England need a victory from their final Group B match in order to avoid elimination from the tournament, whereas the Czech Republic know a draw should be enough to see them progress to the semi-finals, provided Ukraine do not beat Spain.
The Czech Republic were on an eleven-match unbeaten run prior to their 2-0 defeat by Spain on Wednesday.
England have only lost once in 2011, a 2-1 friendly defeat at the hands of Iceland. The side managed by Stuart Pearce (pictured right) have won three and drawn two of their six matches this year.
The two sides have met four times at Under-21 level, with one win apiece and two draws.
The only competitive Under-21 meeting between the two sides came in the 2007 European Championship, and resulted in a 0-0 draw.
The last meeting between the sides was a friendly in November 2008 at Bramall Lane, the home of Sheffield United. England ran out 2-0 winners thanks to goals from Fraizer Campbell and Craig Gardner.
Revenge may be on the minds of some of the England players when they face the Czech Republic on Sunday. Six members of the current Under-21 squad were in the starting line-up for the Under-19s in the summer of 2008 when the Czech Republic beat them 2-0 in the European Under-19 Championships.
However, several of the Czech Republic players may also feel they have a point to prove in Sunday’s match. Striker Tomas Pekhart spent four years as a teenager at Tottenham Hotspur but failed to make a single Premier League appearance before leaving the club in January last year, while Vaclav Kadlec and Marek Suchy were also rejected after trials at Liverpool and Spurs, respectively.
England have won the European Under-21 Championships twice in their history, in 1982 and 1984, and also finished runners-up in 2009.
The Czech Republic have won the European Under-21 Championships once in their history, in 2002, and also finished runners up in 2000.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
England – Daniel Sturridge
By far England’s most dangerous player and unlucky not to score against Ukraine on Wednesday, it will once again be Sturridge to whom Stuart Pearce looks for inspiration as his side seek the vital win they need to progress to the tournament semi-finals.
Against what will likely be a highly organised and disciplined Czech defence, the 21-year-old Chelsea striker’s pace, trickery and guile may well prove crucial to England’s chances of producing a piece of brilliance or forcing a decisive error from the opposition.
Czech Republic – Borek Dockal
The Slovan Liberec midfielder served notice of his considerable talent with the classy brace which ensured the Czechs an opening day victory over the Ukraine and, despite being starved of service against Spain on Wednesday, he will probably once again have a big say in the outcome of this match.
Dockal’s main weapons are his vision, clever movement and eye for goal. He will start on the wing but regularly drift inside in order to exert more influence on the match.
England’s defence will surely look to stop the Czechs getting the ball to their captain and to marshall him whenever he chooses to ghost into the penalty area, but both tasks could prove difficult if he is on form.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
England (4-3-3):
Fielding; Walker, Smalling, Jones, Bertrand; Henderson, Mancienne, Lansbury; Sturridge, Welbeck, Rose.
Stuart Pearce’s side enter their final match in Group B knowing only a win will be good enough to see them progress to the semi-finals, and so it is likely the creativity and guile of Arsenal midfielder Henri Lansbury, who impressed as a substitute against the Ukraine, will be preferred to the more physical presence of Jack Rodwell in the midfield.
Lansbury will be expected to provide a better quality of service to the unchanged attacking trident of Rose, Welbeck and Sturridge as England look to convert chances into much-needed goals, while the defensive pairing of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones will be hoping to continue their hugely impressive form so far in the tournament.
Czech Republic (4-5-1):
Vaclik; Celustka, Mazuch, Suchy, Lecjaks; Dockal, Horava, Gecov, Moravek, Hlousek; Pekhart.
Manager Jakub Dovalil will likely stick with the same back four which has started both his side’s Group B matches so far, despite Wednesday’s defeat against Spain.
Jan Moravek will probably be the man chosen to replace the suspended Lukas Vacha in the centre of midfield, while Kaiserslautern winger Adam Hlousek should keep his place on the left flank ahead of Jan Kovarik after making his tournament debut against the Spaniards.
Up front, the much-touted Vaclav Kadlec is available for selection after returning from injury as a substitute on Wednesday, but Sparta Prague team-mate Tomas Pekhart should be given one last chance to impress from the start despite his indifferent form so far.
England Under 21 1-0 Czech Republic Under 21 
