England Under-21s goalkeeper Jack Butland has claimed that team spirit could not be better as they prepare to get their European Championship campaign underway.

Gareth Southgate's side take on Portugal in their opening game on Thursday, and Butland admits that he is desperate to help them improve on a record which has seen them fail to win any of their previous eight games at the tournament and lose all three in Israel two years ago.

"These lads don't need motivating because they are on it. They are clever and smart and really want to win this thing," the Stoke City goalkeeper told reporters.

"This is an extremely together group. We are from clubs all over the place, but everyone clicks. You can sit on any table at dinner-time and you click, you get on with people and you have a laugh, have fun.

"It is like that on the training pitch. There is that fight against each other. Competitiveness but all in good spirits. You are going into games with your best mates."

John Stones will miss the game against Portugal after suffering a concussion in training.