Calum Chambers started and completed the full 90 minutes as England u21s came back from a one-goal deficit to win 2-1 after a spirited second-half showing.

A scrappy finish from Swansea defender Alfie Mawson as well as Nathan Redmond’s fantastic strike helped Aidy Boothroyd’s side to their first win and goals of this summer tournament, after a frustrating goalless draw against Sweden last weekend.

Chambers got stuck into the action from the offset and sustained a knock just seconds after the referee’s first whistle when jumping in an aerial challenge. Thankfully, he was okay to continue and his partnership with Mawson has developed steadily with more minutes together as a pairing.

Slovakia took the lead from a set-piece, one which should’ve been prevented but no blame could be attributed to Chambers on this occasion.

Viktoria Plzeň midfielder Martin Chrien headed home from a tight angle after a teasing ball into the box saw Everton’s Mason Holgate misjudge the flight of the cross and lose out in the air. Jordan Pickford came narrowly close to clawing the effort away to safety but could only watch on as it looped over him into the far corner.

Lewis Baker, John Swift and Redmond himself all had chances to equalise before Mawson reacted quickest inside the area to convert Baker’s cross. Redmond skipped past opposition challenges like they were not there before firing home with aplomb to seal all three points during a game that England battled hard to prevail in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NOlc4K-NDY

After another solid defensive performance, Chambers is likely to keep his place in the starting line-up with Poland their final group stage fixture later this week.

Rob Holding though, was an unused substitute once more.

Speaking of Poland though, they needed a last-gasp penalty strike in stoppage time to salvage a point during their 2-2 draw with Sweden in the other Group A fixture.

Krystian Bielik was frustratingly left among the substitutes once again and given their last two results, it’s unlikely that the 19-year-old will be given a chance to perform with his side in danger of an early exit.