What can we expect from the defending champions?
England field a very strong starting XI with some of the best players in the world, with leaders on the pitch and a coaching staff off it who have been there and done it.
They know what it takes to win... can they retain their title?
"No one sees what they do for us and the sacrifice and dedication they put into us." #ENG
https://open.substack.com/pub/henrywinte…
Glowing praise from UEFA technical observers for Lee Carsley’s game management of #U21EURO final. “We saw in Carsley a coach who is used to handling stressful situations and important games with calmness and the ability to make the right decisions. When you can do this as a coach, your players will feel it and benefit from that and the final was a good example as Carsley's body language on the side and his clever decisions with his tactics and substitutions set up England to win the game,” said Uefa technical observer, ex Swedish player and coach Hakan Ericson.
Hailed “good players following a smart game-plan”. Uefa praised #ENG “ability to play through Germany's press – and to do it in different ways”, through the centre, out wide and through longer passes over the press. Also praised Carsley’s effective use of subs, especially noting the combination of Brooke Norton-Cuffy, Tyler Morton and Jonathan Rowe for the winner. 
Harvey Elliott thanked team-mates for his winning Player of the Tournament. “Quite frankly, if it wasn't for the lads to allow me to go and express myself, and them not getting annoyed if I lose the ball or try something silly, it wouldn't be possible. Although I've won it, I want to share it with everyone.”
And on leading goalscorer Nick Woltemade. “Nick is an incredible player. He's been really good this tournament. For him to get the top goalscorer, I'm so happy for him. From the conversations we had, he's a really nice guy. I wish him nothing but the very best. I'm sure he'll go on to succeed somewhere. Because of the player he is.” #ENG #GER #U21EURO #LFC
Just when the Germans thought they could escape Jarell Quansah, their nimble nemesis flies in on Monday to undergo his medical at Bayer Leverkusen. The centre-back, set to sign for an initial £30m from Liverpool, was an important presence as England stifled Nick Woltemade and company 3-2 in extra time to win the European Under-21 Championships in Bratislava on Saturday.
Along with Charlie Cresswell, and England’s central midfielders who dropped deep, Quansah closed down Stuttgart’s Woltemade, the competition’s leading scorer now linked with Bayern Munich. “With the way I’ve been brought up through Liverpool I’ve always been against top strikers,” Quansah said. “It’s always a tough challenge in the Premier League week in, week out.
“You are always against a tough opponent and he’s a very good player. We knew we had to stop the ball getting into him and it’s a credit to the whole team, not just the lads at the back. It’s everyone, the way they worked hard and rattled around him to keep him as quiet as possible.”
Quansah played every second of England’s 570 minutes in Slovakia. He needs
to fill out physically, strengthening his game further, while continuing to make those occasional runs into midfield but the raw talent is there, and will be refined further by Leverkusen, especially as he will be playing more regularly than at Liverpool.
Quansah hopes it will lead to senior England recognition. Having won the European Under-19s in 2022, and now the Under-21s, Quansah targets the World Cup with England’s senior side. “Yes, for sure. There’s a lot of experience in the side with the seniors now to hopefully get one over the line. We are always looking to win the next tournament and it will be massive if it’s the World Cup.”
He was determined to impress the watching Thomas Tuchel in Bratislava. “Ultimately, I need game time and I believe in myself that I can possibly push for that. Again, the standard of England now is unbelievable. You have to be world class to get in and around it. It will be a huge privilege if I could but it’s going to be hard.”
Even though this group now splits up, the players are determined to maintain their WhatsApp group. “Oh, for sure! I’ve got friends for life, especially having achieved unbelievable things with some of them, winning the Premier League with Harvey (Elliott) and Ty (Tyler Morton). Being able to build on that and staying friends forever is always going to be key. It’s going to be emotional if any of us leave.”
Quansah also found it very emotional that his family was present in the Stadion Tehelne pole to see his latest success. “It is emotional. No one sees what they do for us and the sacrifice and dedication they put into us. My brothers, my sister, my mum and my dad, I can’t thank them enough for everything they’ve done. Being able to share moments like this and what I’ve had previously, it’s a pleasure and seeing how emotional they are.” #ENG #U21EURO #LFC #Bayer04
“It’s the start of a new wave.” Jonathan Rowe believes that England’s back-to-back European Under-21 titles signals a period of dominance. Even though England were missing nine players, Lee Carsley’s squad grew into the tournament in Slovakia, and then beat Spain, the Netherlands and Germany to retain their title. “We have so much talent in England so it’s only right that we utilise it to its full potential. With the right head coach, right staff, right mindset, the right people, you can accomplish anything.”
England needed their resilience as well as Rowe’s winning goal in their 3-2 extra-time win over Germany. “Grit, perseverance, determination… you name it. A self-belief, a belief in the team, and that trust in each other to get the job done. We all dug deep, stuck in and achieved what we came here to achieve. Everyone’s special in their own way. Everyone has unique talents. Everyone has amazing ability.”
And everyone wants a senior call. “Of course! of course!” Like all of Carsley’s players, the Marseille attacker was delighted when Thomas Tuchel came into the dressing room to congratulate the champions. “We knew he was going to be here and we had to perform, show him that we’re here, we’re ready, and we look forward to working with him in the future.”
Rowe was keen to praise the qualities of Carsley and his assistant Ashley Cole. “It’s more the mental side, how they make us feel as players, the self-belief they give us to go out and perform and express ourselves. Listen, to make it as a professional is difficult. It’s all been about mindset for me, creating a resilient mindset and that whatever life throws at you just keep going.
“We are all capable of doing a lot of amazing things but to perform consistently and do it time and time again that’s the difficult part. If we have the right mindset and the right self-belief in ourselves and the people around us we’ll create a good team and we’ll show that we’re unstoppable.” #ENG #U21EURO
Mark Bullingham FA CEO effusive in his praise of Lee Carsley. Congratulates head coach and his “outstanding” players, then adds, “I am sure Lee will be humble about what he and the group have achieved but he should be recognised for this special achievement. Before Lee took over, we hadn’t won this trophy for 39 years. In two tournament cycles he has won it twice. On top of this exceptional tournament success, he has overseen player development with many U21s making their debut for the senior team. We are delighted Lee has extended his contract with us. In Ashley Cole, Tim Dittmer and James Ryder, Lee has built a brilliant coaching team leading and supporting a very exciting generation of young players who are proving that they can win at the highest international level.” #ENG
“Play without inhibitions.” Lee Carsley told his players. Play with freedom, flair, passion and also resilience. Play like the champions you are, and the champions you want to be again. Play with character. And so England gripped their European Under-21 title with a performance rooted in front-footed dynamism and then backs-to-the-wall defiance. Marvellous to see.
And England’s senior head coach, Thomas Tuchel, was here amongst the 19,153 at Stadion Tehelne pole in Bratislava to witness the young lions deliver. Some will surely step up now. Harvey Elliott, who was named player of the tournament, the immense Elliot Anderson and marvellous Tino Livramento for starters. All three outstanding throughout the tournament, they deserve properly assessing at senior level. And so will Carsley, again, when Tuchel leaves next summer. He repeatedly got the tactics, mood and changes spot on.
And James McAtee picked the perfect moment to put in a Player of the Match display. As all of this is about preparing players to try to win the World Cup, what could be better than taking a 2-0 lead against the Germans, being pegged back to 2-2, and then going out and winning it all over again in extra time. There was even some favourable crossbar action.
Where to start? So many terrific performances. Have to start with Elliott. The Liverpool players was superb, scoring and creating, and when he limped away, he continued to play a role, exhorting those still out there. What a decision he has to make this summer. Try and convince a sceptical Arne Slot he should be more involved? Or move for more minutes elsewhere. He showed his strengths here, the work-rate, skill and eye for goal. Germany couldn’t cope with his pace and subtlety. When Atubolu saved from Omari Hutchinson, Elliott was quickest to the loose ball. He had only a tiny space to aim at, but found it, with a precise left-footed finish, his fifth goal of the tournament (1-0, 5). So composed, so clinical.
Elliott then demonstrated his creativity. He played a wonderful dinked pass to McAtee, on to Hutchinson, arriving from the left. Perfect balance, head still, right foot planting, Hutchison drove his left foot into and through the ball which whistled in between Atubolu’s legs (2-0, 25). What was happening?! Simple. What Carsley had planned was happening.
England could have been 4-0 up by the break. Express yourself, Carsley told them. They did. McAtee executed a Cruyff turn. Jarell Quansah, heading for his Bayer Leverkusen medical early next week, glided into midfield. Anderson backheeled a pass to Livramento. Champagne football.
Intelligent football, too. England built from the back. Anderson took the ball off James Beadle, played wide or into midfield, and England advanced through the thirds. Anderson, so influential, was caught late by Eric Martel, following though, studs thudding into the Forest player’s ankle. No booking from the Dutch ref. Martel was reprieved, and put in another dirty challenge to stop England’s midfield, this time clearing out Alex Scott.
His race looked run, so Scott took a booking for the team by stopping a break, before limping off to a standing ovation from all the squad’s families and friends out here in noisy numbers. It was a frustrating sight, as Scott was really important, offering friendly feet to accept the ball from Anderson, as well as closing down Germans. Tyler Morton , so good in the quarters against Spain, came on, and was to put in some vital blocks.
Rule No 1 of international football. Never write off the Germans. Paul Nebel, the Mainz winger who also qualified for Republic of Ireland, was the catalyst for Germany. Nebel stormed down the left, checked, went again and crossed for his club-mate Nelson Weiper to head in (2-1, 46). Poor concentration by England. German pressure continued after the break. Charlie Cresswell – what a leader he’s been - headed out a corner, but Nebel dropped a shoulder again, and crashed his right-footed shot past Beadle (61, 2-2). First Weiper, then Nebel. Germany were plugged into the Mainz.
Carsley moved to stop the tide turning completely. He sent on Brooke Norton-Cuffey for Jay Stansfield (62). But Nebel almost won in normal time. His shot was heading for goal until Cresswell threw himself into the way, deflecting it on to the bar. Cresswell embodied England’s defiance.
At the break before extra time, Carsley spoke individually to players: a quiet word with Anderson here, an arm around Hutchinson there. No rallying cry now. England had Cresswell for that. Carsley just inspired. He sent on Jonathan Rowe and Ethan Nwaneri for McAtee and Elliott. And Rowe, marvellously, scored with his second touch, stooping to head in Morton’s cross from the right (3-2, 92). Carsley, able to use six subs, refreshed his team again. CJ Egan-Riley and Samuel Iling-Junior for Anderson and Hutchinson (98). They chased and harried.
At half-time of extra-time, Carsley gathered the players in a huddle and now gave them the rallying cry. England, especially Beadle, tried to run the clock down. The German commentators were now out of their seats, beseeching their team to equalise. Carsley was so caught up in the game he took three steps on to the pitch. The clock ticked down, the families shouted more encouragement, willing their loved ones with their tired legs but stout hearts over the line. And then it came, the final whistle, England were champions again. They did it with strength of technique - and character. #ENG #U21EURO #ENGGER
James McAtee named player of the match. #ENG
Very frustrating to give a goal away like that at the end of the half. But if you’re an England fan don’t you love watching England play like this? Front foot, fearless, building confidently from the back, breaking quickly, back-heels and even a Cruyff Turn. #ENG
England switch off and stung by best of Weipers. Great work by Nebel on the left, good cross, powerful header by Weipers. 2-1 #ENG
