Hair-raising afternoon for England
Tammy Abraham fires in a shot during England Under-21s win over Romania.
england under-21 2 Gray 8, Clarke-Salter 73 romania under-21 1 Costache 79
The feelgood factor around England’s age-group teams was very much in evidence as Aidy Boothroyd’s Under-21s saw off a talented Romanian side in this entertaining friendly.
Goals from Demarai Gray and Jake Clarke-Salter, on his debut, did the business as they warmed up for Tuesday’s European Championship qualifier at home to Ukraine.
England top their group in pursuit of a place at next summer’s finals and they are carrying on the work of the teams below them.
The Under-17s and Under20s were both World Champions last year, and most of the Under-20s have now moved up to this level, with eight of the starting line-up part of the successful squad in South Korea.
It is probably too late for any of those on duty to make a late push for the World Cup with the senior team, but the pathway upwards is clear.
“It was a fair result and a good game against good opposition,” said Boothroyd. “We were tested tonight.
“We have some brilliant attacking players and we have real talent going forward all the way from full-back, and we’re looking to play right from the goalkeeper.
“It can be hairy, but if we want to play in a certain style then I am going to have to accept that.”
England had begun at a high tempo and were rewarded with a goal inside the opening ten minutes.
Gray received a sharp pass from Lookman as he cut in from the left and found the net via the aid of a slight deflection.
Tammy Abraham was back at this level after appearing against both Germany and Brazil for Gareth Southgate’s senior team in November.
But his fortunes at club level have dipped since then. Abraham has only scored two goals against League Two Notts County in an FA Cup replay in that time and was keen to get back on the goal trail.
He shot just beyond the post with one effort and was then inches away from getting on the end of a teasing cross from Kieran Dowell.
Romania could have drawn level midway through the half but striker Andrei Ivan hit the post when he appeared certain to score.
However, replays showed that his shot took a touch from centre-half Clarke-Salter, which was decisive in ensuring it hit the post rather than the net.
That move had been started by an incisive pass from the Romanian No.10, Ianis Hagi. It was certainly worthy of his father, Gheorghe, his country’s most famous player and veteran of three World Cups.
Abraham’s quest for a goal continued after the break as he was picked out by a fine cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold, but his looping header landed on the top of the bar.
England hit the woodwork again when Lookman’s shot was pushed on to the post by the goalkeeper, but the second goal arrived from Alexander-Arnold’s resulting corner thanks to a powerful header from Clarke-Salter.
The visitors pulled one back when England goalkeeper Dean Henderson failed to deal with a long free-kick and substitute Valentin Costache fired home.
James Maddison shaved a post during a promising cameo as a sub, before Henderson redeemed himself in injury time with a good save from Florentin Coman’s free-kick.
It was an excellent advert for Under-21 football and a fitting tribute to the late Cyrille Regis, for whom there was a minute’s silence before kick-off along with wreaths laid by his former club.