In a recent match held in Guimaraes, Portugal, England’s U19 side faced Serbia and suffered a 2-0 defeat. The game took place as part of a series of international fixtures for youth teams, with both Jesse Derry and Shumaira Mheuka starting and playing the full 90 minutes for England.
Despite controlling 58% of possession and taking 18 shots, England could only manage 4 on target. In contrast, Serbia was more efficient, scoring 2 goals from their 13 shots, with 9 on target. Anderlecht striker Mihajlo Cvetkovic opened the scoring for Serbia, followed by a second goal from Partizan midfielder Bogdan Kostic.
This loss is particularly disappointing for England, who entered the match as firm favorites, having previously defeated Serbia 4-0 in 2022. The Chelsea duo of Derry and Mheuka faced a frustrating result, unable to convert their chances into goals.
Looking ahead, England’s U19 side will next face Poland in Portugal, followed by a match against the host nation, Portugal, at the Amelia Morais stadium in Braga.
In a related development, Luis Machado has joined NorthEast United FC from the Portuguese top division, marking a significant step in his career. Machado, who made his topflight debut with C D Tondela, has over 130 appearances in the Portuguese league.
Expressing his excitement about the move, Machado stated, “I have heard about the league and the club from my peers and am looking forward to the experience.” His new coach, Priya Runchal, highlighted Machado’s versatility, saying, “Luis gives us options going forward as he has the ability to play on both flanks.”
As the U19 side continues its campaign in Portugal, the focus will be on improving their performance and securing positive results in upcoming matches.