Gareth Southgate: 'England Under-21s can play without fear against Italy'

England Under-21s manager Gareth Southgate has claimed that his charges will be able to play without fear against Italy on Wednesday in their bid to make the Euro 2015 semi-finals.

Jesse Lingard's late goal earned the Young Lions a 1-0 win against Sweden on Sunday to get their campaign back on track following an opening-day defeat to Portugal.

England's youngsters returned from the 2013 European Championship in Israel without a single point, but can make the last four this time round if they beat the Azzurri or claim a draw and Sweden don't beat Portugal in Group B's other decider.

Southgate told BBC Sport: "The worst that could happen is gone. They didn't want to be a group who go home without a win again. Now that has gone, let's go for it.

"If we haven't performed it hasn't been about football or talent. It would have been about anxiety, but that can go now. It's time for this team to play as I know they can."

England last made it past the group stage of the competition in 2009, when they went on to reach the final.