Emile Smith Rowe netted for the second game in a row as England secured safe passage to the quarter-finals of the Under-21 European Championships with a 2-0 win over Israel.
Having scored as a substitute in the Young Lions’ 2-0 win over the Czech Republic last Thursday, Smith Rowe was restored to the starting lineup on Sunday on the left side of midfield.
Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon gave Lee Carsley’s side an early advantage with his head before Smith Rowe underlined his quality with a fine strike from outside the box after an intricate passing move. He was substituted two minutes later. (Match highlights can be viewed here)
“We have the confidence that we want to make a statement in this tournament and believe that we can go all the way and win it. We just have to make sure we take each game as it comes,” Smith Rowe told BBC Sport.
“There’s not many days between the games so we have to recover quick. It’s a great bunch of lads. Everyone helps each other. Even the boys that haven’t played are really helping us help the team.”
Smith Rowe now has five goals in 12 matches for England under-21s and will be hoping to build further momentum before joining Arsenal for pre-season.
England will face Germany in their final group game before taking on either Georgia, the Netherlands, Belgium or Portugal in the knockout stages.
The latter, who have Nuno Tavares in their ranks, face an uphill battle to qualify having lost to hosts Georgia in the tournament opener before drawing with the Dutch.
Elsewhere, Matt Turner marked his 29th birthday with a penalty save and man-of-the-match performance as the USA drew 1-1 with Jamaica in their Gold Cup opener.
Just for good measure, the Arsenal keeper was wearing the captain’s armband.
Turner is the only representative of the US squad that won the Concacaf Nations League to be retained for the Gold Cup campaign. Other stars, including Folarin Balogun, have been released for the summer and are now on holiday.
“Being the captain in a game like this, it was just a dream come true,” he told reporters.
“It means so much to me to wear the armband. Some great players have worn the armband and it’s the first time in my professional career, believe it or not, that I got to wear a captain’s armband on the walkout, do the coin toss, the whole nine yards.
“So, it was a really amazing, amazing feeling for me and to go from two years ago where I’m a bubble guy to now being a captain of the squad. It’s just a crazy perspective to think about this. I hope it wasn’t just because it’s my birthday.”
He added: “I love playing for the national team. Whatever my role is, I want to do that to the best of my ability. It means so much for me to play for my country. I think it’s important for me to play competitive games.
“I didn’t get as many as I would have liked during the year so to have these opportunities, I never really want to say no to them. I want to step out on the field when I’m healthy when I’m fit. I want to play games.”
Good for him. Getting back to full fitness I see. And Turner wasn’t Too bad
ESR and Turner staying sharp.
Great to see.
Although Ode is top-notch, ESR will provide the competition that he needs.
I love matt turner.
I love Santi Cazorla
Such a likable, down to earth guy it seems!
I love Tomas Rosicky
That’s a really well hit goal and he did great in the buildup top, exactly the kind of sharpness we need from him this season. Let it rip Emile 💪
Played left of midfield – maybe that’s where he belongs at arsenal too
I think this will be a huge year for ESR. I think he was groomed by Mikel all last season and is ready to break out in that left-sided midfield role. Maybe I’m crazy but I think he could be better in the position than 60m Havertz.
Kudos to Turner. Saw his save and match and he played really well!
Cant wait for pre-season to see where Kai lines up, I’m hoping he’ll be more rotational with Jesus and Arteta will give Smith-Rowe the chance to prove himself in the left sided 8 position, he has all the qualities to flourish there, just needs the managers backing.
One of the berst signing we can make this window is 2021/22 ESR. Hope we get him back!
best*
usmnt mentioned so I must mention Flo. Wow. Very very impressed with him off the ball.
Just a word or two about the penalty save. The taker was Leon Bailey, a player with lots of Premier League experience, and while it wasn’t a great attempt, it wasn’t as bad as Turner made it look. I don’t think he simply “guessed” right–I think he absolutely had Bailey’s approach figured out and would have saved anything that wasn’t hard and into the corner. AndTurner did this with minimum fuss and no obvious shithousery–maybe Bailey can go back to Villa and tell Emi Martinez about it.
Poor Portugal are surely missing Fabio Vieira. Happy for ESR. He just manages to find the back of the net every now and then. What a talent. I hope it works out for him at Arsenal
That was a cracking goal by ESR. Very Arsenal – short fast pass and move, work the opening, then smash it home without hesitation.
West Ham should face the same treatment if they try to buy a player to replace Rice or strengthen other positions. Teams selling to them should proceed like: “You got about 100M from City or Arsenal, our valuation of midfielder X is 75K and we’re not selling unless you pay that because you have the money.
If we have the possibility to add a single player to the team of last season and win the league, who that would be?
It hurts to have to admit that it is Harry effing Kane.
Spuds…..
Full of arry’s
😂
Despite all the talk about living on from Smith Rowe, I didn’t see it. Why sell low on such an important asset? At the very least give him one full season in this team before making a judgment. His lack of involvement last campaign was less an indictment of his ability and more of a nod to experience and continuity in a title race. I expect him to be fully integrated into the team this preseason, probably as an alternate in the Martinelli or Havertz roles. I do have concerns over durability and physicality with him and I want to… Read more »