England faced a difficult first game of this summer's European Under-17 Championship in Cyprus, facing France - who won the competition in 2022 and reached last year's final, as well as defeating the Young Lions in qualifying to top their group.

At the tournament proper, there was only one winner, though, as England burst into life in Larnaca, coming away with an emphatic 4-0 victory over the French.

Chelsea's Ollie Harrison was in the starting line-up at the centre of the midfield and played the full 90 minutes of their first group game. Schoolboy Blues striker Shumaira Mheuka is also in the England squad, but did not feature this time out.

Harrison played an important role from the centre of the pitch in a dominant and controlling performance, with the game effectively dead and buried by the time his side went in for the half-time break with a three-goal lead.

There are two more difficult group games to come for them now, taking on Portugal on Friday and Spain on Monday.

Earlier in the day, another member of our Under-18s squad Genesis Antwi played the full 90 minutes of Sweden's first match of the Under-17 Euros against Slovakia.

The Scandinavians dominated possession and had chances to win it, but had to settle for a 0-0 draw at the final whistle. Antwi came closer than anyone to finding the breakthrough with a shot right at the end of the first half, but found the Slovakian goalkeeper in top form.

Sweden will hope to get their first win of the tournament in their next game, when they play Poland on Friday before a tough finish against Italy on Monday.

Two of their Chelsea Academy team-mates were in action the following day, helping England Under-18s to a 4-2 friendly win over Northern Ireland at St George's Park. Harrison Murray-Campbell started the match before being replaced by fellow Blue Somto Boniface in the second half, with Ato Ampah an unused substitute.

Murray-Campbell played a big part in England's third goal, with his defence-splitting pass allowing Matty Henderson-Hall to square for Ethan Wheatley to tap in and give the Young Lions a three-goal lead inside half-an-hour.

The visitors tried to fight back in the second half, but the damage was already done, and the Chelsea trio will hope to make it back-to-back wins with England Under-18s when they finish their season by hosting Morocco on Sunday.