{"id":223168,"date":"2025-06-29T05:14:27","date_gmt":"2025-06-29T05:14:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/223168\/"},"modified":"2025-06-29T05:14:27","modified_gmt":"2025-06-29T05:14:27","slug":"the-young-stars-behind-england-u21s-euros-triumph","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/223168\/","title":{"rendered":"The young stars behind England U21s’ Euros triumph"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ben Bloom looks at the key players who featured for England in their successful UEFA European Under-21 Championship campaign.<\/p>\n

England defeated Germany 3-2 in a titanic final on Saturday night, to win the UEFA European Under-21 Championship for the second time in a row.<\/p>\n

After lifting the trophy two years ago, the Young Lions successfully defended their title. It’s the first time England U21s have won back-to-back Euros since 1982 and 1984.<\/p>\n

Lee Carsley’s side began the final in Bratislava on the front foot, going 2-0 up through goals from Harvey Elliott<\/a> – the Player of the Tournament – and Omari Hutchinson in the seventh and 24th minutes respectively.<\/p>\n

It seemed they would regret some presentable chances to go further ahead, when Germany pulled one back in first-half stoppage time through Nelson Weiper and then drew level with Paul Nebel’s 61st-minute strike.<\/p>\n

However, Jonathan Rowe restored England’s lead only two minutes after coming on as a substitute at the start of extra time, and they held on to triumph 3-2, with Germany hitting the crossbar towards the end of the additional 30 minutes, just as they had done in second-half stoppage time.<\/p>\n

Road to the final<\/p>\n

The top scorers in qualifying for the tournament, England started slowly in the group stage, beating Czech Republic in their opener before a goalless draw against Slovenia and a defeat against their eventual opponents in the final, Germany.<\/p>\n

Things improved markedly in the knockout rounds, with wins over Spain (3-1) and Netherlands (2-1) securing England’s spot in the final. Meanwhile, Germany went into the game with a 100 per cent record after five straight victories.<\/p>\n

Carsley, who played in the Premier League for five different clubs, has been head coach of England U21s since 2021. He served a brief period as interim boss of the senior England side last year before Thomas Tuchel<\/a>\u2019s appointment.<\/p>\n

Here is a guide to the players who achieved glory in Slovakia on Saturday night.<\/p>\n

England’s key men
\nJames Beadle (Brighton)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Age: 20 Pos: Goalkeeper
EFL\u00a0<\/strong>Sheff Wed: P57; Oxford: P25; Crewe: P9
Premier League 2\u00a0<\/strong>Brighton: P15
Under-18 Premier League <\/strong>Brighton: P3<\/p>\n

Beadle started every game in goal for England and, although he was caught out for the Netherlands’ equaliser in the semi-finals, he kept his spot for the final as he looks to prove himself capable of being a top-level No 1.<\/p>\n

\"James<\/p>\n

Charlie Cresswell (Toulouse)<\/p>\n

Age: 22 Pos: Defender
PL\u00a0<\/strong>Leeds United: P5 G0 A0
EFL\u00a0<\/strong>Millwall: P28 G4 A2; Leeds: P5 G0 A0
Premier League 2\u00a0<\/strong>Leeds: P16 G0 A0<\/p>\n

One of only two members (alongside Elliott) of the title-winning squad two years ago, Cresswell was England\u2019s standout defender during the tournament, scoring in their opening win and relishing his role as a senior figure in the team.<\/p>\n

\"Charlie<\/p>\n

Jarell Quansah (Liverpool)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Age: 22 Pos: Defender
PL <\/strong>Liverpool: P30 G2 A0
Premier League 2 <\/strong>Liverpool: P27 G1 A0
Under-18 Premier League <\/strong>Liverpool: P31 G3 A1<\/p>\n

Amid speculation about a potential club switch from Liverpool<\/a> to the German Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen, Quansah<\/a> combined with Cresswell to form a dominant centre-back pairing at the U21 Euros, playing every minute of the tournament.<\/p>\n

\"Quansah\"\/<\/p>\n

Tino Livramento (Newcastle United)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Age: 22 Pos: Defender
PL <\/strong>Newcastle: P63 G1 A1; Southampton: P30 G1 A1
Premier League 2 <\/strong>Chelsea: P26 G3 A5
Under-18 Premier League <\/strong>Chelsea: P13 G0 A0<\/p>\n

Off the back of an excellent domestic campaign with Newcastle<\/a>, Livramento<\/a> shone in Slovakia, stealing the show in victory against the Czechs and proving himself adept at either end of the pitch, from either left-back or right-back.<\/p>\n

\"Livramento\"\/<\/p>\n

Harvey Elliott (Liverpool)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Age: 22 Pos: Midfielder
PL <\/strong>Liverpool: P92 G5 A10; Fulham: P2 G0 A0
EFL <\/strong>Blackburn Rovers: P41 G7 A11
Premier League 2 <\/strong>Liverpool: P14 G2 A5
Under-18 Premier League <\/strong>Fulham: P18 G5 A4<\/p>\n

After topping England\u2019s goalscoring charts in qualifying, the Liverpool man also led the way at the tournament, scoring five times \u2013 including both goals in the semi-final win over Netherlands and the opener in the final \u2013 as he won a second U21 Euros medal.<\/p>\n

\"Elliott\"\/<\/p>\n

James McAtee (Manchester City)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Age: 21 Pos: Midfielder
PL <\/strong>Sheffield United: P30 G3 A3; Man City: P18 G3 A0
EFL <\/strong>Sheffield United: P37 G9 A3
Premier League 2 <\/strong>Man City: P45 G25 A19
Under-18 Premier League <\/strong>Man City: P27 G11 A7<\/p>\n

Having opted out of playing at the FIFA Club World Cup with Man City<\/a>, McAtee started the U21 Euros slowly, but played a key part in the quarter-final and semi-final victories, before captaining his country to victory in the final.<\/p>\n

\"McAtee\"\/<\/p>\n

Jay Stansfield (Birmingham City)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Age: 22 Pos: Forward
PL <\/strong>Fulham: P4 G0 A0
EFL <\/strong>Birmingham City: P80 G31 A5; Exeter City: P36 G9 A7; Fulham: P2 G0 A0
Under-18 Premier League <\/strong>Fulham: P25 G28 A4<\/p>\n

With Carsley deciding not to use a specialist striker throughout the group stage, Stansfield impressed off the bench sufficiently to be handed starting berths in the quarter-final and semi-final, and he led the line again in the final against Germany.<\/p>\n

\"Jay<\/p>\n

Rest of England’s squad
\nRonnie Edwards (Southampton)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Age: 22 Pos: Defender
PL <\/strong>Southampton: P1 G0 A0
EFL <\/strong>Peterborough United: P121 G1 A2; Queens Park Rangers: P21 G2 A0
Premier League 2 <\/strong>Southampton: P2 G0 A0<\/p>\n

\"Edwards\"\/<\/p>\n

Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Age: 23 Pos: Midfielder
EFL <\/strong>Middlesbrough: P99 G9 A7; Scunthorpe United: P28 G0 A2
Under-18 Premier League <\/strong>Middlesbrough: P27 G5 A7<\/p>\n

\"Hayden<\/p>\n

Tom Fellows (West Bromwich Albion)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Age: 21 Pos: Forward
EFL <\/strong>West Brom: P82 G8 A17; Crawley Town: P38 G0 A2
Premier League 2 <\/strong>West Brom: P2 G0 A0
Under-18 Premier League <\/strong>West Brom: P28 G8 A8<\/p>\n

\"Tom<\/p>\n

Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Age: 22 Pos: Midfielder\u00a0
PL <\/strong>Newcastle: P44 G0 A3; Nottingham Forest: P37 G2 A6
EFL <\/strong>Bristol Rovers: P21 G7 A6
Under-18 Premier League <\/strong>Newcastle: P17 G6 A4<\/p>\n

\"Elliot<\/p>\n

Jonathan Rowe (Marseille)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Age: 22 Pos: Forward
PL <\/strong>Norwich City: P13 G0 A1
EFL <\/strong>Norwich City: P35 G12 A2
Under-18 Premier League <\/strong>Norwich City: P28 G12 A3<\/p>\n

\"Jonathan<\/p>\n

Omari Hutchinson (Ipswich Town)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Age: 21 Pos: Forward
PL <\/strong>Ipswich: P31 G3 A2; Chelsea: P1 G0 A0
EFL <\/strong>Ipswich: P44 G10 A5
Premier League 2 <\/strong>Chelsea: P21 G7 A7; Arsenal: P18 G6 A5
Under-18 Premier League <\/strong>Arsenal: P20 G7 A7<\/p>\n

\"Omari<\/p>\n

Brooke Norton-Cuffy (Genoa)<\/p>\n

Age: 21 Pos: Defender
EFL <\/strong>Millwall: P40 G2 A4; Coventry City: P21 G0 A0; Rotherham United: P20 G0 A2; Lincoln City: P17 G1 A1
Premier League 2 <\/strong>Arsenal: P13 G0 A0
Under-18 Premier League <\/strong>Arsenal: P14 G0 A1<\/p>\n

\"Brooke<\/p>\n

Tommy Simkin (Stoke City)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Age: 20 Pos: Goalkeeper
EFL <\/strong>Walsall: P40 G0 A0; Stoke City: P1 G0 A0; Forest Green Rovers: P1 G0 A0
Premier League 2 <\/strong>Stoke City: P5 G0 A0
Under-18 Premier League <\/strong>Stoke City: P26 G0 A0<\/p>\n

\"Tommy<\/p>\n

Archie Gray (Tottenham Hotspur)<\/p>\n

Age: 19 Pos: Defender\/Midfielder
PL <\/strong>Spurs: P28 G0 A0
EFL <\/strong>Leeds: P44 G0 A2
Premier League 2 <\/strong>Leeds: P15 G1 A1
Under-18 Premier League <\/strong>Leeds: P10 G2 A0<\/p>\n

\"Archie<\/p>\n

CJ Egan-Riley (Burnley)<\/p>\n

Age: 22 Pos: Defender
PL <\/strong>Man City: P1 G0 A0
EFL <\/strong>Burnley: P44 G1 A1
Premier League 2 <\/strong>Man City: P35 G0 A1
Under-18 Premier League <\/strong>Man City: P23 G0 A1<\/p>\n

\"CJ<\/p>\n

Jack Hinshelwood (Brighton)<\/p>\n

Age: 20 Pos: Defender\/Midfielder
PL <\/strong>Brighton: P39 G8 A2
Premier League 2 <\/strong>Brighton: P27 G5 A4
Under-18 Premier League <\/strong>Brighton: P30 G6 A7<\/p>\n

\"Jack<\/p>\n

Samuel Iling-Junior (Aston Villa)<\/p>\n

Age: 21 Pos: Defender\/Midfielder
Football League <\/strong>Middlesbrough: P16 G1 A2
Under-18 Premier League <\/strong>Chelsea: P9 G0 A1<\/p>\n

\"Samuel<\/p>\n

Alex Scott (AFC Bournemouth)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Age: 21 Pos: Midfielder\u00a0
PL <\/strong>Bournemouth: P43 G1 A1
EFL <\/strong>Bristol City: P83 G5 A6<\/p>\n

\"Alex<\/p>\n

Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Age: 18 Pos: Forward
PL <\/strong>Arsenal: P28 G4 A2
Premier League 2 <\/strong>Arsenal: P24 G11 A4
Under-18 Premier League <\/strong>Arsenal: P16 G7 A5<\/p>\n

\"Ethan<\/p>\n

Teddy Sharman-Lowe (Chelsea)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Age: 22 Pos: Goalkeeper
EFL <\/strong>Doncaster Rovers: P46 G0 A0
Premier League 2 <\/strong>Chelsea: P20 G0 A0<\/p>\n

\"Teddy<\/p>\n

Tyler Morton (Liverpool)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Age: 22 Pos: Midfielder
PL <\/strong>Liverpool: P2 G0 A0
EFL <\/strong>Blackburn: P40 G0 A2; Hull City: P39 G3 A5
Premier League 2 <\/strong>Liverpool: P39 G9 A8; Blackburn: P1 G0 A0
Under-18 Premier League <\/strong>Liverpool: P16 G4 A6<\/p>\n

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