England Under-21s vs Czech Republic LIVE: Stream FREE and latest updates as big tournament kicks off

5 Czech Republic 0-0 England

Chance!

Czech Republic immediately respond with a shot of their own that Trafford blocks.

Strong start from both teams!

4 Czech Republic 0-0 England

Chance!

England come close early in the game with Madueke firing a powerful shot that barely misses Jaros’ goal.

3 Czech Republic 0-0 England

And another quick reminder:

Czech Republic manager Jan Suchoparek appears to have opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation against England.

Vítezslav Jaros starts between the sticks with Adam Gabriel at right back and Martin Cedidla on the other side while Martin Vitik and Robin Hranac team up at centre-back.

Lukas Cerv and Filip Kaloc link up in midfield with Jan Zamburek at No10.

Pavel Sulc covers the right flank with Vasil Kusej on the other side, while Vaclav Sejk seaprheads the attack.

2 Czech Republic 0-0 England

Here’s a quick reminder:

England Under-21 manager Lee Carsley appears to have opted for a 4-4-2 formation against the Czech Republic.

James Trafford starts in goal with Levi Colwill at right-back and Max Aarons on the other side.

James Garner and captain Taylor Harwood-Bellis link up at centre-back.

Angel Gomes covers the right flank with Morgan Gibbs-White on the other side, while Curtis Jones and Jacob Ramsey team up in midfield.

Noni Madueke and Anthony Gordon spearhead the attack.

1 Czech Republic 0-0 England

England players took the knee before kick-off, none of the Czech players followed.

There were some disgraceful boos from the audience as some don’t understand this is a stand against racism.

Quite an empty stadium…

Czech Republic 0-0 England

Peep!

Off we go in Batumi!!!

Here come the teams!

The Adjarabet Arena is ready to host England’s first Euro 2023 Under-21 match.

The Young Lions are being led out to the pitch by captain Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

The Czech Republic follow with Filip Kaloc donning the country’s armband for this evening.

Time for the national anthems and then it’s game time!

England’s Group C opponents

England Under-21s are kicking off their Euro 2023 campaign against the Czech Republic.

But those aren’t the only opponents the Young Lions will face in Georgia.

Lee Carsley’s lads will also face off against Germany as well as Israel.

The German and Israeli youngsters will meet at the same time today in Kutaisi.

Czech Republic squad

And here’s who Czech Republic Under-21 manager Jan Suchoparek called up:

Goalkeepers: Vítězslav Jaroš (Liverpool), Vladimír Neumann (Karviná), Jakub Markovič (Pardubice)

Defenders: Martin Cedidla (Trinity Zlín), Michal Fukala (Slovan Liberec), Adam Gabriel (Hradec Králové), Robin Hranáč (Pardubice), Karel Pojezný (Baník Ostrava), Martin Vitík (Sparta Praha), Tomáš Vlček (Pardubice)

Midfielders: Lukáš Červ (Slovan Liberec), Kryštof Daněk (Sparta Praha), Matěj Jurásek (Slavia Praha), Filip Kaloč (Baník Ostrava), Adam Karabec (Sparta Praha), Pavel Šulc (Jablonec), Matěj Valenta (Slovan Liberec), Jan Žambůrek (Viborg)

Forwards: Daniel Fila (Teplice), Matěj Koubek (Hradec Králové), Vasil Kušej (Mladá Boleslav), Václav Sejk, (Jablonec), David Pech (Slavia Praha)

England squad

Here are the players England Under-21 manager Lee Carsley called up for Euro 2023:

Goalkeepers: Josh Griffiths (West Brom), Carl Rushworth (Brighton), James Trafford (Manchester City)

Defenders: Max Aarons (Norwich City), Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Charlie Cresswell (Leeds United), Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Manchester City), Ben Johnson (West Ham United), Luke Thomas (Leicester City)

Midfielders: Tommy Doyle (Manchester City), Harvey Elliott (Liverpool), James Garner (Everton), Angel Gomes (LOSC Lille), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa), Oliver Skipp (Tottenham), Noni Madueke (Chelsea), Cole Palmer (Manchester City), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest)

Forwards: Cameron Archer (Aston Villa), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Emile Smith Rowe (Arsenal)

Czech Republic formation

Czech Republic manager Jan Suchoparek appears to have opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation against England.

Vítezslav Jaros starts between the sticks with Adam Gabriel at right back and Martin Cedidla on the other side while Martin Vitik and Robin Hranac team up at centre-back.

Lukas Cerv and Filip Kaloc link up in midfield with Jan Zamburek at No10.

Pavel Sulc covers the right flank with Vasil Kusej on the other side, while Vaclav Sejk seaprheads the attack.

England formation

England Under-21 manager Lee Carsley appears to have opted for a 4-4-2 formation against the Czech Republic.

James Trafford starts in goal with Levi Colwill at right-back and Max Aarons on the other side.

James Garner and captain Taylor Harwood-Bellis link up at centre-back.

Angel Gomes covers the right flank with Morgan Gibbs-White on the other side, while Curtis Jones and Jacob Ramsey team up in midfield.

Noni Madueke and Anthony Gordon spearhead the attack.

Czech Republic subs

5 Pojezny, 6 Fukala, 10 Karabec, 13 Danek, 14 Fila, 15 Koubek, 16 Neuman, 17 Jurasek, 18 Pech, 19 Vicek, 21 Valenta, 23 Markovic

Czech Republic XI

1 Jaros; 4 Gabriel, 2 Vitik, 3 Hranac, 12 Cedidla; 22 Kaloc, 8 Cerv; 11 Sulc, 20 Zamburek, 7 Kusej; 9 Sejk

England subs

3 Thomas, 6 Skipp, 9 Archer, 10 Smith Rowe, 12 Branthwaite, 13 Griffiths, 15 Cresswell, 16 Johnson, 18 Doyle, 19 Elliott, 20 Palmer, 22 Rushworth

England XI

1 Trafford, 2 Aarons, 4 Colwill, 5 Harwood-Bellis, 7 Gibbs-White, 8 Ramsey, 11 Gordon, 14 Garner, 17 Jones, 21 Gomes, 23 Madueke

The teams sheets are in!!!

Good afternoon from Batumi

Welcome to SunSport’s coverage of the Euro 2023 Under-21 group stage match between England and the Czech Republic at the Adjarabet Arena in Georgia.

The Young Lion’s manager Lee Carsley will be looking to kick off the team’s Group C campaign on the right foot.

And Carsley has been handed a boost with Arsenal ace Emile Smith Rowe fit and ready for action against the Czechs.

Smith Rowe has endured a torrid season plagued by injuries and couldn’t help the Gunners push for the Premier League title.

Chelsea starlet Levi Colwill trained with the squad briefly before flying out following his breakthrough season at Brighton, where he played on loan last term.

Carsley will be having more Premier League players to pick for this important match in Batumi against Jan Suchoparek’s side.

That includes Chelsea’s Noni Madueke, Tottenham’s Oliver Skipp, Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey, Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White, Manchester City’s Cole Palmer, Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon and Liverpool’s Curtis Jones as well as Harvey Elliott.

Carsley also has other notable players within his ranks, like Norwich’s Max Aarons and Lille’s Angel Gomes, who have been previously linked with a move to the Premier League.

Suchoparek also has a Prem player within his squad and that is none other than Liverpool goalkeeper Vítezslav Jaros