Latest news with #Under21Championship
BBC News
5 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Whirlwind two years lead Carsley to brink of more glory
Lee Carsley has had little time to reflect on his whirlwind two eve of his second European Under-21 Championship final, as England look to defend their title against Germany in Bratislava on Saturday, is unlikely to be the time either. Carsley's six-game spell in charge of the senior side last year thrust him into the spotlight, one which he was not used to, and a return to the Under-21s has done little to keep him under the radar after guiding them to the brink of another trophy. Two years ago it was new territory as England won the Under-21 Euros for the first time in 39 years but, such has been the nature of his journey, Carsley says he is yet to take in his achievements. "I was actually thinking about this the other day and how fast things have moved," he said. "I definitely need a bit of reflection time but it's been so exciting. I wouldn't have changed it. It was such a privilege to do." Carsley says he learned a lot from coaching the senior team."You always wonder whether you're capable of managing at that level, coaching at that level and that's fine," the 51-year-old said."It was something I enjoyed, something I didn't feel drowned by. I was excited by the games." 'We have to trust the players' A second European Under-21 title would match Dave Sexton's achievements of 1982 and 1984 but Carsley had already justified the Football Association's faith by delivering the trophy two years ago. There was a strong sense he could replace Sir Gareth Southgate as senior manager, especially after two opening wins against Ireland and Finland at the start of his interim spell last summer. He won five and lost one - a defeat to Greece which clearly still rankles - with Thomas Tuchel appointed last October, leaving Carsley to take charge of his final two games - Nations League victories against Greece and Ireland. Carlsley ultimately signed a new two-year deal with the Under-21s this month, one which will take him through to Euro 2027 in Albania and Serbia. A title defence would strengthen his case to be the man to succeed Tuchel. The German is due to be in Bratislava for Saturday's game and is dashing from the Club World Cup in America to watch the Young Lions and Carsley try to keep their composure against a Germany side they lost to last week. Yet Carsley remained one of the coolest men in a sweltering stadium during Wednesday's semi-final win against the Netherlands - despite his choice of a long-sleeve hooded top. He spent spells of the second half crouching, he was far from passive but there was no loss of temper, angst or nerves privately joked about keeping his temperament under wraps after the game, conceding he had felt the pressure, although stated publicly it was important to not let it show. "If you watch us training I'm probably not as calm but it's very difficult to coach on a matchday. We have to trust the players they can adopt the gameplan we've spoken about," said the 51-year-old."In terms of the way I want the team to play, if you saw me on the side ranting and raving I can't expect the players to be exciting, express themselves and play with freedom." Carsley has grown into the role. When he first succeeded Aidy Boothroyd in 2021 being a front facing member of the England set-up did not necessarily come naturally, even in small meetings with a limited number of reporters at St George's Park. A couple of slips during his time with the seniors - he was criticised for not singing the national anthem despite explaining it was something he did not do while playing for Ireland - and the surprising admission he would "hopefully" return to the Under-21s before Tuchel's appointment was announced, created more headlines than he then, though, he has relaxed, with side jokes about journalists' clothes in the hot Slovakian sun or nods in news conferences about topics he knew would come up from certain writers. His other senior management experience came from caretaker spells at Coventry, Brentford and Birmingham but he is at ease in Slovakia and it shows. He has respect from his peers too with Germany boss Antonio di Salvo, a former Bayern Munich forward, recognising the job Carsley has done. "I talk to Lee every so often, we are good colleagues and have seen each other at a number of Uefa meetings," he said. "After winning the title two years ago, he was also with the senior team and you can see their team is united and we can see his signature on it. He's doing a really good job." 'He makes everyone feel welcome and wanted' Carsley does not pretend to be someone he is not either. He is genuine and honest, with excellent man management skills, traits similar to Southgate who he worked so closely with, having joined his staff for Euro 2024. He brings the balls out for the warm-ups, not a usual responsibility the head coach, but a small statement of his ways. Noticeably, the players often use his nickname 'Cars' when talking about the head coach. Not 'the manager' or the 'gaffer' in a sign of his close relationship with them, which has allowed them to develop and shine in the knockout stages in Slovakia. "He's created a group but it's not just Lee. It's the whole whole staff group - it runs from the physios to the assistants, starts with Lee, runs all the way down," said defender Charlie Cresswell. "It feeds off to us players. We've got such a good group in there, the togetherness that we have as a squad it's inspirational."Captain James McAtee has spoken about Carsley's "belief and trust" while Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, who scored in the group stage defeat to Germany agreed. Scott gives credit to Carsley's methods as a man and manager to perfectly encapsulate his personality. "It's something that started with Gareth and what he brought into the England set-up, and Lee has done the same thing. The relationship we have as a team and the things we do off the pitch ultimately come together on it."Cars is massive for the group and makes everyone feel welcome and wanted as players. To have that relationship with your coach on and off the pitch is so important if we want to be successful."Winning the tournament two years ago and taking the seniors for those games, Cars has shown how good a man and coach he is."It will still matter regardless of the outcome in Slovakia but winning would create Carsley's legacy and the former Coventry and Everton midfielder is eyeing a dynasty. "Our record at this tournament, it's fair to say, isn't great. From not qualifying for the tournament or getting knocked out in the group stages," he said."Obviously Dave Sexton started off great and you'd like to see a period of domination but we didn't do that. "Spain have done it, Italy have done it, Germany have done it, the Netherlands have done it. We have to make sure we're there."
Times
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Times
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.
Telegraph
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
England vs Germany predictions: European Under-21 Championship final tips and odds
Our tipster has three predictions for Saturday's European Under-21 Championship final between England and Germany at the National Stadium in Bratislava (kick-off, 8pm BST). We think that the Germans should be favoured, in a match that should produce goals. England U21 vs Germany U21 tips Germany draw no bet @ 10/11 with Sky Bet Nick Woltemade to score @ 5/4 with Sky Bet Harvey Elliott to score @ 5/2 with Sky Bet Odds courtesy of Sky Bet Correct at the time of publication and subject to change. Already a Sky Bet member? Check out more free bets from the best betting sites, reviewed by our experts. Germany to have final word England are 7/5 favourites to win the European Under-21 Championship final, with Germany at 6/4. Antonio Di Salvo's side are the outsiders despite beating the holders 2-1 in the group stage, a match in which they fielded a second-string side. England dominated possession but struggled to convert their opportunities into goals. They have looked more dangerous in the knockout rounds, beating Spain and the Netherlands, but the value is clearly with Germany who swept aside France in the semi-finals. Woltemade for the big occasion Germany's Nick Woltemade is the top scorer in the tournament with six goals in four appearances, the 23-year-old having been rested for the victory over England. He scored a hat-trick in the opener against Slovenia, added to his tally when the Germans defeated Czechia and found the net against both Italy in the quarter-finals and France in the semis. With 17 goals last season for Stuttgart, the 6ft 6in striker will be the main danger to the Three Lions. Elliott carries England's biggest threat England manager Lee Carsley is lacking a striker of Woltemade's calibre. Liam Delap is at the Club World Cup with Chelsea, while the tireless Jay Stansfield has yet to find the net for the U21 side, even if his involvement has improved performances. Instead, it has been Harvey Elliott who has stepped up to take on the goalscoring burden. The Liverpool midfielder is the tournament's second-highest scorer with four goals. After opening his account against Czechia, Elliott netted in the quarter-final when England faced Spain and then twice against Netherlands in the semis. As a player with the ability to craft chances out of nothing, odds of 5/2 on him to score look too big. England U21 vs Germany U21 odds All odds courtesy of Sky Bet. Correct at the time of publication and subject to change.
New York Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Times
After starting every U21 Euros match, will James Beadle seek a future beyond Brighton's bench?
James Beadle has dominated the gloves for England on their path to the final of the European Under-21 Championship, but will he ever get the same chance for Brighton & Hove Albion? Beadle maintained his 100 per cent appearance record in Slovakia during Wednesday's 2-1 semi-final victory against the Netherlands. Although caught out by a shot from 30 yards from Dutch substitute Noah Ohio for their equaliser, Beadle is likely to retain his place for Saturday's final against Germany. Advertisement In the group stage, he helped England secure a 3-1 win against the Czech Republic and a clean-sheet draw with Slovenia, before a 2-1 defeat against Germany. He has kept his spot for the knockout rounds, with the other goalkeepers in Lee Carsley's squad — Stoke City's Tommy Simkin and Chelsea's Teddy Sharman-Lowe — left on the sidelines as Beadle featured in a 3-1 quarter-final win against Spain. Beadle turns 21 in July. He is nine months older than England Under-21 colleague Jack Hinshelwood, who has already made 49 appearances in Brighton's first team, but has not made a similar impact for his club. Beadle is at a distinct disadvantage in aspiring to one spot where Brighton have an abundance of depth. Several players are contending for two spots in Fabian Hurzeler's side in Hinshelwood's preferred role as a central midfielder, but Hinshelwood is versatile. Ten of his 26 Premier League appearances last season were at right-back or left-back. Carsley has capitalised, using Hinshelwood in both full-back positions during the tournament in Slovakia. Beadle, on the other hand, is stuck with trying to shift Bart Verbruggen or Jason Steele. His situation has parallels with Carl Rushworth, who has run out of patience at the Amex Stadium. Rushworth has been on loan for four seasons in succession since signing for Brighton from his home town team Halifax Town — who play in the fifth-tier National League — in 2019. He has played more than 130 games on loan to Walsall in League Two (2021-22), Lincoln City in League One (2022-23), Swansea City in the Championship (2023-24) and Championship side Hull City in the first half of last season. Over the course of that period, Rushworth has been in England Under-19, Under-20 and Under-21 squads. Under contract at Brighton until 2027, it has reached crunch point. The 23-year-old wants to leave this summer unless his chances of game time improve. With no immediate prospect of that happening, the likely next step for Rushworth is a permanent move to the Championship. Advertisement Beadle has been on a similar pathway to Rushworth on a series of loans since joining Brighton from then League One side Charlton Athletic in the January 2022 transfer window (Charlton were promoted via the play-offs back into the Championship last season). He spent part of the 2022-23 campaign with Crewe Alexandra in League Two, 2023-24 in League One with Oxford and then Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship following a mid-season switch. Beadle returned to Sheffield Wednesday in the second tier last season, making 38 league appearances out of a possible 46 — it would have been more, but he was left out by Wednesday manager Danny Rohl with eight games remaining due to a dip in form. He has become No 1 for England Under-21s after 19 appearances between under-15 and under-20 level. The 6ft 3in (190cm) 'keeper has a bright future, but whether that future is at Brighton for the long term — he is under contract until 2028 — and whether he will ever make a Premier League appearance for the club is open to doubt. The probable next step for Beadle next season is another loan to a Championship club, but at what point might he get itchy feet at Brighton? Verbruggen became firmly established last season as the No 1 under Hurzeler. At 22, Verbruggen is also the Netherlands' first choice under Ronald Koeman. He will be hard to dislodge, unless a big offer comes in from a bigger club, or he loses form or fitness. In any of those circumstances, Steele will be ready to step in. He shared the goalkeeper duties with Verbruggen under former head coach Robert De Zerbi. Steele, under contract until next summer, is regarded by Hurzeler as an ideal No 2. At 34, Steele is a respected voice in the dressing room, with more than 300 league appearances behind him for clubs including Sunderland, Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough. Rushworth was on the bench for 12 Premier League matches in succession from January as cover for Verbruggen during Steele's recovery from shoulder surgery. Tom McGill also spent time on the bench in the league last season when Verbruggen or Steele were unavailable. The Canada international signed a new two-year contract in May, after spending the first half of last season on loan to Milton Keynes Dons in League Two. The 25-year-old has been at the club since he was 14. Advertisement Congestion in the goalkeeper department at the Amex does not end there. Kjell Scherpen has spent the last two seasons on loan to Sturm Graz in Austria's Bundesliga, after temporary stints with Oostende in Belgium (2022) and Vitesse Arnhem in the Netherlands (2022-23). The 25-year-old, a former regular in the Dutch under-21s, has not made a competitive appearance for Brighton since signing from Ajax in July 2021. At under-21 level, Irishman Killian Cahill, signed from Shamrock Rovers in his homeland in 2022, has made a permanent move to League One side Leyton Orient on a two-year contract. The 21-year-old has been replaced by 18-year-old fellow countryman Michael Dike on a two-year deal from Treaty United in the Republic of Ireland's second tier. The stockpiling of promising goalkeepers fits Brighton's recruitment model of identifying players at low cost at a young age, then developing them in-house or via loans to a point where they either move into first-team contention or are sold on — often for a healthy profit. There is also the matter of movement in the goalkeeper coaching department this summer. Marco Knoop and Jack Stern left the club in June as part of an overhaul by Hurzeler that included hiring a specialist on set pieces. Jelle ten Rouwelaar has been targeted as the new goalkeeping coach, with the Dutchman's future in doubt at Leicester City. Ten Rouwelaar worked previously at NAC Breda in the Netherlands and Belgian club Anderlecht with Verbruggen. The intended appointment of Ten Rouwelaar appears to strengthen Verbruggen's hold on the No 1 spot at Brighton, so it could be some time before Beadle is in a position to emulate his rise with England at club level.
Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Times
Elliott is star of U21s' run to final — so why does no one want to sign him?
More than any other quality, it is largely agreed that what marks out the best is the ability to settle key matches with critical contributions. At the European Under-21 Championship in Slovakia, Harvey Elliott, scorer of four goals, has been England's most important player in the knockout stage. He scored England's second in their 3-1 win against Spain in the quarter-finals, then produced two excellent finishes on Wednesday against the Netherlands to lead England into Saturday's final against Germany. The Liverpool midfielder could feasibly win the player-of-the-tournament award, yet will return to Merseyside still mulling his future. He made 28 appearances in all competitions this season, all but six of those as a substitute. He made three starts in the domestic cups, one in the Champions League, after Liverpool had secured their spot in the knockout phase, and two in the league, after Liverpool had won the competition. Over the past year, however, his statistical profile is impressive. He had the benefit of coming off the bench with licence to attack but, per 90 minutes, he averaged: 0.66 goals; 0.4 expected goals; 3.49 shots; 0.33 assists; 0.18 expected assists; 8.8 progressive carries. For a 22-year-old with considerable Premier League experience (94 matches), these numbers would usually command Liverpool's attention and have the selling club thinking they could generate a hefty transfer fee. Yet Arne Slot, the Liverpoold head coach, has not been able to find a regular position for Elliott, who said a fortnight ago that he may need to consider his future at the club. The key issue at Liverpool is competition. Elliott can play as a winger, a No10 or a No8, but at Liverpool there is no No10 and no player is displacing Mohamed Salah from the right wing — and that is before considering that Elliott interprets the position very differently from Salah. He is neither as quick nor as strong, and prefers moving infield and linking play like a No10. He is not the type of winger to engage in one-on-one duels with the opposition full back, which necessitates a more conventional, overlapping full back to complement him (as Tino Livramento has done for England Under-21). He is a bright player but, like a classic No10, needs the team to play to his strengths; in the system that Lee Carsley uses, he thrives, adding creativity and energy in the half-spaces and producing mazy dribbles and shots that are too hot to handle. But to feature in midfield — the only other spot available in Slot's Liverpool team — players need to be fast, physical and suited to counterattacking and counterpressing. It was telling that in Liverpool's win against Brentford in January, a game in which Elliott set up a goal for Darwin Núñez, the Englishman was brought on as Alexis Mac Allister was withdrawn. Mac Allister, at 5ft 9in, is two inches taller than Elliott — a rarity in an otherwise fast and physical side. Even Jürgen Klopp was reluctant to field a shorter XI in the Premier League. It is not that Elliott does not do the defensive work but rather that Liverpool, and most elite Premier League sides, prize the ability to reach high top speeds, compete physically and manage counterattacks. Liverpool struggled with the latter when Elliott featured regularly in midfield in the 2022-23 season, which led to the club buying an entirely new midfield and ending their pursuit of Jude Bellingham. The arrival of Florian Wirtz, for a potential fee of £116million, further complicates matters for Elliott, who is behind the Germany playmaker, Dominik Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones in midfield. His numbers are so good that only Premier League clubs are likely to be able to match Liverpool's valuation of the player, yet a slightly less physically demanding league, like La Liga or Serie A, may be where Elliott could reach his true potential and dominate matches. Elite, possession-dominant teams such as Inter Milan, where older players such as Hakan Calhanoglu and Henrikh Mkhitaryan have reinvented themselves, or Napoli, where Scott McTominay played a central role in their title triumph, may appeal to Elliott, and the pace of leagues like Serie A may help him shine. Equally, there are teams in the Premier League that do not press or play an intense game, such as Aston Villa, who have been able to accommodate creative talents like Youri Tielemans in their XI by constructing the team around them. Elliott has two years remaining on his contract. He signed from Fulham's academy aged 16 in 2019, for a compensation fee of £1.5million and a further £2.8million in add-ons. Fulham have a 20 per cent sell-on clause. A significant sale would return sizeable profits for Liverpool. But finding a taker that suits both player and club — with continental teams far less financially endowed than English clubs — is the difficulty. Yet as Chelsea's Cole Palmer — starved of minutes at Manchester City two years ago — showed, a move to the right club, with the right support and tactical licence after a successful Euros, can be the platform for launching a career.
