England Boys Level Up

England U19 1-0 Portugal U19 (UEFA European U19 Championships Qualifiers)

It's the last time I'll be heading to Wales for a while, but I've enjoyed the last week of watching the next generation, it's now coming down to the final game and whoever wins between Portugal and England will go through to the U19 Euros finals tournament in Romania this summer, whilst England can also afford a draw having ramped up a better goal difference thus far.

Portugal beat Wales 1-0 in their last match after drawing their Elite Round opener with Turkey 2-2. England opened up with a 2-0 win against the hosts Wales in Bangor before a scoreless draw at the weekend with the Turks has the two top teams in group 7 locked on four points.

I'm out the door mid afternoon to beat the usual M6 rush hour congestion, hitting the Welsh border town of Connah's Quay where I stop off for a Subway before I arrive at Deeside College as the two teams pull up in their identical buses just a few minutes apart.

The Venue

It seems busy tonight as the college lecturers head off, some scouts already in the car park as the clouds cast over a bright sky with the floodlights already well lit.

I walk into the arena an hour before kick off before I realise I've left my glasses in the car, so ask the steward if I can make a U-turn ahead of them letting me back through a side gate.

Once inside I'm straight up to the back row of the single seated stand at the venue. Less than 500 seats in total I'm told, elevated with the changing facilities beneath, it offers a great view despite their being an athletics track around the pitch perimeter.

The pitch itself has had a good mow from the weekend, it wasn't in great nick for England v Turkey, it looks slightly better tonight although will be far from what these young boys are used to. England featuring a handful of Premier League regulars whilst Portugal's side include those of Porto, Benfica and Sporting academies amongst others.

The Game

I'm joined by a Manchester United scout who used to play for Forest, Craig Armstrong, who ironically lives not far from me, whilst an agent he knows, who looks after the likes of Kadan Young, in the squad tonight, as well as Brentford's Rico Henry and Jayden Meghoma, also introduces himself.

As the game begins it's a slow start as Portugal, as they have done all tournament, sit back out of possession whilst slowly keep the ball between themselves in it. England are 433 tonight with a midfield trio of Lewis Miley, Tyler Dibling and Chris Rigg offering plenty of experience.

Portugal's best player is Olivio Tome, but he takes a nasty fall on this poor surface just five minutes in, he's receiving treatment but comes back on, only for England to take the lead as Mikey Moore crosses low to Chris Rigg who bundles home from close range on eight.

That goal sees Tome exit and with it, Portugal's chances of scoring diminish, they're organised and solid but lack goal threat with Tome, without him they hardly stand a chance of netting the two they need to turn around the tie.

Speaking of organised and solid, England are just that, Zach Abbott and Josh Acheampong are a good blend as centre halves, Aston Villa's Triston Rowe is very good going forward from right back, Manchester City defender Stephen Mfuni a natural looking left sided centre half, playing left back with no intent to ever get forward.

It's an offset shape that allows Chris Rigg to vacate his left sided midfield position to come in field whilst leaving dynamic winger Tyreik George plenty of space for a one on one battle with his opposite number at right back, Mikey Moore and Dibling giving license to roam whilst Lewis Miley sits, Shumaira Mheuka battles up front on his own but looks to be the sort of player who wants to play off the shoulder, unfortunately tonight everything is played with his back to goal.

The Score

At half time I chat players with the agent sat in front of me before he waves the family of Kiano Dyer up, former Leicester City winger Lloyd Dyer is here to see his son who's on the bench.

The second half continues in the same vain, Portugal organised and unexciting despite making a couple of half time changes whilst England happy with their lead aren't prepared to take unnecessary risk.

There's half chances at both ends whilst both keepers make one really good stop each, the game however feels flat despite a near record attendance over 1,000 crammed in here. Despite being sat on the back row I annoyingly have kids stood behind me playing nuisance, thankfully they head to the exits with a few minutes to go, by then Portugal need two goals and have pretty much given up on any hope of qualification, by the time the Latvian Referee blows for full time, both teams have long expected their predicted destiny.

The Stars

England's midfield has strength and guile, Tyler Dibling runs lovely with the ball at his feet, Mikey Moore is always looking to make things happen, Josh King off the bench can carry the ball at high speed, seemingly hovering over the surface as he runs forward like a gazelle.

Marshalled impressively in goal by Arsenal's Tommy Setford. Defensively England are really solid and didn't even concede in their three group games. Zach Abbott has limitations but he's going to be a good solid pro, that i'm sure, Josh Acheampong and Stephen Mfuni read things so well, are levels above even Abbott, Triston Rowe good pace and character on the right could be a dynamic full back for future years.

Up front, I do think England's squad slightly lacks quality, unsure of either number nine, word is from the Manchester United scout that Ethan Wheatley 'needs to do more' whilst Shumaira Mheuka has ability, but there's something missing for me. But in Tyreik George the nation has a bright spark out wide, pace and trickery, a throw back, entertainer who's one mission in life is to give the right back some misery, I'm looking forward to seeing how he progresses, apparently a big reason in why Chelsea don't particularly want to permanently sign Jadon Sancho.

For Portugal, it was another game where I struggled to see any attacking prowess of note. I do like their goalkeeper Goncalo Ribeiro who is 19, in the Porto B team. I do like their centre half Goncalo Oliveira who is 18 and in the Benfica U19's team. The best way I can describe him, he looks like an unfit 30 year old centre half, an old-skool defender who simply gets stuck in, left footed, not afraid to clear his lines.

Next to Oliveira, João Salvador of Braga did well in the game and a half he played, whilst Porto's Martim Cunha at left back looks a prospect. I like Eduardo Felicissimo who plays for Sporting, he's a CDM who played a half at centre half against Wales, I don't know what it is about him, he looks like Bruno Fernandes in body shape, slightly skinny and scrawly but intelligent without having noticeable star quality, he has a good range of passing and always seems to take up sensible positions.

The Verdict

No doubt Olivio Tome's injury impacted Portugal's chances of getting the result they needed to qualify, but these games are often finding out about young players and how they can compete against the best. Both teams will have learned a lot from playing each other and it will only help these boys going forward.

As well as victory tonight, England U18's beat Portugal 1-0 earlier in the day thanks to a Jake Derry goal (he's the son of Shaun), the U21's also beat Portugal 4-2 at the Hawthorns on Monday with Ethan Nwaneri amongst those scoring, it looks like the current crop has the edge on an old rival who's often been a tough nut to crack at full aged tournament level, which is certainly something which provides England hope going forward, our kids are doing alright, and might one day finally bring home our cravings.

The Teams 

England: Tommy Setford, Zach Abbott, Joshua Achempong, Stephen Mfuni, Triston Rowe, Lewis Miley, Mikey Moore, Chris Rigg (Josh King 79), Tyler Dibling (Kiano Dyer 90), Tyreik George, Shumaira Mheuka (Kadan Young 87).

Portugal: Goncalo Ribeiro, Guilherme Peixoto, Joao Salvador, Goncalo Oliveira, Martim Cunha, Gil Martins (Tiago Freitas 67), Eduardo Felicissimo, Diogo Sousa (Goncalo Moreira 46), Olivio Tome (Rodrigo Duarte 11 (Neto 81)), Gabriel Silva (Nuno Patricio 67), Keyan Varela.

7:00pm Kick Off. Tuesday 25th March 2025, Deeside Stadium, Connah's Quay (att 1,009).