Outclassed in group stage, can England come of age in Germany rematch?
'We'll beat them if we play them again.' So said one senior FA official two days after England lost 2-1 to Germany in the group stages of the European Under-21 Championship.
The chance to prove that comes on Saturday, in the final, as England hope to defend their crown and match Dave Sexton's consecutive titles.
When that assertion was made, England had limped into the knockout rounds with a win, a draw and a loss in the group stages. While two years ago, Lee Carsley's team had progressed serenely through the group stages, this side — missing seven starters owing to Club World Cup commitments and injuries — looked like a work in progress.
'Patience,' Carsley urged. 'They will grow into the tournament.'
Indeed they have. Their performance against Spain was one of the most impressive by an England team in years.
A surprise goal from Noah Ohio in the semi-final gave the Netherlands hope, but again England were superior; Harvey Elliott, yet again, rising to the occasion.
Now, a rematch, with a team that outclassed them earlier in the tournament. In that game Germany fielded a rotated XI and England's first-half display provoked a triple-change from Carsley and a stern half-time team talk. Yet he was buoyed by their second-half improvement.
'I spoke to them at half-time about how when things are 50:50 you make sure you keep moving forwards or, worst-case scenario, you stand still. You don't go backwards,' Carsley said. 'That's what they did, they moved forwards. Those are the type of players that we need if we are to win at senior level. Players that think differently, have that belief, have that character to respond to setbacks and have the ability to move forward.'
So confident was Carsley that he informed Antonio Di Salvo, the Germany head coach, after the game that he would see him in the final.
'I've got a lot of belief with this team. They're so exciting to watch. They play without any inhibitions,' he said.
Whether this group win the tournament or not, the players are the next-most likely contenders for the senior squad and some will have a role to play in the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Euros.
Success in those competitions, the FA believes, will come with a culture of winning across age groups.
This competition has been the platform for greater achievements for several teams, chief among them Germany.
Their 2009 team beat England 4-0 in the final, featuring Mesut Özil, Manuel Neuer, Jerôme Boateng, Mats Hummels and Sami Khedira, all of whom became critical components to Germany's 2014 World Cup victory.
Carsley has spoken of his 2023 cohort, which included Cole Palmer, Curtis Jones, Levi Colwill, Anthony Gordon and James Trafford among others, with the hope they may become England's equivalent.
Historically, sustained success at the Euros correlates with senior-level triumphs. Between 1984 and 2004 Italy (2006 World Cup winners) won five titles and consistently vied with the best; Germany (2014 World Cup champions) won three times and were runners-up once between 2009 and 2021, while Spain (2010 World Cup winners, and 2008 and 2010 European champions) made five of the past seven finals, winning three.
The only team to have sustained Under-21 success and not pushed on? England.
But preparing players as best as possible is the point. It is why leading football associations have sent their finest to the tournament.
At England's semi-final with the Netherlands, Nigel de Jong, the Dutch technical director, watched on, as did Erwin Koeman, the assistant manager of the senior team.
John McDermott, the FA technical director, has been supporting England throughout the tournament.
Dan Ashworth, the FA's chief football officer, brought out the FA's Uefa Pro License cohort, which included Sonia Bompastor and Phil Jones, to watch England play Slovenia, while Thomas Tuchel and Anthony Barry are set to attend the final, after ascertaining conditions in the US and watching Manchester City at the Club World Cup.
Then there is Tim Dittmer, the FA's head of coaching, using the tournament as an opportunity to work closely with the goalkeepers; James Redden, the physical performance coach; James Ryder, the senior performance analyst, who has left Tom Jenkinson (the other senior performance analyst), overseeing operations from the stands, while working closely with Carsley and Ashley Cole on the training pitch. All of them will carry their experiences into the seniors.
As much as this is a preparation for the next generation of players, it is development for the coaches and staff in the pathway.
But first England must beat Germany, a team led by a player seeking to succeed (or displace) Harry Kane at Bayern Munich: Nick Woltemade.
The 6ft 6in striker is the top scorer (six) and joint-top assist provider (three) in the tournament, and scored ten goals for Stuttgart in the Bundesliga this season.
He has, according to reports in Germany, agreed personal terms with Bayern and has two senior international caps.
Germany are unbeaten in 20 matches. Their last defeat (2-0) was inflicted by England in the 2023 Euros.
Now we will find out if the FA executive's prediction comes true.
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