Euro U21 Round One Preview

When & Where is Euro U21 Round One?

Slovakia was selected as the host for the UEFA European U21 Championship in 2025. The matches will be played at eight venues in eight host cities as follows:

• Tehelné pole, Bratislava

• Anton Malatinský Stadium, Trnava

• DAC Aréna, Dunajská Streda

• Košická futbalová arena, Košice

• Štadión pod Dubňom, Žilina

• Štadión na Sihoti, Trenčín

• Štadión pod Zoborom, Nitra

• Tatran Stadium, Prešov

Round one of the tournament will run from June 11th until June 18th, 2025.

The 2025 Group Phase Draw

The first round of the UEFA European U21 Championship is a group phase. The 16 teams have been split into four groups of four, and each team plays the others in its group once.

At the end of round one, the top two teams will progress to the knockout stages, which are single elimination matches leading to the final on June 28th, 2025.

England are in Group B alongside Germany, while Spain have been placed in Group A with the hosts, Slovakia. Below are the details of each of the groups in round one of the U21 Euros this summer:

Group A

• Slovakia (Hosts)

• Spain

• Italy

• Romania

Group B

• Czech Republic

• England (Holders)

• Germany

• Slovenia

Group C

• Portugal

• France

• Poland

• Georgia

Group D

• Finland

• Netherlands

• Ukraine

• Denmark

Round One Preview: How Will England Perform?

England should have enough to navigate Group B in the U21 European Championship. They face a talented German side and a well-organised Czech Republic team, but we expect them to do enough to make it to the knockout rounds.

Spain, who are also among the favourites for the tournament, might have a tough time getting through Group A, as they will need to overcome the host nation and a particularly talented Italian side to make it to the knockout rounds.

Elsewhere, Group C features Portugal and France, who are both expected to go deep in the tournament. At the same time, the Netherlands will fancy their chances of progression, thanks to their relatively easy passage via Group D.

The Top Talents to Look Out for in Round One

England

England have assembled a hugely talented squad ahead of this tournament. Thomas Tuchel omitted several names from the first team so they could focus on performing well in Slovakia before making the step up to the main Three Lions team later this year.

Harvey Elliott and Ethan Nwaneri are eye-catching talents available to Lee Carsley, while Elliot Anderson has just enjoyed a brilliant season for Nottingham Forest and will play at the heart of England’s midfield.

Spain

Unfortunately for Spain, Lamine Yamal has been overlooked for this tournament, given his importance to the senior squad. However, he would have been a huge asset to his side if he had been included.

Still, Spain will look to Leeds United’s Mateo Joseph to lead the line, who has five goals in five appearances for the under-21 side. Valencia’s Javi Guerra will likely feature alongside Barcelona’s Pablo Torre in midfield, with Spain out to control possession in Slovakia.

France

Two of Tottenham Hotspur’s youngest and most exciting players will feature for France in this summer’s tournament – Mathys Tel and Wilson Odobert.

FC Nantes’ Johann Lepenant has proven a key player for Les Bleus in the midfield, while captain Castello Lukeba has excelled since transferring from Lyon to Leipzig, and he has already made his debut for the senior French team.

Italy

Wilfried Gnonto is the star of Italy’s under-21 squad and while central midfielder Cesare Casadei might not have made the grade at Chelsea, he is excelling in Serie A with Torino and is a considerable talent to look out for.

Germany

Eintracht Frankfurt’s Ansgar Knauff is arguably Germany’s most important player at the U21 level, bringing experience, pace, and quality to the wide areas.

The Germans’ main attacking threat will come from two talented forwards in their ranks. Hannover’s Nicolo Tresoldi has five goals in eleven appearances for the U21s, while fellow striker Nick Woltemade has just had an impressive season with VfB Stuttgart and earned his first cap as a senior German international earlier in 2025.

How to Bet on UEFA Euro U21 at Parimatch

You can bet on all major and youth football tournaments at Parimatch. Visit our homepage, click “Sign Up,” and complete the registration process in seconds. Then, check for the latest offers and deposit funds to place your wagers.

With your account up and running, you can place the following bets on the first round of this tournament:

• Match betting: Back England, Italy, Spain, or any other team to win their fixtures in the first round. Remember, these games can also finish in a draw.

• Draw no bet: Take the draw out of the equation and back any of the teams to win.

• Totals bet: Bet on over or under a specific number of goals being scored in a first-round match at the Euros.

• Both teams to score: If you cannot pick a winner, back both teams to find the net in a group game in Slovakia. Alternatively, bet on both teams not to score.

We encourage you to gamble responsibly when betting on football at Parimatch. Please familiarise yourself with the tools and tips at our Safer Gambling Portal to help you bet within your means.