Report: Israel 3-1 England MU17s

England men’s under-17s suffered an unfortunate 3-1 defeat against Israel on Saturday, in the second game of their UEFA European Championship qualifying campaign.

Ryan Kavuma-McQueen’s goal came either side of strikes from Erez Didi, Ido Yossef and Idan Dadia at St George’s Park to leave Liam Bramley's side with one win and one defeat in their League B group.

The first chance of the game fell to the visitors after Marli Salmon was dispossessed, but Oscar Sandiford did well to turn the ball behind for a corner.

Israel continued their quick start as Daniel Ben Shushan curled an effort wide after sustained pressure.

But it was England who had the first big chance of the game in the tenth minute after Kavuma-McQueen found Jacob Howard from a neatly worked set-piece, but the defender couldn’t convert.

Kavuma-McQueen continued to threaten on the right wing, but Ajay Tavares was unable to fire the winger’s brilliant floated ball past Emanuel Luka.

However, the game swung back in Israel's favour shortly after the half-hour mark, when Didi opened the scoring after a quick counter-attack. Yarin Abihazira pounced on a loose ball and played in his teammate, who made no mistake with the finish.

Bramley’s side, who are unable to qualify for this summer's UEFA U17 EURO Finals following their first qualifying round results last year, looked dangerous from set pieces but went into the interval trailing.

The Young Lions began the second half on top and levelled within three minutes of kick-off, as Chelsea ace Kavuma-McQueen drilled a lstrike past the outstretched Luka to get the his team back on level terms.

And in the 53rd minute, Hugo De Lisle went close to giving England the lead, but the Leicester City player couldn’t dip his free kick into the visitors’ goal.

However, Israel soon retook the lead against the run of play through Yossef.

The hosts almost made amends in the 64th minute, but Salmon headed wide from another England corner.

England's task became harder three minutes later, after the Young Lions were punished for losing the ball in their own box as Dadia curled a shot past Roman Dowell to extend the visitors’ advantage.

Luka was soon called into action again as England looked to respond; as the lively Kavuma-McQueen struck a venomous effort towards goal, but the Israeli 'keeper was able to parry the ball behind for a corner.

The hosts continued to dominate the chances as the clock ticked down, with Kavuma-McQueen stinging the palms of Luka again, but England fell to defeat.

The Young Lions will now play Estonia in their final game of the international window at 1pm BST on Tuesday 31 March 2026 at St George's Park.

England: 1 Roman Dowell (Newcastle United), 2 Oscar Sandiford (Tottenham Hotspur), 3 Calvin Diakite (Chelsea), 4 Karim Cassim (Manchester City), 5 Marli Salmon (Arsenal), 6 Jacob Howard (Leeds United), 7 Ryan Kavuma-McQueen (Chelsea), 10 JJ Gabriel (Manchester United), 11 Ajay Tavares (FC Barcelona), 17 Hugo De Lisle (Leicester City), 19 Harvey Higgins (Blackburn Rovers)

Substitutes: 18 Jacob Boast (Tottenham Hotspur), for Higgins 63’, 14 Max Little (Southampton) for Gabriel 71’, 15 Michael Mills (Newcastle United) for Tavares 86’

Substitutes not used: 13 Ben Vickery (Manchester City), 9 Teddie Lamb (Manchester City), 12 Jacob Wain (Manchester City),16 Oliver Wilkinson (Ipswich Town), 20 Jacob Watson (Manchester United)

Head coach: Liam Bramley

Goal: Kavuma-McQueen 48’