Lee Carsley makes 'it's just a shame' comment as England reach U21 Euros final

Irish Daily Mirror

2 days ago

Lee Carsley said it is "a shame" that his England team only have one game left together after they booked their place in the U21 Euros final.
The former Ireland international watched his side beat the Netherlands 2-1 on Wednesday night and they will now face Germany in Saturday's decider after they beat France 3-0 in the other semi-final.
Harvey Elliott scored both goals, first putting England ahead just after the hour and then firing a superb 86th-minute winner after Noah Ohio had levelled for the Dutch with his first touch.
With many of his players ineligible for the U21s after Saturday's final, Carsley told Channel 4 after the win: "Harvey has been outstanding. He's one of many who has stood up. They're developing as a team and it's just a shame we only have one game left because I think this team is outstanding.
"Harvey and Charlie [Cresswell] didn't play a lot of minutes in the last campaign. We knew how important they'd be and they've taken that on board - the responsibility of driving the rest of the squad."
England are aiming to win back-to-back under 21 European Championships following their 1-0 final victory over Spain two years ago.
The victory was well-earned in the blistering heat of Slovakia, with the Dutch goal coming unexpectedly.
Carsley's men nearly took the lead in the fourth minute. Omari Hutchinson wreaked havoc down the left and delivered a low cross to Elliott at the far post, but the midfielder's low shot was superbly saved by the outstretched leg of Dutch goalkeeper Robin Roefs.
Roefs thwarted Elliott again in the 12th minute as England ramped up the pressure, once more standing tall to block a low shot after Jay Stansfield's cutback.
The Young Lions maintained their dominance, but opportunities became scarce until a brilliant move just before half-time, when James McAtee released Hutchinson, who played in Elliott whose cutback was perfect for Alex Scott, but the Bournemouth midfielder's shot was deflected over.
The Netherlands, who failed to have a shot in the first half, improved after the break and started posing problems.
They tested James Beadle for the first time just before the hour when Aston Villa full-back Ian Maatsen fired a 25-yard shot through a crowd of bodies, but the goalkeeper was up to the task.
Just as England were being pushed back, they took the lead in the 62nd minute.
Elliot Anderson set Elliott clear, he advanced into the box and unleashed a fine right-footed finish at the near post.
But the advantage was short-lived as Ohio made the perfect impact from the bench.
The former Manchester United and Manchester City academy player scored with his first touch just moments after coming on. After Charlie Cresswell mishandled the ball, he seized the opportunity, spotted Beadle out of position and took a shot from the left wing into the near post.
However, England refused to be defeated and thanks to some heroics from Elliott, they made it to the final for only the second time since 2009.
He collected the ball 30 yards out, turned his marker, beat another man and moved into the penalty area before driving a low shot into the bottom corner.