Carsley excited about England’s future after guiding U21s to a second consecutive European Championship | OneFootball

Lee Carsley has backed his current crop of England U21 players to go on and star for the senior team in the future after guiding his group to European Championship glory.

The Young Lions beat Germany in a 3-2 thriller in Slovakia to win the tournament for a second consecutive time under Carsley.

Carsley’s side got off to a flying start, racing in to a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Harvey Elliott and Omari Hutchinson but Germany pulled it back to 2-2, with Nelson Weiper scoring right before half-time before Paul Nebel added another just after the hour mark to take it to extra time.

But substitute Jonathan Rowe stooped low to head in Tyler Morton’s pinpoint cross to secure the trophy for England, and Carsley hailed the mentality of his squad.

“I’m so proud, not of myself but of the players and the commitment that they have shown the last 28 days,” Carsley told Channel 4 after the game.

“All the instruction we have tried to give to them, they have taken in on board so quickly. They have so much belief, this squad believe that they can win. And that is the kind of players we need.

“Any setback that has come they have just got on with it. I told them that the longer we stay in the tournament, the better we play.

“I don’t think we played great tonight. We sat a little too deep and didn’t have as much control as we wanted but we won’t remember that in a couple of days.”

Carsley, who took charge of the England senior team on a temporary basis after the departure of Gareth Southgate, signed a new two-year deal as U21 boss ahead of the tournament, which will run until 2027.

And the former Everton midfielder says he is focused on how he can best help the senior side ahead of the World Cup in 2026.

“I love the job I do and I love working with the players,” he said.

“I’ve had a chance with the senior team as well and loved that and the best thing I can do is to try and help the pathway to the senior team.

“To be European champions for the second time is a great achievement, and the challenge is to do it again in two years.”