England’s Lions and hosts Serbia have named their squads for the U19 European Championships, to be held at the Makis Stadium, Belgrade from 5-11 August. The winners go through to the semi finals and the losers play in ranking matches.
Sixteen community clubs are represented in the England squad, Leigh Miners having the most included with four, head coach Allan Coleman commenting: “It's been really difficult picking this year’s U19s squad. So far training has gone well, and the players are really settling in together.”
“We know what lies ahead with the European Championship, it will be the toughest competition these young players have played in. They are certainly looking forward to it, it's a chance for these lads to show everyone the ability and quality they have.”
A final training session will take place this Saturday before the England squad depart for the tournament early next week.
Their first up opponents, Serbia, are currently in boot camp in Karataš, at the facility of Serbian Ministry of Sport. Under new coaching duo Neil Bijorac and Brett Davidson, they have picked a cosmopolitan squad with four Belgrade sides making up the bulk, and five of players of origin flown in from Australia to add greater experience.
“The players and coaching staff are very happy with the continuing improvement,” said Bijorac from the camp. “The team has come together, all the boys are pushing themselves in all aspects of their training and are looking forward to representing Serbia with pride, especially in front of a passionate home crowd. We see this as a beginning.”
ENGLAND U19 SQUAD
Liam Kenyon (Blackbrook), George Senior (Dewsbury Celtic), Jake Bradley (Hensingham), Bradley Holroyd (Leigh East), Louis Brogan, Calum Coleman, Robert Crompton, Joe Digby (Leigh Miners), Benjamin Bradshaw (Myton), Callum Wood (Orrell St James), Brandon Wood (Rochdale Mayfield), Elias Harrison, Curtis Williamson (Skirlaugh), Benjamin Selby (Stanningley), Sam Favell (Thatto Heath), Cameron Hetherington (Walney Central), Curtis Teare (Wath Brow), James Goulsbra-Miller (West Hull), Leon Harber, Gary McMahon (Wigan St Judes), Ben Holmes (Wigan St Patricks)
SERBIA U19 SQUAD
Jai Smith (Brothers, Queensland), Matija Mihajlovic, Marko Simovic (Dorcol, Belgrade), Matthew Dragisic (Canberra Raiders), Daniel Marjanovic (Kawana Dolphins, Queensland), Stevan Ivankovic, Stefan Milinkovic, Vladimir Milutinovic, Mihajlo Stojiljkovic (Partisan, Belgrade), Zane Bijorac, Zane Marolt (Queanbeyan Blues, Canberra), Ivan Andric, Marko Jakovljevic, Mihailo Tomic, Vuk Tomic (Radnicki, Belgrade), Dorotej-Dado Arnold, Uros Golubovic, Marko Jankovic, Ilija Krstic, Luka Raskovic, Marko Satev, Aleksandar Stefulj (Red Star, Belgrade), Veljko Stankovic (Tzar Dusan, Paracin)
Opening fixtures – Sunday 5th August
Ukraine v Wales (kick off 15.30)
Ireland v Scotland
Serbia v England
France v Italy