Latest news with #EnglandU21
The Guardian
16 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
England U21s head into Germany final full of belief thanks to bullish Carsley
It turns out that behind the quiet demeanour, Lee Carsley is much more confident than often comes across. After England Under-21s lost to Germany in their final group match of the European Championship last week – a result that meant both teams progressed to the quarter-finals – the manager sought out his opposite number, Antonio Di Salvo. 'He said that they would see us in the final,' revealed the German. Superb victories against a highly fancied Spain and the Netherlands mean Carsley has an opportunity for revenge, having inflicted Germany's last defeat in this age group on England's way to winning the title in Georgia two years ago. The trouble is that Germany have since gone 20 matches unbeaten and possess the tournament's outstanding player so far, Nick Woltemade of Stuttgart. He did not feature in the group match as Di Salvo made 11 changes and Carsley knows he must come up with a plan to nullify the giant Bayern Munich-bound striker if they are to beat Germany to winning a fourth title. 'It was a bit tongue-in-cheek,' Carsley said of his prediction. 'I thought that we'd be there, I wasn't sure if they would be there, but I was confident that we were going to do well in this tournament. I've got a lot of belief with this team. They're so exciting to watch. They play without any inhibitions. Hopefully we can take that into tomorrow.' The former Republic of Ireland midfielder remains in the dark about who will be playing him in Saipan, the new film about Roy Keane's infamous bust-up with Mick McCarthy before the 2002 World Cup, Carsley having been wheeled out alongside Jason McAteer at the press conference the day after Keane had returned home. Hogging the limelight will never be Carsley's style and the last three weeks have shown that his natural habitat is developing the brightest prospects. Whether that can translate to England's senior side remains the big question after his six-match spell as interim manager. The Football Association has signed him up to take charge of the next under-21s tournament, in Albania and Serbia in 2027. Most of this squad will not be eligible, but Carsley knows that another European title would do his prospects no harm, having made clear his ambition to one day take the senior job again. Thomas Tuchel, the incumbent, and his Germany counterpart and compatriot, Julian Nagelsmann, who is interrupting his holiday in Mallorca to attend, will be part of a sold-out crowd in Bratislava for Saturday's final. An awkward moment was skilfully manoeuvred by Carsley when a Slovakian journalist asked which team Tuchel would be supporting. 'Well, I imagine he will support England with him being the England head coach,' he responded. England's captain, James McAtee, who is expected to leave Manchester City this summer, acknowledged it will be big chance for the players to shine. 'I think it will be extra motivation for the lads to win,' said McAtee, who was gushing when asked about Carsley's influence. 'I think the biggest thing about working with Lee is the belief and the trust that he puts in you. On the pitch he just fills you with confidence. You know that you can go and play with freedom.' England's players have been allowed to explore the Slovakian capital during their free time this week and Carsley will hope they have recovered sufficiently from five games in the past fortnight. It will be the third time England have faced German opposition in the final of the European Under-21 Championship, having beaten West Germany to win their first title in 1982 under Dave Sexton, who won it again two years later, then been thumped 4-0 in 2009 under Stuart Pearce by a team featuring Manuel Neuer, Mats Hummels, Sami Khedira and Mesut Özil. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Those four were at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa a year later as Germany thrashed Fabio Capello's England side – coincidentally 15 years to the day before Saturday's final – but it is not always a guarantee of future success: none of the Germany team that triumphed in 2017 after beating England in the semi-finals on penalties in Poland have reached the same level. Yet with the new Liverpool signing Florian Wirtz having inspired Germany's third victory in 2021 and several members of the England squad from 2023 such as Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill established with the seniors, it is clear the tournament can act as a springboard. 'It's making sure that we keep producing players and teams that are capable of playing in these games in the last stages, because I think long term that will help the seniors,' said Carsley. Woltemade's move to Bayern, where he is viewed as a potential successor to the England captain, Harry Kane, was reportedly sealed after he impressed the manager, Vincent Kompany, on a video conference call this week. The 23-year-old would not entertain questions about that but made clear he is determined to finish the job. Germany, who will be without the Freiburg defender Max Rosenfelder owing to a calf injury, having reached a fourth final in the past five editions. 'Of course there's things swirling around but my only focus is the final,' said Woltemade. 'This the only time in my life I can win the under-21 title so I want to make sure we do it.'
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
England U21 vs Germany U21 prediction: Euros repeat from Young Lions
England's dramatic win over the Netherlands saw them book a second consecutive European Championship final (Getty Images) England U21 vs Germany U21 betting tip: England to win & both teams to score - 10/3 Bet365 Nick Woltemade to score anytime - 5/4 Ladbrokes England take on Germany in the final of the U21 European Championship in Bratislava on Saturday night, with Lee Carsley's side looking to make it back-to-back Euros tournament wins (8pm, Channel 4). Advertisement A 2-1 semi-final win over the Netherlands, courtesy of two goals from Harvey Elliott, saw England book their place in consecutive finals in this competition, with the Young Lions looking to replicate the success from 2023 when they beat Spain in dramatic fashion. Germany had a somewhat easier semi-final, beating France 3-0. They come into the match without a loss at the tournament, having also beaten England 2-1 in the final game of Group B on 18 June. The Germans boast top tournament goalscorer Nick Woltemade, though England's Harvey Elliott is also in the running for the player of the tournament, and he's been one of the catalysts for England's improved form since they entered the knockout phase. Despite Germany's previous success, football betting sites can find little to separate the two sides and the stage is set for a tense finale. England U21 vs Germany U21 Preview: Carsley leading Lions back to promised land Since losing to Germany in the last game of the group stages, England have beaten tournament favourites Spain while also coming through a testing semi-final against the Netherlands. Advertisement The win over Spain showed that things were starting to click with Carsley's team, with the Young Lions having surprised many with their various qualities, while the win over the Dutch showed that quality mixed with impressive resilience. While England did lose 2-1 to Germany just over a week ago, there were four changes to the side that ended up beating Spain. The improvement in both results and performances since that game—combined with facing more difficult opponents—means that England may well be better prepared for this match than their German counterparts. The Young Lions have only kept one clean sheet so far, while Germany have managed two. At the other end, England have scored nine goals and Germany 15, so we expect goals in this one. Having had success with an England to win and both teams to score wager on betting sites in the semi-finals, we are hopeful lightning will strike twice and England bring home the trophy once more. Advertisement England U21 vs Germany U21 prediction 1: England to win & both teams to score - 10/3 Bet365 England U21 vs Germany U21 betting tip: Woltemade can show his class Woltemade has been one of the revelations of the tournament in Slovakia, with the striker topping the scoring charts with six goals in four games so far. Rumours of a move to Bayern Munich have surfaced in his homeland, with the 23-year-old having impressed last season with 17 goals in 33 appearances for Stuttgart. In the Euros, Woltemade has scored in every game he's played, with one goal in each of the quarter-finals and semi-finals, one in the group game against Czechia, and a hat-trick in the match against Slovenia. Advertisement Having made his full Germany debut in the Nations League finals earlier this month, the striker has proven that he is ready to take his career to the next level. And we're backing him to have a say in the final too, with a wager on Woltemade to score anytime. England U21 vs Germany U21 prediction 2: Nick Woltemade to score anytime - 5/4 Ladbrokes Responsible gambling Bettors should always practice responsible gambling. When using gambling sites be aware that sports betting can be addictive. Please take steps to remain in control of your time and budget. The same applies whether you're using new betting sites, slot sites, casino sites, casino apps, betting apps, or any other gambling medium. Advertisement Even the most knowledgeable punter can lose a bet, so always stick to a budget and never chase your losses. It's particularly important not to get carried away by any free bets or casino offers you might receive, both of which are available in abundance on gambling sites, but must be approached with caution. You can stay in control by making use of the responsible gambling tools offered, such as deposit limits, loss limits, self-exclusion and time-outs. You may also want to visit the following free organisations to discuss any issues with gambling you might be having: We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
The Independent
19 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
England U21 vs Germany U21 prediction: Euros repeat from Young Lions
England take on Germany in the final of the U21 European Championship in Bratislava on Saturday night, with Lee Carsley's side looking to make it back-to-back Euros tournament wins (8pm, Channel 4). A 2-1 semi-final win over the Netherlands, courtesy of two goals from Harvey Elliott, saw England book their place in consecutive finals in this competition, with the Young Lions looking to replicate the success from 2023 when they beat Spain in dramatic fashion. Germany had a somewhat easier semi-final, beating France 3-0. They come into the match without a loss at the tournament, having also beaten England 2-1 in the final game of Group B on 18 June. The Germans boast top tournament goalscorer Nick Woltemade, though England's Harvey Elliott is also in the running for the player of the tournament, and he's been one of the catalysts for England's improved form since they entered the knockout phase. Despite Germany's previous success, football betting sites can find little to separate the two sides and the stage is set for a tense finale. England U21 vs Germany U21 Preview: Carsley leading Lions back to promised land Since losing to Germany in the last game of the group stages, England have beaten tournament favourites Spain while also coming through a testing semi-final against the Netherlands. The win over Spain showed that things were starting to click with Carsley's team, with the Young Lions having surprised many with their various qualities, while the win over the Dutch showed that quality mixed with impressive resilience. While England did lose 2-1 to Germany just over a week ago, there were four changes to the side that ended up beating Spain. The improvement in both results and performances since that game—combined with facing more difficult opponents—means that England may well be better prepared for this match than their German counterparts. The Young Lions have only kept one clean sheet so far, while Germany have managed two. At the other end, England have scored nine goals and Germany 15, so we expect goals in this one. Having had success with an England to win and both teams to score wager on betting sites in the semi-finals, we are hopeful lightning will strike twice and England bring home the trophy once more. England U21 vs Germany U21 prediction 1: England to win & both teams to score - 10/3 Bet365 England U21 vs Germany U21 betting tip: Woltemade can show his class Woltemade has been one of the revelations of the tournament in Slovakia, with the striker topping the scoring charts with six goals in four games so far. Rumours of a move to Bayern Munich have surfaced in his homeland, with the 23-year-old having impressed last season with 17 goals in 33 appearances for Stuttgart. In the Euros, Woltemade has scored in every game he's played, with one goal in each of the quarter-finals and semi-finals, one in the group game against Czechia, and a hat-trick in the match against Slovenia. Having made his full Germany debut in the Nations League finals earlier this month, the striker has proven that he is ready to take his career to the next level. And we're backing him to have a say in the final too, with a wager on Woltemade to score anytime. Bettors should always practice responsible gambling. When using gambling sites be aware that sports betting can be addictive. Please take steps to remain in control of your time and budget. The same applies whether you're using new betting sites, slot sites, casino sites, casino apps, betting apps, or any other gambling medium. Even the most knowledgeable punter can lose a bet, so always stick to a budget and never chase your losses. It's particularly important not to get carried away by any free bets or casino offers you might receive, both of which are available in abundance on gambling sites, but must be approached with caution. You can stay in control by making use of the responsible gambling tools offered, such as deposit limits, loss limits, self-exclusion and time-outs. You may also want to visit the following free organisations to discuss any issues with gambling you might be having:
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
England will handle U21 final pressure
Charlie Cresswell is aiming for his second European title with England Under-21s [Getty Images] 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement "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. Advertisement "[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."
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
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 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 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 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."
