England U21s finals campaign to begin against Italy in Tel Aviv

Last updated: 17th May 2013  

England U21s finals campaign to begin against Italy in Tel Aviv

Stuart Pearce: Aiming to do better than 2011's group stage exit

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England U21s will begin next summer's European Championship campaign against Italy in Tel Aviv.

Stuart Pearce's side are in Group A in the eight-team finals along with the Italians, Norway and Israel.

And first up on 5 June is an Azzurri side which beat England 1-0 in a friendly the last time they met - back in February 2011.

Norway are next in Petach Tikva on 8 June, three days before Pearce takes his squad to Jerusalem for a meeting with the hosts.

Group B is made up of Spain, Germany, Holland and Russia, and the final of the tournament is in Jerusalem's Teddy Stadium on 18 June.

England - runners-up in 2009 - were eliminated at the group stage in Denmark in the summer of 2011.Don't miss any live and exclusive football coverage this festive season. Click hereto visit Sky Sports' Festive Calendar

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