The England U21 team faced Germany U21 in a crucial Group B match of the European U21 Championship today, June 18, 2025, at the Stadion pod Zoborom in Nitra, Slovakia. The stakes were high, with both teams vying for the top spot in the group and a potentially easier path in the quarter-finals. Germany had already secured their place in the next round after comfortable wins against Slovenia and Czechia, while England needed a positive result to guarantee their progression.
England U21 entered the game knowing that a victory against their rivals would see them top the group. A draw would also be enough to qualify, securing second place behind Germany. Even a defeat wouldn't necessarily mean elimination, provided Slovenia failed to beat Czechia by a significant margin. However, the young Lions were keen to take their fate into their own hands and secure a convincing win against a strong German side.
Lee Carsley, the England U21 coach, made four changes to the starting lineup from their previous match against Slovenia. Jack Hinshelwood, Samuel Iling-Junior, Omari Hutchinson, and Alex Scott were brought into the team, replacing Tino Livramento, Archie Gray, James McAtee, and Hayden Hackney. The starting XI was: Beadle; Quansah, Cresswell, Hinshelwood, Iling-Junior; Scott, Anderson, Elliott (C); Nwaneri, Rowe, Hutchinson.
Germany U21 coach Antonio Di Salvo also opted to make several changes, knowing that his team had already qualified. The German starting XI was: Ernst; Ullrich, Siebert, Oermann, Baum; Knauff, Röhl (C), Jander; Thielmann, Wanner, Weiper.
The match kicked off at 8 pm BST and was available to watch live on Channel 4 in the UK and Ireland. For fans in the US, the game started at 3 pm ET.
Both teams recognized the importance of the match. James McAtee, the England forward, told UEFA that the team was aiming for three points to top the group. Lee Carsley also hinted at the need to freshen up the team, considering the players' age and the amount of game time they've had. Germany captain Eric Martel emphasized the importance of winning against England, calling it "the classic."
