Report: Spain 0-0 England MU21s

Written by:

Tom Harle

The Young Lions held in Cadiz during their first game of the November international window

England men’s under-21s played out a goalless draw with Spain amid tricky conditions in Cadiz.

A string of saves from James Beadle and a stubborn Young Lions rearguard kept out the hosts, who have been beaten once at home in the last three years.

Aston Villa’s Jaden Philogene came closest for Ben Futcher's side in a replay of last year’s EURO Under-21 final, which England won 1-0.

Interim head coach Futcher handed MU21 debuts to Jobe Bellingham and Tyler Dibling, making six changes to the side that ended EURO qualifying with a 7-0 win over Azerbaijan last month.

In wet and windy conditions, the game’s first chance went the way of Spain as Diego Lopez cut in from the right wing and stung the palms of Beadle with a low drive.

The home side’s pressing proved effective and nearly paid dividends when Robert Navarro drove into the box to find Gabri Veiga, who spooned his shot over the bar from close range.

Sam Iling Jnr of England runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Diego Lopez of Spain

England began to threaten just before the half-hour mark when Philogene was played into the box by Bellingham and whipped an effort narrowly wide.

The overlapping runs of full-backs Marc Pubill and Javi Lopez posed problems for the visitors with Beadle pawing a cross away from onrushing Leeds striker and former Young Lion, Mateo Joseph.

The Young Lions were much improved in the early stages of the second half and a fine passage of play ended with debutant Dibling whistling a left-footed shot over the bar.

Spain regained the initiative and Beadle was forced into a superb save low down to his right, denying substitute Stefan Bajcetic, with Iker Bravo rattling the upright a few moments later.

The hosts hit the woodwork again in the last minute of normal time when Hugo Bueno's effort ricocheted off Taden Mengi and onto the bar, before Pablo Torre diverted a free header just wide in the dying moments.

The Young Lions now head to the Dutch city of Almere to take on the Netherlands on Monday night.

England: 1 James Beadle (Sheffield Wednesday on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion), 18 Archie Gray (Tottenham Hotspur), 5 Charlie Cresswell (Toulouse), 3 Bashir Humphreys (Burnley), 14 Samuel Iling-Junior (Bologna on loan from Aston Villa); 6 Tyler Morton (Liverpool), 17 Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland), 10 James McAtee (Manchester City); 21 Tyler Dibling (Southampton), 9 Liam Delap (Ipswich Town), 11 Jaden Philogene (Aston Villa)

Substitutes: 23 Jesuran Rak-Sakyi (Sheffield United on loan from Crystal Palace) for Dibling 68’, 19 Dane Scarlett (Oxford United on loan from Tottenham Hotspur) for Delap 68’, 16 Lewis Miley (Newcastle United) for Bellingham 68’, 24 Darko Gyabi (Plymouth Argyle on loan from Leeds United) for Morton 78', 20 George Earthy (Bristol City on loan from West Ham United) for Philogene 78', 2 Teden Mengi (Luton Town) for Iling-Junior, 15 Ben Chrisene (Norwich City) for McAtee 90'

Subs not used: 13 Matthew Cox (Brentford), 12 Kellen Fisher (Norwich City)

Interim head coach: Ben Futcher

Spain: 1 Alejandro Iturbe; 2 Marc Pubill, 3 Cristhian Mosquera, 14 Dean Huijsen, 19 Javi Lopez; 8 Pablo Barrios, 6 Javi Guerra, 24 Gabri Veiga; 7 Diego Lopez, 9 Mateo Joseph, 21 Robert Navarro

Substitutes: 11 Raul Moro for Barrios 46’, 15 Stefan Bajcetic for Navarro 46’, 10 Pablo Torre for Veiga 63’, 18 Iker Bravo for Joseph 63’, 17 Hugo Bueno for Javi Lopez 63’, 4 Rafa Marin for Mosquera 72', 20 Alberto Moleiro for Diego Lopez 72', 22 Hugo Sotelo for Guerra 88', 16 Janlu Sanchez for Huijsen 88', 5 Kike Salas for Pubill 88'

Subs not used: 13 Aitor Fraga, 23 Fran Gonzalez, 12 Yeremay Hernandez

Head coach: Santi Denia