As England’s Under-21 team gets ready to face-off against Germany in the final of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, the group is buoyed with confidence. Much of that confidence can be attributed to the quiet, calm, and bullish influence of manager Lee Carsley, whose influence has truly been a hallmark of their progress to the final in Bratislava.
While England’s Under-21 squad lost to Germany in the group stage of the tournament, both teams have progressed from the groups to the knockout rounds. In the aftermath of the group match loss to Germany, Carsley is said to have walked up to Germany’s coach Antonio Di Salvo and said: ” We’ll see you in the final.” It is a joke, as Carsley later confirmed, but also mimics the extreme faith Carsley has instilled in to the young squad.
The Quiet Assurance of Carsley
Carsley may not be the role of a manager that attracts headlines, all be it on the back of an impressive coaching record and the role he has played in the England set up at youth level, he has led England to the U21 Euro title in 2023 and is close to winning a second consecutive title which will bolster his case for a future senior role – a role he has openly talked about in wanting to have.
“I was unsure if Germany would get through but I was confident we would get through,” Carsley said. “This group is such an exciting group. They have absolutely no inhibitions, and I hope we can take that into the final.”
Carsley is decidedly calm on the outside. But on the inside, Carsley possesses a deep tactical understanding of winning football games and a player first coaching philosophy that has inspired respect and trust from his players. Captain James McAtee, still likely to leave Manchester City in the summer, referred to Carsley’s man management skills: “The biggest one for me, is just the belief and trust he puts in you, he fills you with confidence, and you know you can play with freedom.”
England on the Road to the Final
Since the group-stage loss to Germany, England are a group that have got stronger and registered famous victories against Spain and the Netherlands, two of historically strong sides at this level. The squad are full of adaptability, energy, and flair, and have been able to manage their energy with five matches in two weeks.
The tactical flexibility Carsley calls upon and combined with the collective resilience of the squad has been a major factor in their success thus far.This squad of players, such as McAtee, Harvey Elliott and Jarrad Branthwaite, have made the right decisions at key moments, and while this final will be their toughest test, England have the momentum.
Carsley’s previous stint as interim manager of the senior England team and the FA’s decision to keep him in charge of the U21s until the 2027 Euros in Albania and Serbia speaks volumes about the faith in him to develop the next generation. While the large majority of the current squad will not be around for the next cycle, should they win on Saturday it could provide a springboard for many of these players to move into Gareth Southgate’s senior squad.
Germany: No Pushovers
But in their way, is a Germany team on a 20 match unbeaten run, with perhaps the player of the tournament in Nick Woltemade. The Stuttgart forward, who has apparently already agreed a move to Bayern Munich following a video call with Vincent Kompany, has been nothing short of a revelation.
Woltemade, who didn’t play in the first match with these two teams due to their squad rotation, is a serious threat. At 6’5″ with the technical ability to match his physical attributes, he has been referred to as the potential changeover for Harry Kane at Bayern. If England are going to win their fourth U21 title Carsley will have to have a specific defensively plan in place on how to contain him.Max Rosenfelder will not play for Germany due to a calf injury, but their depth remains impressive. Reaching their fourth final in five tries, Germany continues to set the benchmark at youth level in Europe.
The History and Stakes
This will be the third U21 final England will face a German opponent. England’s first title was in 1982 against West Germany, with a second title in 1984. But Germany had a team that included Neuer, Özil, Khedira, and Hummels, who smashed England 4-0 in 2009, a prelude to the 4-0 World Cup drubbing a year later.
That said, winning at youth level, doesn’t mean success at senior level; not one from the 2017 German U21 title-winning team achieved Premier League or European success. But a few from the England winning 2023 team including Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill are already featuring regularly with the England team, highlighting the pathway that Carsley and the FA are slowly creating.
As Carsley said, “It’s about making sure we keep producing players and teams that are able to perform at this stage. That’s how we will support the senior team in the long term.”
An Audience with Superstars
The final will happen in front of a full stadium in Bratislava and is already attracting attention, including that of Thomas Tuchel, the current England head coach, and Julian Nagelsmann, the German senior manager. Carsley’s response to a local journalist’s question on who Tuchel would support, was humorous; “Well I guess he will support England as England head coach.”
More than a Final
For the players it is more than just another game, it is career-defining territory; for most of these players, it will be their last U21 match before hopefully a full-time transition to senior international football. For Carsley, it is yet another opportunity to validate opinions on him being one of the most talented young managers in England. For supporters it is a sneak preview of future stars who will represent the Three Lions at the biggest stages of world football.
With history, pride, and future opportunities at stake, the UEFA U21 Euro 2025 Final between England and Germany has all the makings of a blockbuster, and one that could start a golden new chapter in English football.
