As for the Swedes, the gave it a good shot, but they only had one or two chances as they tried to play on the counter. A good run-out for the hosts though and a rather easy win in the end.

The hosts passing and possession was tremendous at times, especially on what looked like a dreadful pitch. Stuart Pearce must be confident of his side's chances going into the tournament.

A professional dispatch of Sweden by England as goals from Shelvey, Wickham and an Ince double (in front of his Mam and Dad) secured the win.

Full-time: England Under 21s 4-0 Sweden Under 21s

Words can not describe that patient, passing move by the hosts, but I'll give it a try. The range of passes, short to long, on this pitch, was tremendous. After about 25 of them, Ince crosses to nobody and the ball goes to safety.

That would have been glorious. Hughes searches for Ince and he is all set to volley home but the ball is headed clear before it reaches him.

Chance for England. Ince darts in from the right, and tries the curler but can only shoot straight at defender Milosevic. He stops it with his face and is left bloodied for the second time tonight.

Chance for England. Wickham really should have doubled his tally after being played in by Ince, but Stromberg blocks well. That would have been two goals inside three minutes for the Sunderland man.

Goal Connor Wickham
Goal for England. Substitute Wickham rises highest to nod home Lansbury's cross. This has been too easy for the hosts.

The play slows down again and now we see the remainder of the substitutes.

First real sustained possession from the visitors. Mattias Johansson goes on a mazy run from right-back to left-wing, but his pass comes to nothing.

Chance for Sweden. Finally, the visitors are getting in behind England's defence, but Hiljemark can only shoot wide. Getting closer, the Swedes.

Chance for Sweden. Andreas Blomqvist drives one at goal which goes wide. It looked like it took a nick on its way through, but the referee says goal kick.

Chance for England. I really should have that on copy and paste. Robinson, who has been equally as good on the left as Smith has on the right, delivers an inch-perfect cross, and the on-rushing Lansbury can not launch himself at the ball quick enough and scores with himself and not the ball. Unlucky.

Chance for England. Lansbury's free kick is met by a rising Dawson but he can only put his header wide. Interesting fact. The defender has five goals in his 10 Under-21 appearances.

Chance for England. Substitute Connor Wickham ran around the outside of the defenders as he looked to fashion a cross for Ince. He finds his man, but substitute goalkeeper August Stromberg superbly smothers.

Slow, patient play from the hosts as they look to regain their rhythm from the first half.

Chance for Sweden. First chance of merit and it comes from Mikael Ishak. After good build-up play involving Christoffer Nyman down the right-hand side, the striker blazes over Declan Rudd's bar.

Robinson tries to find Ince, but the deflection on the cross drags in away from the hat-trick seeking Blackpool star.

Another of the substitutes is involved in the action straightaway. Will Hughes bursts foward and finds Ince, who in turn finds Smith who leaves defenders in his wake, but his cross is too deep and Sweden clear.

It's a slow start to proceedings as both sides try and adjust to their substitutions.

England substitute Henri Lansbury gets us underway for the second half.

If the Swedes are to get back into the game, then they will have to try and prevent the likes of Shelvey, Henderson, Zaha, Smith and Ince, who have been running the show.

The hosts have been the dominant side and deservedy go into the break with a three goal cushion. It could and probably should have been more. The visitors on the the otherhand have been defending for their lives and have yet to fashion a chance of their own.

Half-time: England Under-21s 3-0 Sweden Under-21s.

The hosts are spraying the ball about now as they look to wind the clock down.

Goal Thomas Ince
Goal for England. McEachran has his weak effort saved by Linde but he can only parry to Ince he slots home for his second on the night.

Missed Penalty Josh McEachran

Penalty to England. Ince has his heels clipped by Filip Helander and up steps Josh McEachran.

The pace of the game has slowed down since the second goal, with Sweden putting plenty of men behind the ball.

Shelvey gives away a free kick but Oscar Hiljemark's set piece is too deep and goes out for a goal kick.

Goal Jonjo Shelvey
Goal for England. Shelvey smashes home via the bar from the same position that he missed from after a cross from Smith deflects of both Ince and Joel Allansson.

Chance for England. Smith and Henderson play passes between themselves before setting up Ince for a shot from outside the box, and his effort goes just past Linde's right hand past.

Chance for England. Shelvey and Zaha combine, with the new Manchester United signing turning his man but shooting straight at Andreas Linde.

The England Under-21 captain's passing tonight has been akin to Steven Gerrard. He almost sets up another chance but Jack Robinson gets dispossessed.

Henderson launches a ball forward and is almost headed into his own goal by Alexander Milosevic.

Jason Steele gets, what I think is, his first touch of the ball tonight. It looks freezing in Walsall, so the goalkeeper will be grateful of being able to do something.

Chance for England. How has Shelvey missed that? Smith and Henderson brilliantly combine down the right hand side and the latter's cross finds Shelvey unmarked four yards out - but he can only wide wide.

The Swedes are literally camped in their own half. Smith, Zaha, Henderson and Shelvey are orchestrating the show so far.

A strong line-up from the hosts are playing some lovely one-twos and are enjoying the better of the possession. The Swedes can not quite get a look in at the minute.

Goal Thomas Ince
Goal for England. A brilliant long field ball from Shelvey is played out wide to Adam Smith. His low cross is met by Ince who taps home. Great play by the Under-21s.

The second corner of the game is almost fruitful. Shelvey's delivery finds Craig Dawson, but he is penalised for a foul in the box.

Chance for England. The first corner of the game is played short by Zaha to Shelvey and he crosses in a delightful ball for the on-rushing Henderson, but the captain can only head wide.

The hosts have come out flying in the first half and a long searching ball from Andre Wisdom rolls harmlessly out of play when looking for Benik Afobe.

Chance for England. Tom Ince goes on a searching run down the right, finds Jonjo Shelvey in space on the edge of the box, but his first time shot goes over the bar.

Sweden get us away and come straight out of the traps, but England get a control of the ball, with Jordan Henderson unlucky with a searching ball.

The last time these two countries met in an Under-21 capacity wa in Euro 2009. They drew 3-3, with Stuart Pearce's men going on to win the tie on penalties.

Sweden Under-21s: Linde, Johansson, Milosevic, Helander, Malm, Hrgota, Allansson, Hiljemark, Andersson, Nyman, Ishak Substitutes: Stromberg, Azulay, Bergstrom, Blomqvist, Barkroth, Larsson, Nazari.

Team news: England Under-21s. Steele, Smith, Robinson, McEachran, Wisdom, Dawson, Ince, Henderson, Zaha, Shelvey, Afobe. Substitutes: Amos, Lees, Rudd, Chalobah, Hughes, Lansbury, Lowe, Wickham.

Good evening and welcome to coverage of the friendly between England Under-21s and Sweden U-21s at Banks Stadium, Walsall. The Under-21s have played over 300 internationals, but this is their first time playing in this stadium.