TOUGH TEST
England Under-21s to face defending champions Germany at Euro 2023 along with Czech Republic and Israel
England Under-21s have been drawn against defending champions Germany in Group C at Euro 2023.
Lee Carsley's side will also pit their wits against Czech Republic and Israel in next summer's tournament which will be held in Georgia and Romania.
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The Young Lions, who boast a star-studded squad stacked full of Premier League talent, will go into Euro 2023 full of confidence.
They have won ten out of their 13 games under the tutelage of Carsley since he took charge in July 2021, losing on just two occasions.
England, who will be competing in their ninth consecutive European Championships, secured top spot in their qualifying group.
And they will be buoyed by their 3-1 friendly victory over Germany at Bramall Lane last month.
Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun - on loan at French side Reims - got on the score sheet, along with Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher and Manchester City starlet Cole Palmer.
Carsley's fledglings also beat Czech Republic twice in their qualifying group.
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Anthony Gordon and Balogun scored in the 3-1 victory in November 2021, before Emile Smith Rowe and Jacob Ramsey fired in goals in the 2-1 win in June.
Commenting on the group, Carsley said: "Getting to this point, we always knew there would be tough teams in all of the pots.
"It’s going to be tough. We know how difficult it has been with the qualifying campaign.
"We had two difficult games against the Czech Republic (in qualifying).
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"We played Germany in the last international window so we have done a lot of preparation on them, we need to make sure we have the same level against Israel.”
England and Germany have plenty of history in the Euros, with the Young Lions beating their rivals in the final of the 1982 competition in what was their first major success.
Germany had to wait 27 years to get their own back as they thumped England 4-0 in the 2009 final thanks to a Mesut Ozil masterclass.
And they again prevailed against England in the Euro 2017 semi-finals as they won on penalties.
England haven't progressed from the group stage in each of the two previous tournaments.
As for Germany, they have reached the last three finals - winning twice.
Euro 2023 kicks off on June 21 and runs until July 8.
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