England U21’s hopes of winning the 2013 European
Championships this summer will be sky high after Stuart Pearce’s side
demolished Sweden 4-0 in Walsall during a friendly on Tuesday.
Although the Euros are still four months away, this squad
will take great confidence from their performance that saw them dominate a
Sweden side who comfortably won qualifying group B before losing to Italy in a
two-legged playoff last October.
The man of the moment – as he has been all season – was Tom
Ince, Blackpool’s spirited winger-come-striker who terrorised Sweden’s defence
with two clinical finishes. Jonjo Shelvey also got on the scoresheet, while
Connor Wickham is making a name for himself at U21 level with a header late on.
It was a performance that will greatly impress not only boss,
Pearce, but also England manager, Roy Hodgson, who is still developing the
first team into a unit capable of qualifying and possibly winning the 2014
World Cup in Brazil.
Fans betting on football should expect Ince to be in the
first-team squad by next summer, and success at this year’s European
Championships can only help the 21-year-old’s aspirations.
England are in a tough group with Italy, Norway, and Israel
yet have now won their last seven matches and lost just once since June 2011.
Over this two-year period Pearce has developed a strong side genuinely capable
of winning silverware and their dominance over Sweden proved this team is the
real deal.
The players have just one more fixture – against Wales in
March – to prove themselves before Pearce picks his 2013 Euro squad. With
competition rife throughout the squad, each player will put his all into every
opportunity handed to them – a spirit that could make the difference at this summer’s
Euros.
Watching tonight’s match? Pick up the latest odds, tips, and
news from the England camp at http://betting.betfair.com/football/premier-league/
