LEE Carsley’s England Under 21 side have encountered many different challenges on route to a semi-final clash with Israel, successfully navigating every one of them.

In their Group C opener some early promise from Czech Republic was quelled, the Three Lions eventually racking up 16 attempts on goal and bossing possession for the most part.

The challenge in this instance was managing expectation and getting off to a winning start against a side they were tipped to comfortably beat. A late second tapped home by Emile Smith-Rowe meant the score-line reflected their dominance.

Three days later, England faced Israel, their opponents this Wednesday, and we will return to this 2-0 victory as clues can be sourced as to what may await in Batumi. Suffice to say though, Carsley’s attacking line-up and remit worked well in keeping an impressive Israeli collective on the back foot, limiting Guy Luzon’s young charges to just a single shot on target.

In their concluding group game, it was all-change, as an already-qualified England deployed the full breadth of their squad against an underwhelming and surprisingly outclassed Germany. Selecting Cameron Archer up front necessitated a change in formation but England maintained their tournament rhythm, ultimately coasting to a third consecutive 2-0 win.

Back the Three Lions to win by an exact winning margin of two goals on Wednesday at 3/1

Then came Portugal, one of the competition’s favourites and a side that doesn’t only press ferociously but presses cleverly. In their toughest test to date, Carley’s men progressed to the last four, courtesy of Anthony Gordon scoring his second goal in Georgia.

The Newcastle winger’s reinvention in a striking role has been one of the most noteworthy aspects to England’s summer, the 22-year-old looking a natural up there and dove-tailing brilliantly with Morgan Gibbs-White, the creator of both his goals.

Behind this pair, Jacob Ramsey has continued his fine end-of-season form shown at Aston Villa and it’s a concern that the midfielder hobbled off on Sunday, leaving the ground on crutches. He’s a big doubt for this week but Smith-Rowe is for sure an extremely able replacement.

A bet builder backing under 2.5 goals and for Smith-Rowe to score anytime offers up 9/1

At the heart of proceedings meanwhile, Curtis Jones also warrants a mention, with everything going through the Liverpool star.

Last but by no means least, there is Noni Madueke, tormenting full-backs for fun. One of only two England players to have featured in all four games so far, the Chelsea flyer has been a constant threat.

It’s says a great deal about how fluid and spirited this attacking roster have been that it’s taken 400 words to highlight the following crucial detail. That England have yet to concede.

All of which points to England going into Wednesday evening’s encounter in near pristine shape, and this needs to be the case against an Israel side it would be folly to underestimate.

In our tournament preview we talked up the bright future of Israeli football and a nation ranked 75^th in the world at senior level has now reached an Under-20 World Cup semi-final and a Euro Under-21 semi inside a couple of months, with several players participating in both.

Granted, England dissected them twice-over in their group game via quick and shrewd movement around the box but elsewhere Israel have been a tough unit to break down, as evidenced by the pressure they withstood when drawing with Germany.

Moreover, in Oscar Gloukh they possess an attacking midfielder capable of unlocking any defence, the Red Bull Salzburg teenager destined for big things.

Where Israel do let themselves down, however, is in their discipline, or rather a lack of it.

Seventeen cautions to this point equates to 4.2 per game and is six more than any other side in the competition.

Backing Israel to pick up more cards than England is a decent shout at 4/6

If England encountering Israel again is a tournament quirk that goes double for the other semi-final where Group B winners Spain take on the group’s runner-up Ukraine.

In their earlier meeting La Rojita coach Santi Denia made sweeping changes so it’s difficult to properly gauge the 2-2 draw, except to say the favourites improved when Rodri and Abel Ruiz came on late in the game. The latter had 14 direct goal involvements for Braga last term in Primeira Liga and has notched twice in the Euros to date.

What does intrigue are comments made by Denia post-match, suggesting his team failed to make any impact in central areas, instead redirecting their focus to out wide. This is pertinent given that Spain have won a tournament-high of 26 corners. They’ve also incidentally had the most attempts on goal in Romania and Georgia, 18.2 per 90.

Over 6.5 corners for Spain is good value at 7/4

If Spain repeat their strategy in Bucharest and offer up plenty of width it promises to be quite a clash because that is precisely where Ukraine’s strengths lie.

Mykhailo Mudryk may be struggling at Stamford Bridge but he was superb in his side’s quarter-final beating of France and Ukraine’s devastating use of pacy wingers has proven an invaluable ploy as they seek to reach a Euro final for only the second time.

Yet still, it is Spain who should be fancied here. Their attacking quartet of Sancet, Rodri, Gomez and Ruiz are just too good. Spain are too good.

They’ll likely take their time about it though, as is their way.

20 of Spain’s last 25 goals at this level have been converted in the second period of games, or extra-time. Back them to win the second half at 21/20