England U20s beat hosts South Korea

Friday, 26 May, 2017 33comments  |  Jump to most recent

England's next game at the U20 World Cup is against high-flying hosts South Korea in Suwon on Friday, kick off at 11:45 am BST, with live coverage on Eurosport 2.

England sit 2nd in Group A with 4 points after 2 games, and are well positioned to advance to the Round of 16. South Korea won both their games, against Guinea (3-0) and Argentina (2-1), who are bottom of the group.

Members of Everton's five-man contingent should again play a significant part in proceedings: Jonjoe Kenny and Calum Connolly playing both games in full, while front men, Ademola Lookman, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Kieran Dowell have been rotated.

The top two teams in each of six groups advance, along with the four 3rd-place teams having the best records.

Update: England win 1-0 through a superb goal made by Jonjoe Kenny and slotted home by Kieran Dowell.  

Reader Comments (33)

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Brian Wilkinson
1 Posted 26/05/2017 at 08:58:25
I can see this being a 2-all draw, whilst in the other game Argentina to run out 4-nil winners from the games I have watched so far.

I also expect Dowell and Calvert-Lewin starting along with Kenny and Connolly, with Lookman benched.

Brian Wilkinson
2 Posted 26/05/2017 at 11:39:58
Team update. Kenny, Dowell, Lookman and Calvert-Lewin all start, Connolly dropped to the bench.
Tony Abrahams
3 Posted 26/05/2017 at 13:01:20
Kenny works very hard to stop crosses into the box and works even harder trying to get forward for his team. I think he's ready for senior football, and I will be very disappointed for both the kid and his family if he doesn't get his chance very soon.

I think Jonjoe has picked up a lot of good habits regarding application off his father and will be delighted for the both of them when he eventually makes the grade with Everton; he's ready now!

Liam Reilly
4 Posted 26/05/2017 at 13:12:21
Lookman keeps knocking on the door but it won't go in. Lively though.
Jay Wood
5 Posted 26/05/2017 at 13:17:48
England swarming all over Korea at the start of the 2nd half. Lookman alone could have scored two.

But the Everton boys came good for the goal. Great play and cross on the right by Kenny, Dowell very calm side-foot finish, showing others how to do it.

Sweet.

Liam Reilly
6 Posted 26/05/2017 at 13:17:51
1-0 on 56 minutes: Nice finish from Dowell. Pass came from an overlap on the right side - I couldn't see if it was Kenny or not.
Tony Hill
7 Posted 26/05/2017 at 13:28:01
Dowell has great talent, if he can focus and strengthen himself, he could be a major player for us. Excellent from Kenny too which is no surprise.
Tony Abrahams
8 Posted 26/05/2017 at 13:29:25
It was Kenny, Liam, playing a lovely little ball into Dowell, who had started the move with a really clever back-heel.

Kenny has just kicked one off the line, and just seems like a natural successor to Seamus Coleman. Him and Lookman, both look very good

Tony Hill
9 Posted 26/05/2017 at 13:31:18
Tony, I'm now persuading myself that the future is bright after all. That Dowell flick and the fact that he kept running, just brilliant.
Jay Wood
10 Posted 26/05/2017 at 13:38:13
Kenny reminds me more of Leighton in his prime rather than Coleman. Fantastic engine on him up and down the flank all game, with the pace and technique to put in really threatening balls when he gets to the sharp end of the pitch.

And no nonsense defending at the blunt end. Great clearance off the line one minute, another threatening overlap and cross at t'other end the next.

Looks a top top talent.

Lookman could have had a hat-trick! Promising that he keeps getting in these positions and that his head doesn't drop when he doesn't score. He keeps coming back for more.

Peter Gorman
11 Posted 26/05/2017 at 13:49:17
Kenny is ready now but I worry about him, like Davies, moving into a team of perennial losers.

Thanks for the updates, I can't find the game in my part of the world so it is greatly appreciated.

Jay Wood
12 Posted 26/05/2017 at 13:53:22
Job done. 1-0.

Good game against the hosts.

Everton boys all played well.

Tony Hill
13 Posted 26/05/2017 at 13:55:08
Peter, when you can find the Dowell goal, it's well worth looking at and very promising.
Kieran Kinsella
14 Posted 26/05/2017 at 14:00:03
Who is his Dad? Billy?
Jay Wood
15 Posted 26/05/2017 at 14:04:46
Should have posted something earlier Peter – I'd have given you a link.

Found this already – a VERY short video with no replay of the goal.

Link

The player giving the back heel flick is Dowell, the overlapping playing who runs on and puts in the cross is Kenny and, of course, not content with just playing the ball to Kenny that opened up the flank, it is Dowell who turns and runs into the box with a calm one-touch side-footed finish.

If you had seen the missed chances at the start of the 2nd half, you could understand better when I say Dowell showed others how to do it.

Peter Gorman
16 Posted 26/05/2017 at 14:18:37
Cheers Jay, appreciate the thought but it has just gone 8:15 here and I was wallowing in my pit for most of the match.

That goal was a thing of beauty. I truly hope Dowell kicks on a bit for us because he is a remarkable talent.

Brian Cleveland
17 Posted 26/05/2017 at 14:21:48
Just saw the England U20s game against S.Korea, won 1 0 with goal from Dowell,ably assisted by Kenny

Kenny got MOM from the commentators: "I'm stunning at Kenny's performance, he's been absolutely amazing"

He also got one of the line and from the first to the last minute you'd see him getting between the two dead ball lines... first rate, on that form, I don't think he'll look out of place if needed for the first team.

I was very impressed... Dowell some nice through balls too, very precise.
Lookman very active and tricky, hit the post twice. DCL put himself about too.

Was actually a very good game to watch, even if I did have to get up at 6am to watch it!

Wai Kin Low
18 Posted 26/05/2017 at 14:24:00
Surely Kenny deserves a chance in the line-up next season? I don't think we should try to sign Cuco Martina from Southampton.
Sam Hoare
19 Posted 26/05/2017 at 14:40:13
Kenny has been England's best player at this tournament so far. Surely he deserves to start the season as right-back until Seamus gets fit. The lad looks like he has all the attributes and he certainly won't let anyone down for effort.

Hopefully Koeman watched the game, or at least the highlights. We don't need Martina.

Peter Gorman
20 Posted 26/05/2017 at 14:49:07
Kenny is an iron-willed Evertonian as well as a class player.
Frank Wade
21 Posted 26/05/2017 at 19:12:04
I would certainly give Jonjoe Kenny a start pre-season and take it from there. What more can the lad do?

I found this Link with short highlights of the game. Lookman close on a few occasions. Dowell very cool and classy in taking his chance.

I can't see Martina being any better, even on a free.

Frank Wade
22 Posted 26/05/2017 at 19:26:43
I found this Link of the highlights of the match v Argentina featuring some good stuff by our lads. The TMO is in operation in this competition. This will not be the answer to our refereeing problems, if we have referees like this. See Red card to Argentinian lad for jostling for a ball.
John Raftery
23 Posted 26/05/2017 at 20:11:29
Having won their two previous matches South Korea only needed a draw to top the group. The hosts started brightly but England settled down after a nervy couple of minutes with Lookman having a tremendous match. He hit the post twice, had a shot well saved and set up a colleague for a goal scoring opportunity.

Calvert-Lewin did well foraging up front while Dowell and Kenny combined really well throughout the game. Their work for the goal reminded me of Pienaar and Baines. Bar one slip when he allowed a pass to go out of play, Kenny had a faultless game. He looks as though he could play both as a traditional right back or as an attacking wing back. He has a turn of pace and times his runs to perfection.

As for Dowell his first time passing created numerous attacking situations. Although we have seen him score plenty of goals it is his passing ability which for me marks him out as an attacking midfield player of considerable potential. Unlike one of two of our current first team squad he does not dilly dally on the ball and is certainly effective on the 'productivity' front. Mostly he plays first touch stuff which moves the play forward and creates momentum. In this game he answered some of the criticism levelled at him over the last couple of years that he does not work hard enough tracking back. He certainly did that today, helping Kenny to stifle South Korea on that side of the pitch.

Kenny is from Kirkdale, Dowell from Town Green; a good combo produced on Merseyrail's Northern Line to Ormskirk.

Dave Williams
24 Posted 26/05/2017 at 20:49:17
Who is Jonjoe's dad?
Billy from the nineties?
Tony Hill
25 Posted 26/05/2017 at 21:13:50
What Dowell has got is the ability to "break the line", whether with a change of pace, a first time pass or a clever flick. He's an elegant, classy player at his best – he also has a fine shot on him – and I hope today has given him a lot of confidence. He must stay in the game longer and relish his own talent.

I was encouraged by Lookman too. From the first time he took in Goodison, when he was introduced to the crowd, this young man has had an air about him. He's been lightweight but he's getting there and once he is built up and gets his eye in, I think he's going to be formidable.

Kenny is a natural right back and he looked that way against Norwich a year ago. He's got better and will continue to do so.

Perhaps I'm deluding myself, having been so depressed by Everton for so long now really, but today I caught a glimpse of the flair, freedom and joy which we've lacked for so long.

It was one game in an Under 20 tournament but that's how I want to see Everton play, right there in that Dowell goal.

John Raftery
26 Posted 26/05/2017 at 21:46:12
Dave (#24), No, as far as I know he is not related to Bill Kenny Junior who played for us in the nineties, or Bill Kenny Senior who played for us in the seventies.
David Currie
27 Posted 26/05/2017 at 23:20:39
Just watched the England U20 game v Korea, Kenny outstanding lots of energy, great going forward and a great assist for Dowell's goal. He should start the season as first choice right back, looks a real talent. No need to sign another right back, give this lad a chance. Dowell and Lookman also did very well.

Tony Abrahams
28 Posted 27/05/2017 at 08:46:37
Dave, read my post about application, there is no-way Billy could be his dad! (Although Billy is probably as fit as he's been since he first played for Everton nowadays.)

Jonjoe, lives less than 10 minutes from Goodison, and could be the first Everton player to walk to Goodison and play since his namesake used to do in the nineties.

His dad is a proper man, used to work till 3/4/5 am on a Sunday morning, get home for a couple of hours kip, and then get up to get his son to the footy. The man is a great example, works hard, trains everyday, and I was made up for him yesterday!

Dave Williams
29 Posted 27/05/2017 at 09:15:25
Thanks,John and Tony – yes,fair point about application, Tony – what a waste of talent Billy was.

Jonjoe looks to me like he could go into the full England squad very quickly once he gets first team football – he injects defensive solidity with great dash and verve going forward and he seems to have a football brain on him too.

Cracking goal from Dowell – another who, with Liam Walsh, could really kick on and break through next season.

Dave Abrahams
30 Posted 27/05/2017 at 09:24:56
John Raftery (23), I never saw the game. It is good news that Dowell added work rate to his game in this match; it is the one thing which will hold him back. i hope he keeps it up, he has an abundance of talent. I always expect him to do something special when he has the ball, so he will excite fans once he can continue to be more involved in the game.

Good luck to him and all the England players in the rest of the tournament.

Tony Abrahams
31 Posted 27/05/2017 at 17:22:32
First time I've watched Dowell, Dave, and I think he's going to be the type of player who will always frustrate, and excite in equal measure.

He knows himself he can play, and so do his team-mates, who will appreciate him when he's on fire, and fucking hate him when the chips are down and they need him to graft that little bit harder!

Terry Underwood
32 Posted 28/05/2017 at 11:35:44
Just seen some highlights. I Hope we are scouting in Asia, some of those Korean kids looked good. I also liked the England Keeper.

Lookman was unlucky not to score a couple, all the blue youngsters played well.

Ian Bennett
33 Posted 28/05/2017 at 16:36:45
I watched the game this morning. Not sure of the quality of Korea, but England looked really strong in the middle.

Kenny was outstanding at right back, getting MotM. A real good impression of Gary Neville in his pomp. He impressed immensely.

The other Everton lads did well. I hope to see them in the Europa League.


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