England’s Young Lions to excel in UEFA Under-21 Championship Group B

Italy will be an intriguing opponent for the Young Lions, and are 6/1 to claim the crown or 13/5 to top Group B, having had the measure of England in recent senior meetings.

There is a deeply-ingrained concern that the Azzurrini are not producing talents big enough to fill the shoes of stalwarts such as Andrea Pirlo, but there is promise in this crop, who are odds-on at 10/11 to at least qualify from Pool B.

The Italians’ strengths rather stereotypically lay in defence, where impressive Juventus-owned Empoli centre back Daniele Rugani and Alessio Romagnoli, contracted to Roma, will provide a stern test.

Meanwhile, in attack, Sassuolo loan star Domenico Berardi is one to watch after a superb season in Serie A, yet Palermo poacher Andrea Belotti has a better international record of eight in 15 for the Azzurrini.

Also jostling for space in the spotlight are Portugal (7/4 to win Group B, or 4/9 to qualify), whose ranks are stuffed with highly-rated prodigies that could see the nation prove genuine trophy contenders.

Aside from familiar faces such as Sporting Lisbon midfield shield William Carvalho and majestic Monaco winger Bernardo Silva, there should also be much excitement in watching the likes of Malaga wideman Ricardo Horta and coveted Valencia right back Joao Cancelo strut their stuff on the European stage.

Cancelo’s sidelined Los Che clubmate Andre Gomes could, however, prove a crucial miss in midfield should they reach the latter stages.

Outsiders and underdogs Sweden round off this potentially perilous pool, but are still 3/1 to qualify as, having downed France in the play-offs to make it this far, the Scandinavians clearly thrive with their backs against the wall.

With the character to embrace that underdog status is soon-to-be free agent John Guidetti. Following spells with Celtic and Feyenoord while on Manchester City’s books, the 23-year-old frontman has shown he can change a game, and certainly needs to put himself in the shop window this summer.

Another Swede tipped to shine on the big stage is skipper and midfield enforcer Oscar Hiljemark, fresh from an Eredivisie triumph with Dutch giants PSV, though their strength lies in being a collective rather than outstanding individuals.

Coral’s top betting tip: Kane at 6/1 to be tournament top scorer is sensational value.