Leeds United youngster Archie Gray will be gunning for European glory over the next couple of weeks. Gray has been included in England’s squad for the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, which is being held in Hungary through the rest of May and early June.
The tournament got underway yesterday and the Three Lions will get their campaign started this evening as they take on Croatia in Balmazujvaros. England have been drawn into Group D, with Switzerland and the Netherlands making up the group and they’ll be focused on claiming one of the two qualification spots for the knockout stages.
Gray is fresh from playing 90 minutes for Leeds’ Under-21s on Monday night as the Whites sealed promotion at Elland Road with a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest. As such, given the quick turnaround, it remains to be seen whether he will be involved tonight.
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However, as one of the more senior members of the squad, the midfielder looks set to play a key role for England as they look to get their hands on the trophy for the third time. England last won the U17s Euros back in 2014 with United academy graduate Lewis Cook being one of the key members of the side.
England also won the tournament in 2010 with former Leeds loanee Connor Wickham winning the best player award on that occasion. Gray is no stranger to the international set-up having featured seven times for the U16s before collecting his four caps for the U17s.
He will be joined in Hungary by Leeds teammates Charlie Crew and Rory Mahady who have been selected to represent Wales and Scotland respectively. Scotland kicked off their campaign off against France last night with Mahady between the sticks, while Wales took on hosts Hungary in Budapest.
England know that a successful tournament would seal their qualification to the 2023 FIFA U17 World Cup, which will be held later this year, with the top five teams progressing as UEFA representatives. The above trio aren’t the only Leeds youngsters who have left Thorp Arch to link up with their national teams, either.
Both Mateo Joseph and Darko Gyabi have been included in England’s squad for the FIFA U20 World Cup in Argentina, which gets underway on Saturday. The Three Lions take on Tunisia in their first group stage game in La Plata on Monday, May 22, before facing Uruguay and Iraq.
Leeds could have a number of representatives and the UEFA European U21s Championships in Romania and Georgia next month, too. Crysencio Summerville, Illan Meslier, Charlie Cresswell, Leo Hjelde and Kristoffer Klaesson are amongst those vying for selection to represent their respective nations at the tournament.
The U21s competition gets underway on June 21.
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