West Bromwich Albion prospect Reyes Cleary was part of the England Under-19 side that suffered a humiliating 7-0 defeat to Germany in their opening match of the European Under-19 Championship in Slovakia on Tuesday. The result is the heaviest loss ever recorded by an England U19 team and a shocking start for the holders of the title.
Record defeat for Young Lions
The Young Lions, who won the tournament in 2022 and 2017, were completely outclassed in Malacky. Germany raced into a 4-0 lead at halftime through goals from Paris Brunner, Timo Bornemann, and a brace from Robert Ramsak. The second half saw further strikes from Brunner, Bornemann, and Assan Ouedraogo to complete the rout. England failed to register a single shot on target.
Cleary's involvement
Cleary, a 19-year-old striker who has yet to make a senior appearance for West Brom, started the match and played 62 minutes before being substituted. He had a quiet game, unable to influence proceedings as Germany dominated possession and chances. Cleary has been a prolific scorer for West Brom's youth teams and signed his first professional contract in 2022.
Context and next match
England are in Group B alongside Germany, Israel, and the Czech Republic. They face Israel next on Friday, needing a positive result to keep their hopes of advancing alive. The top two from each group progress to the semifinals. The heavy defeat raises questions about the team's preparation and form, especially given their status as defending champions.
