Defending champions Sweden U21s and England U21s lock horns at the Kielce City Stadium in their opening Group A game of the U21 European Championships on Friday evening. Both sides have been inconsistent in recent internationals, but England are the favourites as Sweden have won fewer games and conceded more goals in the last year.

Håkan Ericson’s Sweden side are coming off the back of consecutive defeats ahead of Friday’s clash, conceding four goals without replay. They have managed only two wins in their last half a dozen internationals, shipping a total of eight goals and haven’t won since October 2016.

Despite having won the competition in 2015, Sweden look a shadow of the side two years on and could well come unstuck to an England outfit chasing top spot in the group. Poland and Slovakia are the two other sides to face, so this week’s clash at the Kielce City Stadium may well be somewhat of a playoff for the top spot.

As for England, Aidy Bothroyd’s side have won four of their last six internationals, albeit having lost two in three, and are favourites to see past Sweden this week. England U21s have been full of goals, scoring three or more in three of their last five games in all competitions and being shut out just once since June 2015.

The Three Lions last won the competition in 1982 and 1984 and haven’t made it past the group stage in the last three tournament. But with a flawless qualification campaign that saw them pick up 20 points from a possible 24 without losing, England could well be back to their best at U21 level.

In the squad, the Three Lions have Sunderland’s Jordan Pickford, Arsenal duo Calum Chambers and Rob Holding, Southampton duo James Ward-Prowse and Nathan Redmond, Derby’s Will Hughes, Chelsea’s Nathan Chalobah, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Tammy Abraham, among other players from Manchester City and Leicester City.

Betting Tips

With Sweden U21s in such poor form ahead of Thursday’s opening group game, England U21s are 4/5 with Sky Bet to win against the Swedes. Sweden have kept just one clean sheet since June 2015, conceding two or more goals in their last three games, while England have only failed to score once in two years and have scored 14 goals in their last five outings. England Total Goals Over 2.5 is 2/1 with Betfair.

As for goalscorers, England’s Tammy Abraham will be the one to watch. He’s netted two if our games for the Three Lions already, coming off the back of 23 goals in 41 games for Bristol City last season. Abraham is 11/8 with Sky Bet to score anytime.

Prediction

With the Three Lions so full of goals and having recently won more games than Sweden U21s ahead of Friday’s group game, England U21s to win and Over 2.5 goals is 7/4 with Sky Bet

England U21s to Win and Over 2.5 Goals 7/4 with Sky Bet