Aston Villa’s youngsters shone as the England Under-19 team began their U-19 Euro 2022 tournament. Carney Chukwuemeka, Aaron Ramsey and Tim Iroegbunam all impressed as they started for the Young Lions against Austria.
It was an impressive start for England in a competition in which they are one of the favourites to win. England cruised to a 2-0 victory, with each Villa player contributing significantly.
Here are my thoughts on the Villans who played in the game.
Tim Iroegbunam – 8
Minutes played – 90 minutes
It’s easy to see why Gerrard has tried to get Iroegbunam into the first team; he possesses all of the characteristics required to become a quality defensive midfielder, and he demonstrated that in the game. His passing is almost always pinpoint, and the youngster is capable of effortlessly linking the defence to the midfield.
In terms of break-up play Iroegbunam was hard to get past and helped limit Austria to very few dangerous chances. It takes something special to get past Iroegbunam, a useful asset to have when under the cosh.
Overall a solid performance from Iroegbunam that showcased to the world what a talent he is. If he continues to marshal the midfield like he did against Austria, he may attract interest from other teams.
Aaron Ramsey – 7
Minutes Played – 60 minutes
Ramsey was responsible for much of England’s success, particularly in the first half. Ramsey was a creative outlet that his teammates frequently looked to. They appeared to recognise that if Ramsey has the ball, a chance will almost certainly be created. Having someone like that on your team is fantastic.
One criticism I have of Ramsey’s performance is that he lacked a clinical edge to his game. He came within inches of scoring twice, with one shot hitting the post and the other being cleared off the line. Ramsey will know that the second of his chances should have gone in, and he will work on that.Β
Carney Chukwuemeka – 8.5
Minutes Played – 80 minutes
Chukwuemeka demonstrated his ability at the under-19 level once more with a goal and an assist. With three goals and two assists in his last four games representing his country, there is no doubt about his ability at this level.
The younger of the Chukwuemeka brothers appeared to be more at ease in a deeper role than the one he plays at club level. He was at home when he faced a player, something he doesn’t get to do very often as the number 10 position. His footwork is consistently excellent, making him one of the most exciting players to watch in the game.
If I had one criticism for Chukwuemeka, it would be that he never seems to do enough off the ball. There is nothing stopping Carney from reaching the pinnacle if he can demonstrate the same level of commitment in tracking back that he does going forward.
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