England Under-21s are on the way of failing to qualify for the European Championships after losing 2-1 to Greece in Doncaster.
Stuart Pearce's side were second best for long periods at the Keepmoat Stadium and were deservedly losing 1-0 at the break thanks to Kyriakos Papadopoulos' goal.
Ioannis Papadopoulos then took advantage of woeful English defending to double their lead just after the break.
Aston Villa starlet Nathan Delfouneso marked his debut with a goal, but it was too late as Greece clinched the win which puts them in control of Group 9.
Greece are now five points clear and know a point in their final game with Macedonia will guarantee top-spot and progress to the play-offs, while England need them to lose and then win their last two matches against Portugal and Lithuania.
Pearce started the match by giving a debut to Tottenham defender Kyle Walker at right-back while Lee Cattermole and Jack Rodwell returned after missing the double-header against Portugal and Lithuania in November through injury.
The Greeks were without star player Sotiris Ninis, who scored against England in the 1-1 draw between the sides last year.
Greece, managed by Pearce's former Newcastle team-mate Georgios Georgiadis, were unlucky only to take a point from their home encounter and they were much the better side in the early stages, with Elin Dimoutsos and Ioannis Papadopoulos both shooting over.
England, who were wearing black armbands in memory of Macclesfield manager Keith Alexander, were struggling to create chances with only Andy Carroll up front and it was Scott Loach who was called on to make the first save from Ioannis Papadopoulos' shot.
0 коментара:
Post a Comment