Ipswich Town midfielder Flynn Downes played the full 90 minutes as England’s Under 19s demolished the Faroe Islands 6-0 in their European Championship qualifier in Bulgaria yesterday.
Downes started in midfield as he won his second cap at under 19 level, in a game where Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah was the start of the show as he netted four times in the comprehensive victory.
Elliot Embleton of Sunderland and Nottingham Forest’s Ben Brereton scored the other two goals, as the Young Lions got their qualifying campaign off to a perfect start.
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They are defending the title they won in Georgia in the summer, a victory in which Ipswich midfielder Andre Dozzell played a part, with two more matches to come on their visit to Bulgaria.
England take on Iceland on Saturday before playing the hosts on Tuesday, in games both played at Trace Arena in Stara Zagora.
Downes and his team-mates will be looking to finish top of their group to secure a spot in elite qualifying, where they will bid to secure a place in next year’s finals in Finland.
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