Manager Lee Carsley has urged his England Under-21 squad to carry the momentum from their second-half performance against Germany into their crucial European Championship quarter-final match against Spain in Trnava on Saturday.
Although the team struggled in the first half of their 2-1 loss to a makeshift German side, they did show some resilience by scoring through Alex Scott, but ultimately fell short.
As they prepare to face Spain, the pressure is on, with the threat of elimination looming if they don’t put in a solid showing.
Statistics from Opta suggest England have a 35% chance of winning the match in regulation time, while Spain’s odds are slightly higher at 37%.
Nonetheless, Carsley believes that his team enters the match without the burden of being favourites.
Speaking to reporters at England’s training hub in Samorin, he remarked: “I don’t feel like an underdog. There is a significant expectation against Spain, and if we can perform, that is all that matters.”
“If we can deliver and perform to our capabilities, we’ve got a solid chance to win. Spain are a strong team, and anyone who accompanied us during the last Euros knows we must beat all the high-calibre teams.”
“I have great respect for Spain. The final we played a couple of years ago was incredibly close.”
“It could have gone in any direction. We were fortunate to score and played reasonably well, but we have more to show if we want to advance.”
Expect a display of possession-based football in Trnava this Saturday, with England currently leading in both ball possession and passing accuracy statistics. Spain follow closely in both areas, indicating that controlling the ball will be crucial to success in the quarter-final.
When asked about this, Carsley said: “Controlling possession has to be one of our main objectives against Spain, a side that is very possession-oriented.”
“Having the ball is great, but we need to ensure it leads to effective results. Unfortunately, achieving that can mean taking risks with possession, which we must embrace.”
“We want our players to take risks, advance into spaces, and express themselves on the pitch.”
‘Only a matter of time’
Tino Livramento, one of the more experienced members of the squad, is yet to participate in a tournament at any age level for the national team, despite this being his initial outing. He missed the last tournament due to injury while his teammates lifted the trophy, and given his age, this could mark his final appearance at the Under-21 level; however, he isn’t ready to leave just yet.
Before Carsley addressed the media, the Newcastle United full-back stated: “I knew this had to be my last camp with the Under-21s, so it’s significant, yet I’m excited to enjoy the experience and play to the best of my ability…”
“We have extraordinary talent. I believe it’s just a matter of time before the team fully clicks, and tomorrow offers us a wonderful opportunity to showcase that against a formidable side like Spain.”
Having missed the game against Germany, Livramento feels refreshed, particularly after starting the first two group matches against the Czech Republic and Slovenia, giving him much-needed recovery time for the weekend’s clash.
“I definitely feel fresher now since I sat out the Germany game, but having played at a high level consistently this season, I’ve been in a lot of matches. If Lee wanted to use me, he knows I’d be ready, but the key focus is advancing to the quarter-finals, and I’m prepared,” he added.
The full-back has attracted interest from Manchester City after an impressive season with the Magpies, yet his concentration remains solely on the task at hand in Slovakia.
When quizzed about his future at St James’ Park, he replied: “The manager (Eddie Howe) and I are in constant communication. He’s advised me to keep focusing on my current form, which has been positive.”
“That relationship with someone so influential in my career thus far is invaluable.”
“But right now, I’m entirely focused on my responsibilities here. My priority is the Under-21s and contributing to the team’s success.”
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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