England have not won the European Under-21 Championship since 1984Aidy Boothroyd says England can still reach the European Under-21 Championship quarter-finals despite their opening-game loss to Switzerland.
Dan Ndoye’s late goal was decisive for the Swiss on their first appearance at the finals for a decade.
“We are still in it, we live to fight another day and that’s what we’ll do,” said Three Lions manager Boothroyd.
England face Portugal, who beat Croatia 1-0, in their second fixture on Sunday (20:00 BST).
They will then meet Croatia in their final Group D match on Wednesday, 31 March (17:00 BST) in the tournament hosted in Slovenia and Hungary.
Uefa European Under-21 Championship: All you need to knowThe knockout phase is scheduled to take place between 31 May-6 June, with the final due to be played in Ljubljana.
And England, who have not advanced past the group stage in four of the last five finals, now have their work cut out to progress, albeit their task is slightly easier than in previous years with the top two from each group going through.
“The format is different so we have more of a chance, we are not out of it yet and we are going to go for it,” Boothroyd added.
“It’s a setback and we don’t moan about it, we get on with it. This is the biggest test and we have to go through a bit of adversity to come through the other side.
“Am I worried about it? No I am not because the team that goes out against Portugal will be a very attacking team and we will see if we can improve.”
In truth a number of refinements will need to be made to address a lack of cutting edge that saw Switzerland enjoy the better chances despite England’s dominance in possession.
England goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale saved superbly from Brighton forward Andi Zeqiri following lax play from Ben Godfrey, and another error, this time from Tom Davies, saw Bastien Toma hit the post for Switzerland.
In response England were restricted to few chances of note, with a dipping Davies effort from distance, Lloyd Kelly’s wayward header from a corner and a Callum Hudson-Odoi free-kick all they could muster.
Line-upsEngland U21Formation 3-4-3
1Ramsdale
4Godfrey5Guehi3Kelly
2Aarons6Davies16Skipp21McNeil
10Hudson-Odoi9Nketiah18Smith Rowe
1Ramsdale4Godfrey5GuehiBooked at 60mins3Kelly2Aarons6DaviesSubstituted forJonesat 66’minutes16SkippBooked at 90mins21McNeilSubstituted forR Sessegnonat 76’minutes10Hudson-OdoiBooked at 83mins9NketiahSubstituted forBrewsterat 76’minutes18Smith RoweSubstituted forEzeat 66’minutesSubstitutes7Cantwell8Gallagher11R Sessegnon12Wilmot13Bursik14S Sessegnon15Tanganga17Jones19Brewster20Eze22Griffiths23MaduekeSwitzerland U21Formation 4-4-2
21Racioppi
23Lotomba4Bamert5Zesiger20Muheim
8Toma6Domgjoni22Jankewitz14Ndoye
9Guillemenot11Zeqiri
21Racioppi23Lotomba4BamertBooked at 63mins5Zesiger20Muheim8TomaSubstituted forRüeggat 85’minutes6Domgjoni22JankewitzBooked at 85mins14NdoyeSubstituted forMambimbiat 79’minutes9GuillemenotSubstituted forImeriat 66’minutes11ZeqiriSubstitutes1Köhn2van der Werff3Sidler7Rüegg10Pusic12Fayulu13Rieder15Stergiou16Sohm17Imeri18Stojilkovic19MambimbiReferee:Giorgi Kruashvili
Live TextMatch ends, England U21 0, Switzerland U21 1.
Second Half ends, England U21 0, Switzerland U21 1.
Oliver Skipp (England U21) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Oliver Skipp (England U21).
Felix Mambimbi (Switzerland U21) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Offside, England U21. Oliver Skipp tries a through ball, but Ryan Sessegnon is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Curtis Jones (England U21) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
Substitution, Switzerland U21. Kevin Rüegg replaces Bastien Toma.
Alexandre Jankewitz (Switzerland U21) is shown the yellow card.
Rhian Brewster (England U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Alexandre Jankewitz (Switzerland U21).
Callum Hudson-Odoi (England U21) is shown the yellow card.
Callum Hudson-Odoi (England U21).
(Switzerland U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Callum Hudson-Odoi (England U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Miro Muheim (Switzerland U21).
Attempt missed. Kastriot Imeri (Switzerland U21) right footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
Foul by Marc Guehi (England U21).
Andi Zeqiri (Switzerland U21) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution, Switzerland U21. Felix Mambimbi replaces Dan Ndoye.
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