England setting off in high spirits

England got the perfect lift ahead of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship as goals from Kieran Richardson, Nigel Reo-Coker, Steven Taylor, Tom Huddlestone and Leroy Lita secured a comfortable 5-0 victory in their final warm-up match against Slovakia.

Cool finish
England were in charge from the off in Norwich. Dominating possession, David Nugent, Reo-Coker and Richardson all went close before Slovakia's defence was finally breached on 34 minutes when Peter Pekarík brought down Ashley Young and Richardson coolly converted the resulting penalty. It could easily have been 2-0 moments later but Nugent, capped at senior level in March, saw his curling effort palmed away by a full-stretch Ľuboš Kamenár.

Keeper busy
The FC Artmedia keeper was having a busy night and it was not to get easier in the second half as England, who open their campaign in the Netherlands next Monday against the Czech Republic, continued to assert themselves on the visitors. Kamenár was helpless on 61 minutes when a Reo-Coker shot was deflected in, and it was soon 3-0 as Wayne Routledge's low cross from the left was turned in at the near post by Taylor (77).

Late goals
A late flurry meant there was time for England to score a further two goals with Huddlestone (82) sending a superb strike into the top corner and substitute Lita (84) racing through and blasting low beyond Kamenár. The entertainment was not over at 90 minutes either as England won a penalty shoot-out specially arranged by coach Stuart Pearce as preparation for the finals. Now unbeaten in nine games, England meet Italy and Serbia as well as the Czechs in Group B.