Max Dowman became the youngest-ever player to represent England’s Under-21s during a 1-0 defeat to Portugal in Bristol on Friday night.
Head coach Lee Carsley sent the Arsenal midfielder on for the final 29 minutes at Ashton Gate, replacing Amario Cozier-Duberry.
At 16 years, 10 months and 13 days old, Dowman surpassed the previous record held by Jude Bellingham. Bellingham was 17 when he made his debut for the Under-21s against Kosovo in September 2020.
England Falls to Portugal
Dowman’s historic milestone failed to spark a comeback for the Young Lions as they slipped to a second successive defeat. Afonso Moreira scored a first-half strike to secure the 1-0 win for Portugal.
The result follows a surprise 3-1 loss to the Republic of Ireland last month. That earlier defeat ended England’s unbeaten qualifying run for the upcoming European Championship.
Arsenal Youngsters Feature
Tommy Setford played in goal for England and made a string of fine saves, though he felt that he should have done better for the winning goal. Setford currently plays on loan at League One side Stevenage.
Ethan Nwaneri, currently on loan at Borussia Dortmund, also started the fixture for the Young Lions. Former Arsenal academy graduate Brooke Norton-Cuffy, now with Hull, featured in the starting lineup alongside his club and international peers.
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Mikel Arteta will have taken note of the versatile defender’s performance on the left side of the backline, which could also be an option for Arsenal in future if injuries were to befall the likes of Riccardo Calafiori, Piero Hincapie and Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old was Jude Bellingham when he held the record?
Jude Bellingham was 17 years old when he made his England Under-21 debut against Kosovo in September 2020.
Where did the England Under-21 match against Portugal take place?
The match was played at Ashton Gate in Bristol on Friday night.
Which clubs do Tommy Setford and Ethan Nwaneri currently play for on loan?
Tommy Setford plays on loan at League One club Stevenage, while Ethan Nwaneri is on loan at Borussia Dortmund.
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