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Thursday: Slovakia v Sweden, England v Poland

England go into the final round of Group A matches at the head of the table yet all four teams are still in with a chance of progressing, including the bottom-placed hosts Poland.

Thursday: Slovakia v Sweden, England v Poland
Thursday: Slovakia v Sweden, England v Poland ©UEFA.com

How can I follow the games on UEFA.com?
UEFA.com will have reporters on the ground at both of Thursday's Group A fixtures, with live analysis, photos, minute-by-minute commentary and reaction in the build-up, during the game and after full time. There will also be extensive coverage on Twitter (@UEFAUnder21) and Facebook (@under21).

Follow here: England v Poland (kick-off: 20:45CET)
Follow here: Slovakia v Sweden (kick-off 20:45CET)

ENGLAND V POLAND

When and where?

Kielce is the venue for Thursday night's encounter between Group A leaders England and a Poland side striving for a victory which, permutations permitting, could yet earn them qualification for the semi-finals.

Jordan Pickford will find a familiar face in the Poland squad
Jordan Pickford will find a familiar face in the Poland squad©Sportsfile

Knowledge to impress your friends

Goalkeepers Maksymilian Stryjek and Jordan Pickford spent the last three seasons on the books of the same English team, Sunderland. But while Pickford was Sunderland's No1 this season prior to his departure for Everton last week, Poland back-up Stryjek has yet to start a game for the club.

How do the teams stand in Group A?

England will secure first place and a semi-final spot with victory. A draw would also guarantee progress if Slovakia and Sweden share the points. Though bottom, Poland would advance if they beat England by two goals or more and Slovakia v Sweden ended in a draw.

Matchday one

Sweden 0-0 England
England: Pickford; Holgate, Mawson, Chambers, Chilwell; Ward-Prowse, Baker, Chalobah, Murphy (Gray 70); Redmond, Abraham.

Pickford's penalty save nine minutes from time ensured England claimed a point as the defending champions made a slow start in Kielce.

Poland 1-2 Slovakia (Lipski 1; Valjent 20, Šafranko 78)
Poland: Wrąbel; Kędziora, Bednarek, Jach, Jaroszyński; Dawidowicz, Linetty; Frankowski, Lipski (Niezgoda 82), Kapustka (Moneta 59); Stępiński (Piątek 84).

Patryk Lipski scored Poland's first goal of the tournament
Patryk Lipski scored Poland's first goal of the tournament©AFP/Getty Images

Patryk Lipski put the hosts in front after 53 seconds, but Slovakia equalised before the break and substitute Pavol Šafranko conjured a winner as full time began to loom.

Matchday two

Slovakia 1-2 England (Chrien 23; Mawson 50, Redmond 61)
England: Pickford; Holgate (Murphy 46), Chambers, Mawson, Chilwell; Ward-Prowse, Chalobah; Swift (Gray 79), Baker, Redmond; Abraham (Woodrow 88).

England overturned a half-time deficit in Kielce to take all three points through goals from Alfie Mawson and Nathan Redmond. 

Poland 2-2 Sweden (Moneta 6, Kownacki 90+1pen; Strandberg 36, Une Larsson 41)
Poland: Wrąbel; Kędziora, Bednarek, Jach, Jaroszyński; Linetty, Dawidowicz (Piątek 88); Frankowski, Kownacki, Moneta (Lipski 74); Stępiński (Niezgoda 58).

As in their opener, Poland took an early lead. However, they conceded twice before half-time and it took an added-time penalty from David Kownacki to secure their first point of the campaign and keep their semi-final hopes alive. 

Previous meetings

Played: 14
England: W7 D3 L4 F29 A17
Poland: W4 D3 L7 F17 A29

Who said what?

Aidy Boothroyd's team have their destiny in their own hands
Aidy Boothroyd's team have their destiny in their own hands©Sportsfile

Aidy Boothroyd, England manager: "We don't want to put our future in anyone else's hands. We're here to go as far as we can and if we keep improving then why can't we reach the semis and go beyond that? But first things first, what we definitely won't do is get carried away and complacent."

Marcin Dorna, Poland coach: "This game against England, and the possibility of qualifying, is kind of a prize for what the team did versus Sweden, but we must definitely concentrate better. In both our games so far we scored first but didn't win."

Form guide (including friendlies, most recent first)

England: WDWLL
Poland: DLLLW

How can I watch the game?

In England: Sky UK
In Poland: Polsat

The full list of broadcast partners is available here. Games will also be streamed live on UEFA.com and UEFA.tv in some territories.

SLOVAKIA V SWEDEN

When and where?

Lublin stages the meeting of Slovakia and holders Sweden, teams currently placed second and third in the group but each with hope of reaching the last four. 

Zlatan Ibrahimović scored in the nations' last U21 encounter
Zlatan Ibrahimović scored in the nations' last U21 encounter©AFP/Getty Images

Knowledge to impress your friends

Zlatan Ibrahimović was among the scorers when these nations last met at U21 level – in a 4-0 qualifying win for Sweden in Enkoping in June 2001.

How do the teams stand in Group A?

Slovakia will win the group if they beat Sweden and England fail to take three points against Poland. For Sweden to definitely snatch top spot, they need to beat Slovakia and for England to lose against Poland.

Matchday one

Poland 1-2 Slovakia (Lipski 1; Valjent 20, Šafranko 78)
Slovakia: Chovan; Valjent, Niňaj, Škriniar, Mazáň; Lobtoka; Rusnák, Bero (Bénes 90+2), Chrien, Mihalík (Haraslín 82); Zreľák (Šafranko 73).

Slovakia bounced back from Patryk Lipski's rapid opener to upset the hosts, substitute Pavol Šafranko scoring the winner 12 minutes from time.

Sweden 0-0 England
Sweden: Cajtoft; Wahlqvist, Une Larsson, Dagerstål, Lundqvist; Tibbling (Tankovic 85), Hallberg, Fransson (Mrabti 73); Olsson; Cibicki, Engvall (Strandberg 59).

Linus Wahlqvist saw Pickford save his penalty nine minutes from time as the defending champions had to settle for a draw.

Slovakia players after defeat by England
Slovakia players after defeat by England©Sportsfile

Matchday two

Slovakia 1-2 England (Chrien 23; Mawson 50, Redmond 61)
Slovakia: Chovan; Valjent, Niňaj, Škriniar, Mazáň; Lobtoka; Rusnák, Bero, Chrien (Bénes 66), Mihalík (Haraslín 73); Zreľák (Šafranko 65).

Martin Chrien's goal gave Slovakia hope of a second victory in Group A but England's second-half revival meant they came away empty-handed.

Poland 2-2 Sweden (Moneta 6, Kownacki 90+1pen; Strandberg 36, Larsson 41)
Sweden: Cajtoft; Wahlqvist, Une Larsson, Dagerstål, Lundqvist; Tibbling (Tankovic 61), Hallberg, Fransson (Mrabti 87); Olsson; Cibicki, Strandberg (Engvall 69).

Sweden let two points slip by conceding a late penalty after having taken a 2-1 lead and apparent control.

Previous meetings

Played: 2*
Slovakia: W0 D1 L1 F1 A5
Sweden: W1 D1 L0 F5 A1
* Sweden also met Czechoslovakia in the 1990 quarter-finals, winning 6-1 on aggregate.

Who said what?

Pavel Hapal's team must win - and hope
Pavel Hapal's team must win - and hope©Getty Images

Pavel Hapal, Slovakia coach: "We must win and then wait and see how the game between England and Poland pans out. We don't have things in our own hands, but there could still be a chance of going through in second place with six points."

Håkan Ericson, Sweden coach: "Of course we have to win. Every team in the group has to. From what we've seen, Slovakia are very well organised in defence and they've also had some good moments going forward. In the middle of the pitch there's a creative player in [Stanislav] Lobotka, two good wingers in [Jaroslav] Mihalík and [Albert] Rusnák and an excellent stopper in [Milan] Škriniar."

Form guide (including friendlies, most recent first)

Slovakia: LWWLW
Sweden: DDLWL

How can I watch the game?

In Slovakia: Markiza
In Sweden: Discovery

The full list of broadcast partners is available here. Games will also be streamed live on UEFA.com and UEFA.tv in some territories.

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