England U20 3-0 Czechia U20 (European Elite League)
Ten years ago today, I was standing in as Manager for Rainworth Miners Welfare as we lost to 'big spending' Spalding United 4-1 in the Northern Premier League South Division. I had twelve players and a load of injuries with one sub turning up late after work, the two gaffers both no shows with man flu. "Keep it tight" I told the lads... We were 1-0 down inside ten minutes.
Today I'm free from the strains of formations and egos and setting up teams to lose gracefully, not that I didn't enjoy it back then, even the losses were part of the fun of learning, but much easier is watching a game and telling someone about it, finding the next superstars to be, and what better place than an England U20 match to find one.
The Elite International League has been set up to ensure competitive under twenty internationals for Europe's major nations. Italy, Germany, Portugal are involved, tonight having beaten Romania and Italy (on Thursday), having drawn their opener with Turkey earlier in the campaign, England are playing Czechia in Doncaster.
Czechia used to be Czechoslovakia before splitting with Slovakia to become the Czech Republic, but they have recently asked us to call them Czechia which I think is fair enough.
Antonin Panenka scored the winning penalty in the 1976 shoot out that beat West Germany to win Czechoslovakia the Euros. The Czech Republic had stars like Pavel Nedved, Karel Poborsky and Patrick Berger as they were beaten in the Euro 96 final against the same opposition at Wembley.
A twice runner up of the World Cup in 1934 and 1962, but things haven't been too special for the Czechs this millennium, you'll know some of the current crop, like Coufal and Soucek of West Ham, or Patrick Schick of Bayer Leverkusen perhaps, but there's not too much to shout about these days, maybe the next gen might change that?
The Venue
I've never been to Doncaster before. Not to the old Belle Vue stadium nor this one, the Eco Power Stadium (formerly the Keepmoat) which opened for business in 2007.
It's an hour or so door to door, up the A1 and across the M18 for one junction east, then you're through into Donny's retail and industrial revolution. Pizza Hut, Maccies, the Lakeside Village Shopping Centre, it's all here, perfectly designed with wide roads and roundabouts. It feels very Milton Keynes.
I've parked up on Carolina Way and walk through the stunning Lakeside park with the joggers and dog walkers which leads you to the back of the East Stand. Floodlights already lit above the small grey bowl, the sky is darkening an hour ahead of this 7pm kick off.
Inside the ground I grab a brew and a chunky kit kat before walking out to my pew, at the back row, level W which looks onto an enclosed red seated arena 15,231 at full capacity.
It won't be full tonight, just one side open but the racket has already started ahead of kick off, lots of young kids and families, obviously encouraged by the low £5 entry fee.
The Game
The National anthem is hum respectfully which is something I'm not really used to in watching England over recent years, the action begins and the hosts are on the front foot immediately, Max Dean striking a curling dipping shot from outside the box which hits the crossbar almost straight from kick off.
Pulling the strings is Toby Collyer, the blonde haired Manchester United number ten is brilliant, a key player for England, he picks up the ball in pockets and passes like Pirlo. Max Dean up front though is proving a real handful and should do better with a tame header at goal as the hosts are on top, searching, the fans singing and cheering at every opportunity, it's only a matter of time you feel for the opener.
That opening goal should come when England are awarded a penalty after Chrisene is brought down. Dean steps up, hits right footed to the keepers right but Jan Koutny who is very competent, guesses correctly and palms away.
You feel England have missed their best opportunity as some of the children in attendance nip off for their hot dogs and Haribo but on the stroke of half time Dean is found with time in the box and curls home to finally put his side in the lead.
The Score
The Czechs make a couple of subs at the break and come out fighting, they're well on top, probing down each wing they have a couple of sniffs but are undone on the break, Dean receives the ball on 68, twenty yards from goal and curls home into the roof of the net. The former MK Dons striker now playing his football in Belgium at Gent, is having a busy but now successful night.
That goal knocks the stuffing out of Czechia and they are openly picked off on the counter-attack, on 62 Liverpool's Kaide Gordon on loan at Norwich, runs clear to slot home, it's been an impressive performance by England who's fitness, speed and technique is too much for the physicality and strength of Czechia.
The Stars
I'm impressed mostly with Toby Collyer although I do think "that's just what England need, another number ten" but behind him Darko Gyabi of Plymouth Argyle is a number 4 who is technical and strong and who keeps (and breaks down) possession well, up front Max Dean puts himself about a bit whilst out wide they have talent in Kaide Gordon and Dom Ballard, although late cameos from Romain Esse of Millwall and Will Lankshear of Spurs impress me more.
Two players from Norwich City I do also like, one at left back who started, Ben Chrisene is of decent size, stocky, a powerful forward runner whilst Kellen Fisher who came on at right back, gets forward well and is always willing to contribute in attack.
For the Czechs, I'm really impressed with their keeper Koutny who has a presence and also kicks well, much better than England goalie Simkin who's rash and raw in comparison, Koutny is tall, calming, has good shot stopping attributes and looks to have the tools needed to progress.
Their skipper Grygar does well in midfield whilst out wide on the right the number seven Stepan Beran looks to be a talented footballer who's very direct and technical in his play always looking to 'get at' the full back.
The Verdict
England have a plethora of talent and it seems to come on a conveyor belt that's never ending, the funding and coaching that's put into the junior game is really paying dividends these days and surely, it's only a matter of time before the national team win something.
The Czechs are a small nation who share soccer with ice hockey as their national sport, they'll always produce top talent due to good old Eastern European DNA but it may be sporadic, I don't think the class of 24 will make too much history, but there may be one or two gems to come as they develop within the game.
The Teams
England: Tommy Simkin (Max Merrick 79), Josh Acheampong (Kellan Fisher 65), Ben Chrisene (Elijah Campbell 74), Darko Gyabi (Zach Nelson 65), Max Alleyne (Brad Hills 79), Ashley Phillips (Kaelen Casey 74), Kaide Gordon, Sammy Braybrooke, Max Dean, Toby Collyer (Romain Esse 74), Dominic Ballard (Will Lankshear 65).
Czechia: Jan Koutny, Adam Dohnalek, Stepan Beran, Samuel Grygar, Daniel Kutik, Lukas Penxa, Matous Krulich, Adam Sevinsky, David Planka, Filip Sancl, Daniel Toula.
7:00pm Kick Off. Monday 14th October 2024, Doncaster Rovers Stadium, Doncaster (att 2,670).
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