Title favorites England made a successful start to the tournament at the U21 European Championship. At the start, the last group opponent of the German selection defeated the Czech Republic 2-0 (0-0) on Thursday evening.
After a fast-paced but goalless first half in Batumi, Jacob Ramsey (47′) and Emile Smith Rowe (90’+4) scored for the Three Lions, who alongside the French team were one of the top favorites at the finals in Georgia and Romania traded. Due to the simultaneous 1:1 (1:1) draw of the DFB team against Israel, the team of England coach Lee Carsley took over the lead in group C.
In the first match of the preliminary round group D, Switzerland prevailed 2-1 (1-1) against Norway. Emil Ceide (19′) gave the Scandinavians the lead before Dan Ndoye (36′) and Kastriot Imeri (55′) turned the game around for the Confederates in Cluj-Napoca.
At the end of the first day of play, France won the prestige duel against Italy in Group D 2-1 (1-1). Arnaud Kalimuendo gave the French the lead in the 22nd minute, but Pietro Pellegri (36th) equalized around fifteen minutes later.
In the 62nd minute it was Bradley Barcola who shot the Equipe Tricolore to victory. Shortly before the end, France’s Loic Bade (83rd) saw the red card because of an emergency brake, but Italy was no longer able to use the majority to equalize.