Jermain Defoe tips Lee Carsley's Young Lions to do ‘something special' in final
Two years after winning the competition for the first time since 1984, the Young Lions are on the cusp of glory again after overcoming a sluggish start in Slovakia to reach the Bratislava showpiece.
England followed an impressive quarter-final win against favourites Spain by winning Wednesday's semi-final against the Netherlands to set up a meeting with Germany, who beat them 2-1 in the final group game despite making 11 changes.
Slovenia's defeat to the Czech Republic meant they progressed anyway and former striker Defoe thinks Carsley's ever-improving side are a different beast heading into Saturday's final.
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— England (@England) June 25, 2025
'It's a different team now, even that belief,' the former England striker told PA ahead of working as a pundit on Channel 4's live coverage of the final.
'When you do that against these top teams, you can't wait until the next game.
'It's almost like 'it doesn't matter who we play against because if we focus on ourselves and we get the best version of every player, like we have in the last two games, then, really, it doesn't really matter who you play against'.
'Germany have been great. I've watched all of their games. I watched them the other day against France. I was surprised, to be honest, but I thought they were brilliant.
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'I was confident from the beginning. Even with the players that dropped out, I still felt like we had enough.
'Then watching the performances and watching how we've improved, I thought 'this team is peaking at the right time'.
'I just believe tomorrow night the boys will do something special. It's not going to be easy, of course, but I think they will do something special.'
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— England (@England) June 25, 2025
Defoe waxed lyrical about England's players – from Harvey Elliott after his 'Messi-like' semi-final winner to midfielder Elliot Anderson and captain James McAtee – and how 'everyone has done their bit''.
Under-21s boss Carsley has been similarly fulsome in his praise of a group that has him one win away from leading England to back-to-back European Championship titles.
'Lee Carsley has been fantastic,' Defoe said of the Young Lions boss, who stepped up as interim England manager in the autumn.
'I can imagine that there'd be loads of clubs and people looking at him thinking 'this guy knows how to win'. If we end up getting over the line tomorrow, it's back to back – an unbelievable achievement to do that.'
As well as Carsley, Defoe was keen to highlight the impact of his former England team-mate Ashley Cole as assistant coach.
'We know we are done as a player, but in terms of his journey and putting in those hours at Chelsea, Everton and with England, and he had a spell with the seniors…I just feel like what he's done with his journey shows you that when you get ex-players in that have been there and done it (and) have that, I suppose, respect from the group, I think it's priceless.
'If the boys get over the line tomorrow, it's a special achievement that.'
:: Jermain Defoe will be a pundit on Channel 4's live and exclusive coverage of England's Under-21 Euros final against Germany on Saturday. Coverage starts at 7.30pm
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