fletcher (Manchester City), 17 Christian Dunbar-McDonald (Manchester City)
Goals: 16 Nwaneri
Head coach: Greg Lincoln