Ex-England defender Jonathan Woodgate

"We have to retain the ball better from the back there, we can't just keep hitting it forward in hope. You look at how Germany are holding the ball and playing it out from the back, that's a totally different game from what you usually see from us.

"This is how international football is played and we're struggling to get the ball as a result at the moment."

England are set up with current Derby player Jesse Lingard on the left of Danny Ings in attack and Norwich's Nathan Redmond on the right. They have yet to test the full-backs.

Germany are playing in red and black hooped shirts and black shorts, as you do, while England are in all white - some of the players are wearing white boots. Dazzling.

Germany get the match under way.

Anthems played. Ready for a bit of England v Germany?

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Now then if you tune into BBC Radio 5 live sports extra you can listen to full match commentary - Middlesbrough player Jonathan Woodgate is the summariser.

The teams are coming out. Should be a cracker at the Riverside Stadium - it's rarely disappointing between these two nations at any level.

Image source, sharemytactics.com

More on who England should be looking to for Euro 2020. See our predictions above.

Harry Wates: For me it has to be Hart, Clyne, Stones, Jones, Bertrand, Wilshere, Henderson, Delph, Barkley, Kane, Sterling. 4-4-2 diamond.

Alex Swinden: Not saying this because I'm a Leeds fan but Lewis Cook is going on to huge things he's with the u18s.

Tom Sweeney: Will Hughes is already a better technical footballer than those three centre midfielders.

Keep your selections coming. Tweet us at #bbcfootball,, external text us on 81111, go to BBC Sport's Facebook page, external or use BBC Sport's Google+ page., external

England U21s manager Gareth Southgate, speaking to BT Sport: "We wanted to play four of the top teams in Europe across November and March. We wanted to really test ourselves and get us prepared for the summer. The previous games have done that and tonight will be no different.

"Germany are good in possession, they're well organised and they like to play out from the back. But we focus on what we do well and other teams are looking at us and the way that we play. We're growing in confidence and we're starting to build a reputation."

Image source, Getty Images

What you have might also noticed is that England U21 coach Gareth Southgate is back at his old haunt.

Southgate spent three years as manager of Boro and five years as a player, when the former defender helped the side win the League Cup and finish as runners-up in the 2006 Uefa Cup.

"It's been nice to see some familiar faces coming here but I've been back quite a few times before to see people like Aitor Karanka [current manager] and Dave Parnaby [youth coach].

"Everybody makes me really welcome, which is great, but the game is about making sure the team perform on the night."

Liverpool midfielder Emre Can starts for Germany as does Schalke's Max Meyer, with Barcelona's Marc-Andre ter Stegen in goal. Arsenal midfielder/forward Serge Gnabry is on the bench.

Germany XI: Ter Stegen, Gunter, Ginter, Bittencourt, Leitner, Emre Can, Julian Korb, Robin Knocke, Hofman, Younes, Meyer

We're asking you to predict your England starting XI for Euro 2020 (see 19:04 entry) - there's a lot of love for a certain Arsenal man.

Christian Green: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain instead of Redmond surely?

Isa Zina: What happened to Alex Oxlade Chamberlain in 2020?

SV Sveni: I think Chambers would get the nod over Dier at CB, also believe Kieran Gibbs would get the nod over Luke Shaw.

Keep your selections coming Tweet us at #bbcfootball, external, text us on 81111, go to BBC Sport's Facebook page, external or use BBC Sport's Google+ page, external.

So Danny Ings starts in attack. Norwich's Nathan Redmond - of predicted future England Euro 2020 squad fame (see earlier entry) - will support him.

West Ham's on-loan defender Carl Jenkinson and Everton's John Stones return to the backline, while Derby's Will Hughes and Jesse Lingard (on loan from Manchester United) take their places in midfield.

Coach Gareth Southgate has gone with Watford's Jonathan Bond in goal in place of Fulham's Marcus Bettinelli.

So can this current Germany Under-21 squad emulate the one that beat England 4-0 to win the 2009 Euros? Some of that squad went on to lift the World Cup five years later - as you can see.

"The quality and the level of experience on the international stage we have in this squad are impressive," said Germany U21 coach Horst Hrubesch recently.

"I want to give every player another chance to put himself forward and make the decision for us coaches as difficult as possible."

Germany did not fare too well at the last Euros in Germany because Andre Schurrle, Julian Draxler and Marc-Andre ter Stegen joined the senior team, while Toni Kroos and Mario Gotze were injured.

Hrubesch says this young Germany group are much stronger - let's see if they are.

Image source, PA

Enough fun. Let's get serious.

Gareth Southgate's young side arrive into this match on the back of a 1-0 win over Czech Republic, having recently enjoyed an 11-GAME WINNING RUN.

Today they are without key personnel such as Eric Dier, Jack Butland, Nathaniel Chalobah and forwards Saido Berahino and Patrick Bamford, so it is a big ask for them to get back-to-back wins.

"We're freshening the side up from the other night and I think it's important that everyone starts a game and we still look a strong team so I'm looking forward to seeing us play," he revealed.

"They have belief in the way they work and their ability. We've picked some matches both this month and last November to test them and stretch us in different ways, so it's not just about the result."

England coach Gareth Southgate makes eight changes from the side that defeated Czech Republic 1-0 last week. Burnley's Danny Ings starts up front.

Image source, sharemytactics.com

No controversy here whatsoever. I mean, you guys and gals would pick this England XI at Euro 2020, right?

Norwich City's Nathan Redmond to support Harry Kane?

Tottenham's Eric Dier and Everton's John Stones at the heart of defence?

Do you agree with the selection? If not, who would you take out and who would you include?

Remember to cut and keep this so you can embarrass us in five years time when you compare it to the actual starting XI (assuming England get there).

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Image source, PA

To Under 21 or not to Under 21, that is the question.

This issue is more than than just club v country, it's club v country v what level for your country.

England Under 21s face their German counterparts at 19:45 BST, without Liverpool's Raheem Sterling (20), Everton's Ross Barkley (21) and Tottenham's Harry Kane (21) - all three are in the current senior squad.

Their berths in the squad for this summer's U21 European Championship in the Czech Republic have not been confirmed - with reasons for their possible absence ranging from club tour commitments to permanent graduation to the senior squad., external

So with the likes of Nathan Redmond, Danny Ings and James Ward-Prowse in the squad, is this England U21 squad good enough to become European champions this summer?

We will get a good measure of their chances against the much-fancied Germans at the Riverside.

Stay here - oh, we've got a heck of a Get Involved coming up.