Trevoh Chalobah captained an England U20s side featuring Andre Dozzell and Flynn Downes to a 2-0 victory against Germany in the U20s Elite League at Colchester United’s JobServe Community Stadium.
Second-half goals from Joe Willock and Lukas Nmecha won the game for England after a difficult first half.
The victory keeps England’s hopes of finishing top of the U20s Elite League alive with the win seeing them go above Germany into third, just one point off of league leaders the Netherlands.
Chalobah was deployed at centre-back for his second cap at U20 level with Dozzell playing 61 minutes in a familiar centre midfield role for what was also his second cap.
Fellow Town man Downes came on late in the game to earn his first cap after an impressive start to life under new Ipswich manager Paul Lambert, who made the trip to North Essex with his staff to watch the match.
Chalobah was the busier of the Ipswich players in the firs half with Germany enjoying a lot of possession and creating chances, giving Aaron Ramsdale plenty to do in the England goal.
The Bournemouth stopper produced a sensational save high to his right to push away Alfons Amade’s header and was in action again in the 23rd minute to push a low shot wide after the lively and impressive Benjamin Goller had taken the ball past Chalobah and full-back Adam Lewes.
The Young Lions had limited time on the ball but did show some sharp passing in the middle of the pitch with Dozzell among those in white to play quick interchanging passes and make runs into the Germany box.
Chalobah ventured away from his centre-back role on two occasions towards the end of the first half with some decisive forward passes causing the Germany defence problems without coming to anything more.
Just before Polish referee Pawel Pskit blew for the break Dozzell was involved in one of England’s brighter moves.
The central midfielder took the ball towards the Germany box before picking out Joe Willock who quickly played Grady Diangana in on goal, but his effort went straight into the goalkeeper’s arms.
England’s second half start showed much more promise and they went in front in the 66th minute.
Willock drove towards goal and calmly struck the ball low past Markus Schubert into the bottom right corner.
Three minutes later the score was doubled with a routine ball across the box from Eddie Nketiah which was tapped in by unmarked substitute Lukas Nmecha.
Germany continued to press but couldn’t get past the England backline with Chalobah leading his defence by example with a long sliding block across the wet turf to prevent a German cross with 10 minutes remaining.
That tackle epitomised what was an assured display from the on-loan Town youngster. He looked comfortable throughout the game and used his strength and passing ability in equal measure while rarely looking troubled.
Dozzell was replaced by Marcus Tavernier in the 61st minute but may have expected to stay on a bit longer with England building momentum at that point.
His first-half contribution was efficient with a number of quick passes in midfield but much of the half passed him and the rest of the England midfield by, with Germany controlling much of the ball. Downes wasn't given time to make his mark on the game.
England U20s: Ramsdale, James, Suliman, Chalobah, Lewis, Willock (Downes 88), Field (Vieira 62), Diangana, Dozzell (Tavernier 62), Embleton (Nmecha 62), Nketiah. Unused: Trott, Huffer, Wilmot, Eze, K Edwards, T Edwards.