Latest news with #FA
Daily Mail
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
How Lee Carsley's half-time rocket fired his Young Lions stars to the brink of glory at U21 Euros
In a funny sort of way, losing to Germany during the group stages was the best thing that could have happened to this young England team. Manager Lee Carsley and his staff did not see it that way though after being unceremoniously turned over by Germany's second string in Nitra. There were raised voices in the dressing room that night. At half-time, with England 2-0 down, the hairdryer was delivered and players returned for the second half much improved. They won that spell 1-0 and analysts left with a pep in their step. As the players filtered on to the team bus, they did so armed with the knowledge that they fell below Carsley's standards in that first half and any hope of success hinged on an improvement. One senior FA source noted that England would beat Germany if they got a second crack at them. Tonight in Bratislava, they have that chance. 'I knew in the second half against Germany we clicked,' Carsley said. 'The resilience they showed, the character they showed, the way they responded, there was definitely an improvement. 'I spoke to them at half-time that when things are 50/50, you make sure you keep moving forward or worst case scenario you stand still. You don't go backwards and that's what they did, they moved forward and those are the type of players we need to win at senior level.' Tweaks paid off handsomely and adaptability has certainly been one of Carsley's biggest strengths in Slovakia. Left back Jack Hinshelwood did not start the first two games, but is now a shoo-in for the final. Jay Stansfield is another. He got his first start up front in the quarter-final against Spain and has not released his grip on the shirt since. Those around the camp praise his contagious energy and Carsley's man-management of the League One winner has not gone unnoticed. Much of the build-up to this title defence centred on regulars that Carsley (right) would be without. No Liam Delap, who has kept in touch with captain James McAtee with 'messages every day,' Rico Lewis, Jamie Gittens or Jobe Bellingham, all away at the Club World Cup. No Jarrad Branthwaite, Taylor Harwood-Bellis or Adam Wharton, all injured. Carsley warned things would look 'clunky' and 'unorganised' early on as a result. He was not wrong, even if it was not immediately apparent in the 3-1 opening win over the Czech Republic. But now he has a group that believe, rather than hope, they will get over the line. 'I've got a lot of belief in them,' Carsley added. 'They're an exciting team. They're really together and have grown as the tournament's gone on. Hopefully they get what they deserve.' England manager Thomas Tuchel is jetting in from the Club World Cup, while Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann has cut short his yacht retreat in Majorca to head for Bratislava. Around 150 friends and family are also making the trip, eager to spur on a group looking to replicate the achievement of England's youngsters who won this tournament back-to-back in 1982 and 1984. There is more finesse to this group now, a bite and physicality that was absent in that defeat by Germany and tonight's opponents know the England of 10 days ago is not what they see now. 'The group-stage match will have no bearing on the final,' said Germany coach Antonio Di Salvo. 'A final is a final and every team that reaches a final plays to win. England have improved and they were very dominant against Spain. It will be an even game.' England wanted a second crack at Germany and tonight they get it. History beckons.
The Sun
17 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
FA chief shares thoughts on Sarina Wiegman's England future ahead of Lionesses' Euros title defence
FA CHIEF Mark Bullingham expects Sarina Wiegman to carry on as England boss - even if her team endured a Euros group stage exit. And the Football Association's top exec thinks the women's game will continue to grow no matter where the Lionesses finish in the tournament. 4 4 4 Holders England are just seven days away from commencing the defence of the Euros title they won at Wembley three years ago. They will battle it out for knockout place with an in-form France who they play in Zurich, Switzerland on July 5 before duels with the Netherlands and Wales. Last January Wiegman, 55, extended her contract, which was due to expire after this summer's Euros, until after the 2027 World Cup. The Dutch coach is regarded as one of the most successful England managers having guided the team to Euros glory and their first ever World Cup final. On whether a group-stage exit would force the FA to consider her position, Bullingham said: "I don't see any scenario changing that. "We're delighted that Sarina's in place until 2027 On whether Wiegman's reign could go beyond the next Women's World Cup, he added: "We haven't looked beyond that time scale yet or engaged in those conversations. "We feel we have us locked into this tournament and the next and that feels very good for us. "That's not to say we wouldn't have a conversation at some point in the future but it's too early for that really." England's group D opener with France comes nine days after new research revealed a decrease in average broadcast audiences for Women's Super League games. A Women's Sport Trust study found the average UK broadcast audience for the WSL had declined by 35% year on year. However with England World Cup final clash with Spain being the most-watched women's sport event on TV in 2023, Bullingham believes the game will continue to grow and attract large audiences He said: "We see every international tournament as an opportunity to accelerate growth rather than it being a negative. "If you look at the last World Cup being in Australia - the challenge with the time zones made it difficult for teams in Europe to achieve really high figures. "But actually, we were still, despite that, achieving good figures so we're really confident that we'll achieve good figures this time around." 4 Plans to build a statue of England's Women's team are still ongoing according to the FA. The football authority entered into discussions about its design following the last Women's World Cup. The FA says it is "completely committed" to the project with the commissioning process currently at an advanced stage with an update likely to be provided after the summer.
Telegraph
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
Thomas Tuchel will leave England next summer and it could be hard to ignore Lee Carsley
In just over a year, the Football Association faces the prospect of finding Thomas Tuchel's successor. Appointed on a one-tournament contract, the German arrived with a direct brief: win the 2026 World Cup. In contrast to his predecessor, the 51-year-old's remit is straightforward. Sir Gareth Southgate was required to serve as a statesman, tasked with not only managing the senior team but overseeing youth development, internal FA planning and dipping into politics. He was a manager, whereas Tuchel is a head coach, with the freedom to focus solely on next year's tournament. Ending 60 years of hurt would etch the former Chelsea coach in English footballing folklore. Should he join Sir Alf Ramsey in leading England to World Cup glory, it would be the pinnacle, impossible to surpass in the England job. A return to club football would feel inevitable. Anything less than silverware, on the other hand, would represent failure – not just for Tuchel, but also the FA after its third roll of the dice with a foreign manager – and also likely mean the end of his tenure. The future, however, is bright. England Under-21s have provided a glimpse of what is to come during their European Championship defence, fronted by Lee Carsley, who is 90 minutes from matching Dave Sexton's achievement as head coach by winning consecutive titles. Should Carsley do so, he would then be in the frame to succeed Tuchel. In his tenure with the Under-21s, Carsley, aided by a world-class talent pool, has demonstrated his ability to guide England through a tournament. In 2023, the Young Lions won the Euros in Georgia without conceding a goal. Two years later, with a weakened squad because of the Club World Cup, Carsley has guided the side to another final against Germany on Saturday night. Although the pressure at a development tournament does not come close to the frantic nature of leading the seniors, it does offer a peek at Carsley's capability. In Slovakia, he has demonstrated first-class man-management, with numerous fringe players expressing gratitude for making them feel pivotal to the title defence. The squad are tightly bonded, thanks to his culture drive. The ability to build a tight-knit group is often the decisive margin in international football. While the group stage performances dropped below expectations, Carsley has showcased his class in the knockouts. After beating Spain in the final in 2023, England outclassed the same opposition in this year's quarter-finals. Spain set the standard at youth level, and their triumph at the 2024 senior Euros was a product of that. Yet in both matches against them, Carsley has prevailed. Luis de la Fuente led Spain to their Euro 2024 success after nine years coaching the youth teams. Perhaps the FA should follow that blueprint. With a home Euros looming in 2028, many of the players set to form the spine of the England team then – Cole Palmer, Marc Guéhi, Anthony Gordon – have already thrived under Carsley. Tino Livramento and Elliot Anderson impressed at this tournament and look ready to follow suit. When Tuchel departs, the FA will likely return to a domestic appointment; they rarely make similar, successive appointments. Carsley fits the mould: an insider who knows the system, enjoys strong player relationships, and prioritises development – evident in his senior stint, where he handed out eight new caps in six games. Appointing him would be a much-needed endorsement of the St George's Park pathway after the FA overlooked English coaching talent post-Southgate. It could be argued that England played their best football of the year while Carsley was in interim charge, winning five of their games and earning promotion back to Nations League Group A, all while playing exhilarating football. England's first ever defeat by 48th-ranked Greece is a blot on his reputation. However, it could prove a turning point in his managerial career. Carsley was forced to review every element of his tenure as interim head coach because of that dismal evening. From his performances in front of the media to his tactical decisions, he identified the areas he needed to work on and has improved as a result. At this tournament, he has also been polished in press conferences and diligent with his tactics. As he said on Friday: 'If I'm going to keep improving as a coach, I have to make sure that I'm learning from these experiences and not just going through the motions. I took a lot of things from the senior team. 'You wonder whether you're capable of managing at that level. It was something that I enjoyed, that I didn't feel drowned by. I was excited by the games. A period of reflection is needed after this tournament, but those periods are better if you've won.' Should Carsley indeed triumph then it could be hard for the FA to ignore him for the top job. Thomas Tuchel has made his own race across the world to support England's bid to retain their European Under-21 Championship crown. Tuchel, the head coach of the senior team, has been in the United States assessing potential bases for next summer's World Cup and watching some of the Club World Cup. Having been in Orlando to watch Manchester City thrash Juventus in the Club World Cup on Thursday, Tuchel has embarked on a transatlantic dash to get to Slovakia in time for Saturday night's Under-21 final between England and Germany. Tuchel had vowed to get to Slovakia to be at the final if England got there and he has attempted to stick to his word, even though it will have taken him two flights and a car journey to get there in time for kick-off. The journey will take Tuchel over 11 hours and involve three different countries. It shows the German's commitment to supporting Lee Carsley's Under-21 team in the final. England won the tournament in 2023 and can make it back-to-back triumphs by beating Germany in Bratislava on Saturday night.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
FA chief gives update on Sarina Wiegman's future ahead of Euros
Sarina Wiegman 's position as England head coach is not under threat, even if the Lionesses fail to progress beyond the group stage at this summer's European Championships. England have been drawn in a 'group of death' alongside 2017 Euros champions the Netherlands and heavyweights France, as well as major tournament debutants Wales, and are coming into their title defence on an inconsistent run of form. The year started with an impressive win against world champions Spain, as well as a 5-0 drubbing of Belgium in the Nations League, but both reverse fixtures away from home ended in disappointing defeats. To add to this, the withdrawal of key leaders Mary Earps, Fran Kirby and Millie Bright in the lead-up to the squad announcement has added an air of uncertainty ahead of England's Euros campaign, which kicks off next Saturday against France. And FA CEO Mark Bullingham has thrown his weight behind Wiegman ahead of the curtain-raiser next week. When asked whether an early England exit would affect Wiegman's position, he replied: 'I think we're delighted that Sarina's in place for 2027 and I don't see any scenario changing that.' He added: 'We know we're one of a number of teams who can win it (the Euros), and there are actually three of those in our group. We've prepared well and we believe the Nations League provided us with some really testing fixtures for us to improve. 'Our aim is to win and, in terms of the tournament build-up, we feel like the team is in a really good place. There were obviously some players returning from injury and we're delighted we've got them back now. 'Obviously in a perfect world we would have had some of them playing for half a season, but that's not the reality. But we're really confident in the squad we've got going to the Euros.' Wiegman is contracted to remain in post until 2027. When she took over in 2021, England were eighth in the world and have not left the top five since winning the Euros on home soil in 2022 and leading them to the World Cup final in 2023. She remains the only coach – men's or women's – to win two major tournaments with two different countries, having led the Netherlands to Euros glory in 2017. As for extending her contract beyond 2027, those talks are yet to occur. 'We think she (Wiegman) is a fantastic coach and she's done a brilliant job for us,' Bullingham said. 'We're delighted that she's with us until at least 2027; we haven't started to look beyond that timescale yet or engaged in those conversations. We're locked in for this tournament and the next one (Brazil World Cup 2027) and that feels very good for now. But that's not to say we wouldn't have a conversation at some point in the future.'
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
FA chief clear on Sarina Wiegman future after key Euros withdrawals
Sarina Wiegman has lost key players and a long-serving coach in the lead-up to Euro 2025, where the Dutch manager is chasing back-to-back wins with England's Lionesses Football Association CEO Mark Bullingham is "delighted" to have Sarina Wiegman on board until 2027 despite changes elsewhere and can't foresee a scenario where she'd leave her role early. The Lionesses manager is gearing up to lead her team out at the Euros despite the announcement in May that her long-time assistant Arjan Veurink will leave to take charge of the Netherlands' women's team after this summer's Euros. Wiegman took over as England boss in 2021, having previously led her native Netherlands team to Euros glory. By repeating the feat with the Lionesses at Euro 2022, she became the first ever manager in the men's or women's game to win the Euros or World Cup with two national teams. It's not just Veurink's decision which has impacted England's preparations. Mary Earps and Fran Kirby have retired from internationals and Millie Bright has ruled herself out of contention for the tournament, leaving Wiegman without three stars of that 2022 triumph, but Bullingham is bullish about keeping the boss on board. England have been handed a tough draw, with France, the Netherlands and Wales making up the group. Even an early exit for the holders is unlikely to impact the future of their manager, though. "We're delighted that Sarina's in place until 2027 and I don't see any scenario changing that," Bullingham said ahead of England's final warm-up game. They face Jamaica in Leicester on Sunday, with the Euros opener against France following on July 5. 'We think she's a fantastic coach and has done a brilliant job for us," Bullingham told the media . "We are delighted she's with us until at least 2027. We haven't looked beyond that timescale yet or engaged in those conversations. "We feel we have us locked into this tournament and the next and that feels very good for us. That's not to say we wouldn't have a conversation at some point in the future but it's too early for that really.' Wiegman signed her own contract extension in 2024, and Bullingham is not worried about an early departure, but believes if the unlikely happens then the FA will be ready. 'Generally we have a succession plan for every senior role within our organisation and I think that's really normal practice but we're very confident that Sarina is coming through with us until the 2027 women's World Cup and we're delighted that's the case," he said. On the subject of Veurink, Bullingham confirmed the FA had received a small compensation fee but maintained that wasn't a factor in allowing him to leave. "It was a difficult circumstance in a way because it was his dream job and he has a young family in the Netherlands," he said. "I'm sure it's the only opportunity he would have been tempted by and it ticked a lot of his boxes on a personal level. Obviously it's his home country and there was the opportunity to live at home with his family again. "We saw it as a unique set of circumstances and given everything he had done for us, we were able to give him that opportunity to leave his contract early. We feel we have found some really good replacements.'
