Noni Madueke will participate in the European Championship with Young England, as was announced on Monday. The PSV wing attacker has been included in the final roster by national coach Aidy Boothroyd for the upcoming group duels with Young Croatia, Young Portugal and Young Switzerland, matches that will be played between 25 and 31 March in the Slovenian cities of Ljubljana and Koper. It is the very first time that Madueke has received a call-up for Young England.
The PSV attacker has already played international matches for England Under-16, Under-17 and Under-18 in the past. The place in the European Championship selection comes two weeks after Madueke openly spoke about a possible future as an international of the Dutch. He would be eligible for this in 2023, after five years as a player in the Netherlands. “Really ?! Is that possible ?! Wow, I really did not know that at all”, the astonished Madueke recently responded in an interview with the supporters magazine PSV Supporter. “That would also be a very nice option. I really have a lot of admiration for Dutch football, which of course has come a long way at many major tournaments. With a very talented crop coming up”, said the enthusiastic PSV winger.
From now on, however, the focus is on Young England, which is in preparation for the group matches of the European Championship. In addition to Madueke, Boothroyd also sent invitations to Mason Greenwood (Manchester United), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea) and Emile Smith-Rowe (Arsenal). The competition for Madueke is quite fierce the Three Lions and it is unlikely that as a debutant he will immediately get a basic place at the European Championship.
Full European Championship selection Young England:
Target: Josef Bursik (Stoke City), Josh Griffiths (Cheltenham Town), Aaron Ramsdale (Sheffield United)
Defense: Max Aarons (Norwich City), Ben Godfrey (Everton), Marc Guehi (Swansea City), Lloyd Kelly (AFC Bournemouth), Ryan Sessegnon (TSG Hoffenheim), Steven Sessegnon (Bristol City), Japhet Tanganga (Tottenham Hotspur), Ben Wilmot (Watford)
Midfield: Tom Davies (Everton), Ebere Eze (Crystal Palace), Conor Gallagher (West Bromwich Albion), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), Dwight McNeil (Burnley), Oliver Skipp (Norwich City)
Attack: Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United), Mason Greenwood (Manchester United), Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea), Noni Madueke (PSV), Eddie Nketiah and Emile Smith Rowe (both Arsenal).