England will handle U21 final pressure
Defender Charlie Cresswell has backed England Under-21s to handle the Euro 2025 pressure and ease 59 years of hurt.The Toulouse centre-back is chasing his second European title after lifting the trophy two years ago. The Young Lions face Germany in Saturday's final after beating the Netherlands 2-1 in Bratislava.The senior side have not won a trophy since the World Cup in 1966 and Cresswell believes the U21s can shake off any final pain."The seniors have done a great job but playing for England - it's not easy and people think England are going to steamroll most countries," said the 22-year-old.
"We're winning, yes, but there's a pressure that comes with playing for England and it's how you handle that pressure."I know you're playing for your country but it's just another game of football. It's how you handle that pressure individually and collectively. Everyone's different."We've got to focus on ourselves because we've got belief in this team and a resilience I don't think anyone else in the tournament has. We believe in ourselves and I'm sure we'll get the job done."Harvey Elliott is the only other member of the title-winning squad of two years ago.Former Leeds defender Cresswell, who scored in England's opening 3-1 win over the Czech Republic, has memories of watching the national side fail at major tournaments and wants to help erase those memories."I was brought up with England always a massive part of my childhood. I'd go to the local pub and I'd be watching the first team with all my mates, my dad's mates, and it would be like a big deal," said Cresswell, whose father Richard is a former Leeds United, Preston and Sheffield United striker."[When England go out] I'm in the pub, got my dad's mates all crying in the pub, and I'm sat there thinking 'oh no'."But it's what it's meant to be like. It's the sport we love; it's the country we're from. It's so supposed to be like that."So for me every time I pull on an England shirt it feels like an honour - a huge honour. I'm immensely proud that I get to do this. For me to go out there and give my everything, it's the least I can do."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Why is England star Alex Scott wearing a mask during Under-21 Euros final?
ENGLAND are taking on Germany in the Under-21 Euros final TONIGHT! Lee Carsley 's men are looking to secure back-to-back titles after winning the competition in 2023 with a 1-0 win over Spain. 1 ENGLAND VS GERMANY - U21 EUROS FINAL LIVE The Young Lions booked their spot in the final with a stunning 2-1 win over the Netherlands, with Harvey Elliott scoring a double in the last-4 clash. England must overcome a Germany side that has already got the better of them once in the Euros this summer. Antonio Di Salvo's men beat the Young Lions 2-1 on their way to winning Group B earlier in the competition. Alex Scott was the man on the scoresheet for England, and he didn't just catch the spectators' attention with his close-range finish. The Bournemouth midfielder has been seen donning an unusual mask during the U21 Euros - SunSport brings you all the information on why. Why is England star Alex Scott wearing a mask during Under-21 Euros final? Scott is wearing a specialised mask during the U21 Euros due to a fractured jaw. The 21-year-old's injury occurred when he was caught by the elbow of Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings last month. He had to wear a chin strap when he came off the bench for the final few seconds of the Cherries' final day victory over Leicester. Scott revealed he had a specialised mask designed for this summer's competition in Slovakia - and he is adamant that it is causing him no issues at all. The Cherries star said: 'It's honestly been fine. Before I had a different mask, which was a lot tougher to wear. 'I tried it out in a few sessions before we came to Slovakia. Thankfully the staff with England managed to do everything they could to get me a new one fitted. 'I've adapted to it well. It gets sweaty so, throughout the games, I try to take it off as much as I can. But it's been fine.' Scott has been a mainstay in the England U21s team this summer, starting all but one of the Young Lions' matches.
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Benfica v Chelsea: Club World Cup, last 16
Update: Date: 2025-06-28T19:03:04.000Z Title: The teams Content: 1️⃣1️⃣ 𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟!#SLBCFC • #FIFACWC • #TakeItToTheWorld Our XI to face SL Benfica! 👊📋 Update: Date: 2025-06-28T19:00:31.000Z Title: Preamble Content: If history is any guide, we might as well anoint Chelsea the winners of this tie right now and be done with it. The victors obvious. An early night. Let's go to bed. Because not only do Chelsea have a 100-percent record against Benfica, three wins out of three, the most notable of which being this Rafa-infused banger in 2013 … … but there's the ghost of Béla Guttmann to consider as well. Benfica are famously doomed abroad, having denied their two-time winning European Cup manager a pay rise in 1962, forcing him to spit as he stormed out of the exit door: 'Not in a hundred years from now will Benfica ever win a European Cup!' Oh Béla. Oh Benfica. They've played eight major European finals since, one of them being the aforementioned Benitez-flavoured failure, and lost the lot. This isn't a club with the wind behind when it comes to tournaments like this. But then, this is not Europe. So perhaps the Club World Cup is the perfect platform upon which to snap their miserable international run. And their tails will be up after beating Bayern Munich on Tuesday. Only problem is, upwardly mobile Chelsea are still high on life after their Conference League success, so will fancy their chances of making it four from four against the Eagles of Lisbon, one step closer to repeating their success in a tournament they first won just three years ago. Neither team is perfect, so this is set up nicely. Kick-off at the home of the Carolina Panthers is at 9pm UK time, 4pm local. It's on! Keep pounding!
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
South American clubs still lack killer instinct, say FIFA experts
MIAMI, June 28 (Reuters) - The gulf between South American and European teams may not be as wide as expected at the Club World Cup, but a clear gap still exists in their efficiency in front of goal, according to FIFA technical experts. Arsene Wenger, FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development, and Juergen Klinsmann, former Germany and U.S. national team coach, were speaking at a round table on Saturday as the tournament enters its knockout phase. "At the start of the competition, many opponents seemed to fear playing against the European teams," Wenger said. "But as things progressed - especially the Brazilians - they began to realise it might not be so different after all." Flamengo and Botafogo beat European teams during the group phase of the 32-team competition, with the latter's 1-0 victory over European champions Paris St Germain standing out. Wenger said growing belief, especially among Brazilian sides, has shifted the dynamic heading into the last 16. "Maybe it's also because they've gained the confidence to do it. That shift in mindset could mean we'll see a different Brazil in the knockout stage than we saw in the group phase," he added. The Frenchman highlighted the influence of Filipe Luis, whose Flamengo side showed what Wenger called the most European tactical profile among South American sides at the tournament. "Filipe has ... played in Europe, and you can see that in the way his team approaches the game," Wenger said. Wenger and Klinsmann said South American clubs were quickly closing the gap in infrastructure and preparation. "When we visited the teams, we saw delegations of up to 100 people - support staff, analysts, advisors," Wenger said. "With squads of 23 to 35 players, these clubs are now fully professional in every department. That level of preparation allows teams to learn quickly." The key difference, however, remains in execution. "In the final third, European clubs are simply more clinical," Wenger said. Klinsmann agreed, saying the real divide lies in mentality. "Experience is also a big part of quality," he said. "When is a club like Pachuca or Monterrey (of Mexico) playing in a tournament like this?" Drawing on his time as U.S. national coach, Klinsmann stressed the importance of testing players outside their comfort zones. "That's why I always said, 'Get us into Copa America. Get us into Europe'. That's the kind of competition that develops a winning mentality," he said. "If this tournament were held again next year, Pachuca would be a different team - more confident, more refined. "But they have to be more clinical. When you're in the box, it's your head that makes the decision, not just your feet. And that's the difference." With the round of 16 underway on Saturday, analysts said the knockout stages would offer a clearer picture of how much ground South American teams have made up, tactically and psychologically. "We might see very different attitudes now," Wenger said. Flamengo face Bayern Munich on Sunday and Inter Milan meet Fluminense on Monday.
