Report: England MU20s 1-2 Italy

England men's under-20s were narrowly defeated by 2-1 against Italy at the SMH Group Stadium in Chesterfield on Friday evening in what was their first game of the 2025-16 season.

Jayden Danns was the player to find the net for England, but strikes from Lorenzo Ricco and Jamal Iddirissou made the difference for the visitors.

In a tight affair, England looked to exploit the wide areas in the early exchanges, which enabled both Joel Ndala and Samuel Amo-Ameyaw to have a lot of possession.

But despite England’s opportunities, Riccio opened the scoring for the visitors before Liverpool hotshot Danns found the net for England almost instantly after the restart with a tidy finish.

After the break, England continued to be patient in their build-up and used Amo-Ameyaw as a consistent outlet going forward, but the Young Lions couldn’t capitalise on the opportunities they created.

While at the other end, goalkeeper Elyh Harrison was composed when called upon for England and denied Italy on multiple occasions.

Ben Futcher’s team continued to probe at the Italian defence, but it was Iddrissou’s finish in the final stages of the game which sealed victory for the visitors.

England: 1 Elyh Harrison (Shrewsbury Town, on loan from Manchester United), 2 Zach Abott (Nottingham Forest), 3 Jayden Medhoma (Rangers, on loan from Brentford), 4 Harrison Murray-Campbell (Chelsea), 5 Ayden Heaven (Manchester United), 6 Law McCabe (Middlesborough), 7 Samuel Amo-Ameyaw (Strasbourg), 8 Lewis Orford (West Ham United), 9 Jayden Danns (Liverpool), 10 Jamaldeen Jimoh (Aston Villa), 11 Joel Ndala (Hull City, on loan from Manchester City).

Substitutes: 19 Ethan Wheatley (Northampton Town, on loan from Manchester United) for 8 Lewis Orford, 12 Lakyle Samuel (Manchester City) for Jayden Danns, 18 Kieran Morgan (Queens Park Rangers) for Zach Abott, 16 Harrison McMahon (Chelsea) for Jamaldeen Jimoh 58’, 15 Eyimofe Jemide (Crystal Palace) for Ayden Heaven. 17 Romelle Donovan (Brentford) for Joel Ndala, 20 Justin Oke Oboavwoduo (Manchester City) for Samuel Amo-Ameyaw, 14 Ishe Samuels-Smith (Starsbourg) for Jayden Meghoma 78’.

Substitutes not used: 13 Sam Proctor (Aston Villa), 22 Ted Curd (Chelsea).

Head coach: Ben Futcher

Goals: Danns 19’