England U21s 0-0 Ukraine U21s: Daily Mirror match report

On this evidence, Stuart Pearce's U21 side will be perfect for stepping up to senior level - their lack of tournament spark is mirroring Fabio Capello's World Cup struggle.

As with the seniors in South Africa 12 months ago, England toiled, lacked the confidence to execute the killer blow and once again looked less than the sum of their parts.

Caution, and missed chances, have now set up a nerve-jangling Group B finale on Sunday night. England must beat the Czech Republic to progress.

As a glimpse into England's future, Phil Jones provided the shining example, but the big picture is mixed - too much long ball and bustle, too little guile.

Jones, Manchester United's £20million new signing, had an outstanding game, refusing to give an inch in defence, dominating in the air, and even showing a nimble ability to step out of the back four and set up attacks.

Give him a few years and he might just be the man to replace John Terry - he's got the same burly gait and solidity. It's money well spent by Sir Alex Ferguson.

But despite satisfaction at a clean sheet, Pearce is no nearer finding a formula to get the best out of his attacking talent.

Daniel Sturridge was his brightest player and was unlucky not to score late on with a 30-yard thunderbolt, while Danny Welbeck worked tirelessly and forced a late save with a header close to time.

But this was reminiscent of the sort of dull show Capello's men served up last summer.

England laboured in attack, partly down to a lack of precision finishing on the rare times a chance was fashioned. Perhaps because the early tactics were cautious.

Pearce said: "We were disappointed with how we played in the first half, [we]lacked some energy. The subs gave us a lift, and we're disappointed we didn't get the win in the end.

"We've got to go and win on Sunday. We didn't look to cut them open too often, we went square and didn't hurt them enough.

"We'll learn lessons from it and if we don't beat the Czechs we go home, it's as simple as that."

Jones added: "We knew we didn't play very well in the first half. We responded in the second half, we just couldn't get that goal.

"We know we've got to go and win the last game and we'll give it everything to do that. We're working hard and we'll try to put things right in the next match."

That is a tough ask.

Pearce always expected the challenge to go down to the last game, but perhaps with a bit more leeway than his side now have. It's victory or bust.

Pearce was still talking up his side, worth an estimated £164m in the transfer market, but he could turn to his squad to spark up a lacklustre start.

He said: "We were up against a very good side. We came out of the Spain game and there were suggestions we didn't play well.

"But Spain went out and beat the Czechs comprehensively today. We defended stoutly. Our destiny is in our own hands. I think there are plenty of goals there. We just have to create more opportunities."

England fought hard to make in-roads into Ukraine in the first half but their best chance came from a spectacular volley from Sturridge.

The Chelsea forward ran onto a bouncing ball and volleyed left footed. It rattled the cross bar, with keeper Anton Kanibolotskiy beaten.

Pearce showed his stubborn side by sticking with Michael Manchienne in midfield but Tom Cleverley was axed in favour of Everton's Jack Rodwell.

England had the perfect chance to net after 53 minutes when Sturridge slipped Welbeck into the clear and he sprinted in on goal with only the keeper to beat.

Welbeck will be disappointed with his finish, shinning the ball high and wide.

Ukraine also had their moments.

Mancienne gave the ball away inside his own half with a poor touch and Denys Garmash burst forward and his 20-yard shot was deflected over by a sprawling Jones.

Ukraine completed their preparations for the tournament by attending a Christian Orthodox church and getting a blessing from a monk.

It nearly worked when tricky midfielder Yevhen Konoplianka fired in a low shot from 25 yards, with the awkward bound testing Frankie Fielding, the Derby keeper.

He parried the ball away and a penalty appeal was waved away as Maxym Biliy was judged to have fouled Ryan Bertrand in a tussle.

Ukraine did a good tactical job early on nullifying right-back Kyle Walker's forays forward, and forcing Danny Rose into defensive positions with their formation.

Pearce shuffled his pack close to the hour removing Danny Rose and Rodwell and giving Henri Lansbury and Scott Sinclair a shot at livening up the attack.

It almost worked.

Sinclair almost wriggled onto Lansbury's ball but miscontrolled. Then Sinclair did get in behind and rounded the keeper, but was offside and got booked for time wasting.

Welbeck's fine cross then picked out Sinclair, but he headed wide at the back post.

England need sharper finishing to progress.