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England U21s Set for Return to Portman Road - Ipswich Town News

TWTD understands that Portman Road is being lined-up to host an England U21 international for the first time in seven years in October when Lithuania take on the side now coached by Gareth Southgate.

The game, a European Championships qualifier, is scheduled for Tuesday 15th October and with the England senior side playing Poland in a World Cup qualifier the same day may be an early kick off. Former Blue Connor Wickham is a current member of the U21 squad.

England’s U21s were last at Portman Road in August 2006 for a 2-2 draw with Moldova when debutant Theo Walcott and David Nugent were on the scoresheet.

Prior to that, Town hosted the full England side in August 2003 when they defeated Croatia 3-1 in a friendly.

Portman Road has also been the venue for England U21 matches against Switzerland (1980, 5-0), Romania (1985, 3-0), Albania (1989, 2-0) and the Czech Republic (1998, 0-1). An U23 side including ex-Blues boss Joe Royle drew 1-1 with Switzerland in 1971.

In 2001/02, the England U19s beat Germany 3-1. The ground also played host to a 1959 pre-Olympic Games friendly between Great Britain and the Caribbean FA ahead of the 1960 Games in Rome.

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