Ye I didn't include Keane because he missed out through injury whereas as far as I'm aware the others were all fit and just weren't involved for one reason or another. But you're right he certainly could have made a difference in unlocking the Greek defence. Another player I forgot to mention was Conor Wickham who was pretty important for this England team when they won the u-17 equivalent of this competition 2 years ago. Not sure if he missed this one through injury or is he simply considered an u-21 now?Yep spot on Heffo, agree about Larnell Cole. England had no cutting edge in the end but you missed a big reason why...no Will Keane.
All three United lads did well but Thorpe and Johnstone blotted their books as they were both partially at fault for the goals.
Chelsea's Chalaboah is a talent but badly lacks football intelligence(concentration, decisions, etc) Not that he cant be coached these things as he is young.
Barkley was impressive and England best player.
Spain have a few that are even younger like Grimaldo who is 16, Deulofeu who is 18 and 4 others who are 17I wonder if Spain or France had any similar problems of not being able to include their top players in that age bracket?
Sorry, I wasn't referring to the ages of the players. I was wondering whether or not Spain had any top players at this level missing through pre-season opportunities with their clubs or anything similar.Spain have a few that are even younger like Grimaldo who is 16, Deulofeu who is 18 and 4 others who are 17
France was almost all 19 years of age
Great semifinal tonight between these two, btw...Spain won in penalties, meets Greece, whom they beat in the group stage, for the Championship
I'm not convinced he'll make it at the top level either but I still think he would have been an asset to this particular team. Also found it strange that Harry Kane was never introduced as I thought he seemed one of the players more likely to make something happen against France.I actually dont rate Wickham as someone who has fantastic potential. He stood out in the u17 championships because he was twice the size of every other player in the tournament. Technically he is average. I think over the last season or so at Sunderland this has become apparent. He will make a good PL striker at best.
However he is only 19 so plenty of time to prove me wrong.
Anyway my England u19 eleven in a perfect world would be;
------------Johnstone------------
----------------------------------
-----------Keane--Thorpe---------
Kane-----------------------Blackett
-----------Chalaboalah------------
----------------------------------
------Barkley----Mccheachran-----
----------------------------------
Cole---------------------------AOC
-------------Keane----------------
Subs; Lundstram, Powell, Sterling...
Others may not agree but its just my opinion. Means nothing but an exciting team on paper none the less. Shows that we have got some good talent at that age group and all of these players are technically excellent. Apologies for some of the spelling of names btw.
Can't speak about France but Spain, the International youth tournaments are prioritized in Spain - clubs are effectively obliged to release themSorry, I wasn't referring to the ages of the players. I was wondering whether or not Spain had any top players at this level missing through pre-season opportunities with their clubs or anything similar.
Very incompetent but definitely entertaining as well...Greek match earlier in the tournament was a tale of two halves - in fact Spain were lucky to escape with the 3 pts in the 2nd half...I suspect they will both be very motivated and rate their respective chances...Spain should win it but wouldn't surprise me if Greece won as wellYe it was an entertaining game, Spain seem to be doing their best to ensure all their games are goal fill by being great in attack and completely incompetent defensively. Would imagine they should dispose of Greece without too much trouble but then again anything could happen.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/brady-im-ready-to-step-up-for-ireland-3200219.htmlBrady: I’m ready to step up for Ireland
Robbie Brady is hoping to help Ireland boost their chances of reaching the U-21 Euro finals before turning his thoughts to continuing his progress at Manchester United
By John Fallon
Tuesday August 14 2012
ROBBIE BRADY will feel at home in the Showgrounds tonight (7.30), but he knows bigger stages beckon.
Brady has scored in all of Ireland's four U-21 games played in Sligo over the past 12 months -- he also scored in the game played in Tallaght -- and the reverence in which the Manchester United winger is held is the main reason for another sell-out crowd for the must-win Euro qualifier against Turkey. Club and country are both ready to push the 21-year-old onto a higher plain -- Alex Ferguson brought Brady on United's pre-season tour, and Giovanni Trapattoni would have handed him his senior debut in Serbia tomorrow but for this qualifier.
Amid the fanfare is a young man comfortable in his own skin. Brady has been dazzling defenders since he was a nine-year-old playing for St Kevin's Boys -- and all good things come to those who wait. "It was a great boost to hear the manager wanted me to go to Belgrade because making my senior debut is a major aim of mine," said the Dubliner. "This U-21 game is important, though. We've worked hard as a group over the past year to get to this point (close to qualifying) and I want to be around for it. "But I know I'm ready for that step-up. Whenever the time is right and he (Trap) wants me, I'll be delighted to go with them."
Euro 2012 might well have been the right time to blood Brady, but Trapattoni is nothing if not predictable and the Italian wasn't prepared to take a punt despite the raw talent the player possesses in spades. Not firmly on the Italian's radar, it's a case of when -- rather than if -- that graduation happens. Like his namesake Keane was when he made the step-up, this Robbie won't be fazed mixing it among the senior servants. Far from it, in fact, as a recent video he posted on the internet proves. "As a newcomer to the (United) first team, I had to sing a song in front of the lads while in Germany last week," he said. "I didn't mind doing it at all. Scott Wootton and I did a duet and it was a bit of fun. I think it was (Dimitar) Berbatov who stuck the video on Twitter, and it seems to have gone around the internet now."
Brady's impact during United's pre-season training over the past three weeks has Ferguson pondering a change of route for his Irish starlet, who has signed a new two-year contract. While it's his wizardry on the wing that will have the Sligo punters on the edge of their seats tonight, left-back is the position for which Brady has been lined up to challenge at United for the campaign ahead. After a successful season on loan in the Championship with Hull City, another temporary switch was in the offing until Brady's impressive showing on his debut against AmaZulu in Durban planted a seed of thought in Ferguson's mind. "On the first day back in pre-season, the gaffer put me into left-back and I had a feeling that was the way he was thinking for me," said Brady. "I had to learn quickly but I'm very comfortable playing at left-back. I'm not a bad tackler, decent in the air, but maybe I have to work on my positional sense as a defender. The manager was happy, though. "We'll have to wait and see what happens between now and the start of the season next week, but they've no real cover for Patrice Evra. I think I'm first in line if anything happens to him, unless they sign someone in the meantime.
DELIGHTED
"I'd be open to staying around United this season because I'd be delighted to do a job for the first team." First up, however, is international business. "Qualification is in our hands and that's what we have been aiming for from the outset," said Brady. "Beating Turkey would push us close to getting at least a play-off for a place in the finals. "It's been a mad few weeks but it's all been very enjoyable. I got home with from United's trip to Hannover at 3.30am on Sunday, caught a bit of sleep and was then back up for a 12 noon flight from Liverpool to Knock. It's been well worth it, though."
done!Mods, could you change the title of this thread to International Youth Duties or something like that?
yep, shades of Morrison about him in a good sense.Is Mitchell the #11?
Good stuff. Hes starting to look more like a striker now seems a lot more confident and focused on scoring goals where as last year he looked like he was just happy to do the hard work for the team. I thought his improvement over the course of last year was very impressive and hes come back this season bigger and stronger aswell.Sam Byrne has been called up to the Irish U19 team for the first time. Part of the squad for the UEFA U19 championship.
