Summary

  • England set for exit after two straight defeats

  • England in group D with Croatia, Portugal and Switzerland

  • Format is split in two with group stage and knockout phase held separately

  • Group stage takes place 24-31 March

  • Group winners and runners-up advance to eight-team knockout phase 31 May-6 June

Live Reporting

Emlyn Begley

  2. Get Involved

    #bbcfootball or 81111 on text

    I guess there are a few players here we won’t see in an England shirt again ....

    JF, London Colney

  3. The knockout stages take place in May and June. England's U21 players could well be getting the summer off...

  4. England need to beat Croatia on Wednesday to have any hope of qualifying. They also need Portugal to beat Switzerland.

    A Swiss point would eliminate England.

    Even if England and Portugal win then it would come down to a three-way head-to-head between England, Croatia and Switzerland for one place so they might not qualify anyway.

  5. Portugal 2-0 England

    One shot on target in two games in this tournament.

  6. FULL-TIME

    Portugal 2-0 England

    A second defeat in a row and England's European Under-21 Championship fate is out of their hands.

  7. Portugal 2-0 England

    Diogo Costa catches a cross.

  8. Portugal 2-0 England

    One minute to go. No chance of a comeback at this stage. Not that it ever felt on the table.

  9. YELLOW CARD

    Portugal 2-0 England

    Goncalo Ramos goes past Japhet Tanganga and drops to the ground. He wants a penalty and he gets booked for diving.

  10. INJURY TIME

    Portugal 2-0 England

    Four minutes added on.

  11. Portugal 2-0 England

    Almost a third as Goncalo Ramos, who won the penalty seconds after coming on, curls wide from the edge of the box.

  12. Portugal 2-0 England

    England have a corner but keeper Diogo Costa is fouled as he tries to punch it away.

  13. SUBSTITUTION

    Portugal 2-0 England

    Portugal bring on Filipe Soares for Pedro Goncalves.

  14. Portugal 2-0 England

    This is quite poor from England with the squad of players they have.

  15. Portugal 2-0 England

    Pedro Goncalves has a shot blocked as Portugal go for a third. They win a corner but play it short.

  16. SUBSTITUTION

    Portugal 2-0 England

    England make their fifth and final sub as Rhian Brewster replaces Steven Sessegnon.

  17. Portugal 2-0 England

    Portugal are cruising. The ball comes out to Diogo Dalot on the left wing and he tries to beat the keeper from there but it's over the bar.

  18. Portugal 2-0 England

    England have had one shot on target in this tournament so far. None tonight.

  19. Portugal 2-0 England

    Conor Gallagher finds fellow sub Dwight McNeil and his cross is blocked for a corner.

  20. Portugal 2-0 England

    England have a corner but Ben Godfrey commits a foul. Free to Portugal.