Lee Carsley has cautioned that England’s opening fixture against the Czech Republic in the Under-21 European Championships could be somewhat ‘disjointed’ and ‘chaotic’ on Wednesday, as his team prepares to defend the title they secured in 2023.
The manager’s squad was exceptional in the previous tournament, finishing the championship without conceding a single goal while netting 11. However, with limited preparation leading up to the 2025 edition, Carsley has expressed concerns about replicating that performance this time around.
Addressing the media at Dunajska Streda’s DAC Stadium, where England is set to face the Czech Republic at 21:00 CET, Carsley conceded that his team might not operate at peak efficiency in their first outing.
He elaborated: “We will approach this tournament with a slightly different strategy. It’s not simply about replacing players one-for-one.”
“It’s crucial that we adapt, and I believe we’ve demonstrated our ability to do so. I anticipate that at times tomorrow, against a notably strong Czech side, it may appear a bit uncoordinated or awkward.”
“I’ve communicated this to the players as well; they shouldn’t expect everything to click right away. The longer we remain in the tournament, the better our collective performance will become.”
In their last encounter at U21 EURO 2023, England emerged victorious with a 2-0 triumph, but given how quickly things can change in youth international football, the dynamics of the squad have shifted significantly since then. Only two players from that match—Harvey Elliott and Charlie Cresswell—remain, with several squad members experiencing tournament football for the first time.
Carsley and his coaching staff have prioritised tactical preparation over physical fitness during their limited training time, with hopes that his team will be able to adjust to the challenges that lie ahead in Slovakia.
He added: “We have a lot of versatility within the squad. The key is to adapt our tactics to fit the players’ strengths, not just what I envision, but what they excel at. It’s a challenge, particularly as we have a number of highly talented players.”
One notable absence for the England Under-21s is Jobe Bellingham. Although he was named in the preliminary squad, Bellingham is currently in the United States for the Club World Cup after completing a move to Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday.
Liam Delap, who is also unavailable due to commitments with his new club Chelsea, will not be part of the original squad for similar reasons. Nonetheless, Carsley believes missing the Euros and having this opportunity overseas is beneficial for both players.
The 51-year-old remarked: “I think it’s fantastic for both young men. The more English players who perform at the highest level, in the long run, will only benefit the senior team.”
“This represents a tremendous opportunity for them, as well as for the players stepping in to take their places. We’ve been aware of the Club World Cup for a couple of years and have been preparing for this eventuality for the last six months.”
UEFA announced on Wednesday that they would be enforcing an eight-second rule for goalkeepers to prevent time-wasting and gamesmanship late in matches. If a goalkeeper holds the ball for longer than permitted, a corner will be awarded to the opposing team. To signal this, referees will count down from five seconds.
This rule will debut in tonight’s opening U21 EURO match between Slovakia and Spain, and despite the late announcement, Carsley is confident that England, along with starting goalkeeper James Beadle, is well-equipped for the adjustment.
“We had a 30-minute briefing on the eight-second rule, which was very informative. I don’t foresee it being an issue.”
England completed their training earlier in the day in Samorin, with only Jack Hinshelwood absent due to personal reasons, although he is expected to rejoin the squad on Thursday. Tom Fellows is also on standby to link up with the Under-21s following Bellingham’s exit.
Following their match against the Czech Republic on Thursday, England will head to Nitra to take on Slovenia and then Germany.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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