Report: England MU19s 0-2 Serbia

England men’s under-19s began their elite round qualification for the UEFA U19 EURO 2026 with a narrow 2-0 loss against Serbia on Wednesday afternoon.

Two stunning strikes from Mihajlo Cvetković and Bogdan Kostić created an uphill task for the Young Lions, and despite their determined efforts and 18 attempts on goal, Will Antwi’s team couldn’t find a way back into the game in their first of three matches in Portugal this week.

The opening exchanges were tight and England ‘keeper Oliver Whatmuff was forced into the action in the fourth minute when he made a solid save early on.

But England looked to get a firm grip on the game and started to progress forward, with Divine Mukasa often being the outlet for the Young Lions.

However, despite England’s ascendancy, it was Serbia who struck first when Cvetković gave Serbia the lead in the 39th minute with a stunning effort from the halfway line to give them a half-time advantage.

The start to the second half was much livelier than the first, as Max Dowman forced Vuk Draškić into action with his strike on goal before Whatmuff had to be alert to deny Nikola Simić moments later.

England’s number one proved his consistent reliability with a double save, denying the efforts of Luka Zarić and Kostić before the Young Lions responded through Harrison Armstrong, who was denied by Draškić.

But England’s task became much harder just after the hour mark when Serbia doubled their advantage through Kostić, whose run at goal took him past a number of defenders before finishing well.

England needed a response and Dowman was first to try his luck from the restart, but his strike failed to surpass Draškić and despite late pressure for a lifeline back into the game, it was Serbia who held on for victory.

Antwi’s side will have an opportunity to bounce back on Saturday 28 March, when they take on Poland (11am GMT) before they play group hosts Portugal on Tuesday 31 March (4pm BST). Only the team which finishes top of the group will progress to this summer’s U19 EURO Finals.

England: 1 Oliver Whatmuff (Rochdale, loan from Manchester City), 2 Souleymane Sidibe (PSV Eindhoven), 5 Airidas Golambeckis (West Ham United), 6 Kian Noble (Manchester City), 15 Ezra Mayers (West Ham United), 8 Harrison Armstrong (Everton) (c), 4 Trey Nyoni (Liverpool), 10 Divine Mukasa (Leicester City, loan from Manchester City), 14 Max Dowman (Arsenal), 9 Shumaira Mheuka (Chelsea), 7 Jesse Derry (Chelsea).

Substitutes: 17 Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool) for Sidibe 70, 11 Chris Rigg (Sunderland) for Musaka 70, 18 Brooklyn Nfonkeu-Feuba (Manchester City) for Golambeckis 85, 20 Harry Howell (Brighton & Hove Albion) for Dowman 88.

Substitutes not used: 13 Nicolas Michalski (Blackburn Rovers), 3 Samuel Amissah (Fulham), 12 Christian McFarlane (Manchester City), 16 George Hemmings (Aston Villa), 19 Sean Neave (Newcastle United).

Head coach: Will Antwi