England's U21 squad is brimming with confidence as they prepare to face Germany in the UEFA European U21 Championship final. This sense of belief is largely attributed to the leadership of their head coach, Lee Carsley, whose bullish approach has instilled a winning mentality within the team. The final is scheduled for Saturday, June 28, at the national stadium in Bratislava, Slovakia.
Carsley, who recently extended his contract with the FA through the end of the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, has been instrumental in shaping this young England side. Having previously guided the MU21s to success at the 2023 finals, he understands what it takes to win on the international stage. His immediate priority is to emulate the achievements of Dave Sexton's teams from 1982 and 1984, who secured back-to-back U21 EURO titles.
The Young Lions' journey to the final hasn't been without its challenges. They started their title defense with a 3-1 victory over Czechia but then faced a frustrating 0-0 draw against Slovenia. A subsequent 2-1 loss against Germany in the group stage raised doubts about England's chances. However, Carsley's charges responded emphatically in the knockout stages, thrashing pre-tournament favorites Spain 3-1 in the quarter-finals and then securing a 2-1 victory over the Netherlands in the semi-finals, thanks to a brace from Harvey Elliott.
Carsley has instilled a sense of resilience and adaptability within the squad. Sky Sports' Adam Bate noted that England had to recover from an "extraordinary equaliser" against the Netherlands, showcasing their mental strength and determination.
While Germany has been in sensational scoring form throughout the tournament, England's strength lies in their possession and passing accuracy. They top the rankings for possession (58.6%) and passing accuracy (89.6%) at the finals. This ability to control the game and dictate the tempo will be crucial in the final against a strong German side.
Germany, however, will be a formidable opponent. They have won all five of their matches in the tournament, scoring 15 goals in the process. Their attack is led by Nick Woltemade, who has been involved in nine goals (six goals and three assists), making him the most prolific player in the competition.
England will need to be wary of Germany's attacking threat, but they can take confidence from their own attacking talent. Harvey Elliott has been in excellent form, scoring four goals in the tournament, and he is supported by a talented group of players, including Omari Hutchinson, who has completed the most dribbles at the tournament.
Carsley has fostered a strong team spirit and a belief that they can overcome any challenge. He lauded his "outstanding" players after the semi-final win against the Netherlands, expressing it was a "shame" to only have one game left with this team. This camaraderie and togetherness will be vital as they face Germany in what promises to be a thrilling final.
England are aiming to retain their title, a feat only previously achieved by England themselves (1982, 1984), Italy (1992, 1994, 1996), the Netherlands (2006, 2007) and Spain (2011, 2013). Germany, on the other hand, are three-time winners (2009, 2017, 2021) and will be looking to add another title to their collection. The final is a repeat of the 2009 final, which Germany won 4-0. England will be hoping to avenge that defeat and secure their place in history as one of the greatest U21 teams of all time.
