Czech Republic

v

England

 

 

 

2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
Gelredome, Arnhem
5.15pm (UK time), Monday 11 June 2007
Live on Sky Sports
Full match details

England go to Arnhem on Monday afternoon to face the Czech Republic in their opening game of the UEFA Under-21 Championship and skipper Nigel Reo-Coker can't wait to get going.

The Three Lions arrived in Holland on Friday and have been busy preparing for the first game and, after a training session on Sunday at the Gelredome, Reo-Coker says the team are ready to begin their European challenge.

The end of the Championship will bring in the end of Reo-Coker's Under-21 career and he his aiming to go out on a high and hopes the tournament will provide a spring-board to Steve McClaren's senior squad.

"We’ve enjoyed the preparation, we’ve worked hard and we really want it to start now," said the 23-year-old.

"The more games you play at Under-21 level, the better it is for your senior opportunities.

"We’re being groomed and we’re learning from such a big tournament what it would be like to be with the seniors."

England's last defeat came at the hands of France in November 2005. Since then, Reo-Coker, who scored his first Under-21s goal in Tuesday 5-0 victory over Slovakia, says that they have now built up a winning mentality.

After qualifying for the Finals this summer he now feels that England have the right attributes to go all the way.

"Our record is nine games undefeated, every time we play we enjoy it and we go to win," he said.

"We’ve worked hard to get to the Finals, there’s no point in coming here if you’re not coming to win.

"We have a young squad, a very experienced squad, most of us have played half a season or even a full season in the Premier League and there’s no better place to get your education," he added. 

"We’re more than equipped with the squad we have, every player here wants to be here and wants to win and that’s all we care about."