England vs Netherlands: European U21 Championship semi-final speaking factors as Lee Carsley’s aspect look to defend title | Soccer Information

England tackle Netherlands of their European Championship semi-final in Bratislava on Wednesday (5pm kick-off) because the holders look to defend the title they gained in 2023 – so what are the important thing speaking factors within the build-up to the sport?

Energetic Anderson a should to start out towards the Dutch

Elliot Anderson summed up his method to England’s trophy pursuit along with his low-key celebration after sealing their semi-final place.

He barely reacted regardless of his first U21 aim, an injury-time penalty, making certain the Younger Lions would see off match favourites Spain – which appeared to re-iterate this was not job achieved.

Anderson had been a sufferer of England’s under-par group-stage show, beginning in all three video games with their development nonetheless hanging in stability by the point of their ultimate match with Germany.

He was substituted an ineffective hour into that recreation and dropped for the Spain match, earlier than returning with a re-invigorated second-half efficiency capped with that last-minute aim.

Maybe refreshed from sitting out an hour of soccer after enjoying such a significant half in Nottingham Forest’s league season, it will be a shock have been he not restored to the center of England’s midfield on Wednesday, along with his power an enormous asset towards a Netherlands aspect who get pleasure from controlling possession.
Ron Walker

Might Beadle be a future England No 1?

With James Trafford having stepped as much as turn out to be a part of Thomas Tuchel’s senior England squad, James Beadle has turn out to be the Younger Lions’ No 1 over the past 9 months – and a few are even suggesting he could possibly be the nation’s future first-choice goalkeeper.

And for good cause. He doesn’t flip 21 till July, however has already performed simply shy of 100 senior video games, throughout mortgage spells away from Brighton at Crewe, Oxford and Sheffield Wednesday.

Pierce Charles was favoured by Owls boss Danny Rohl for the final eight Championship video games of 2024/25 after numerous errors from Beadle, who has mirrored on that call. “Trying forward I do know what I have to do to be at my greatest extra constantly,” he advised the Each day Mail earlier this month.

He has put that into follow on the U21 Euros, with 13 saves and one clear sheet throughout England’s run to the semi-finals, together with an excellent double save towards Spain within the quarters.

It goes with out saying there may be room to enhance – and he’ll reportedly get the possibility to try this throughout a mortgage to newly-promoted Birmingham for the season forward, so when he does ultimately return to Brighton, they’ll have a challenger for Bart Verbruggen prepared and ready.

Beadle will definitely be on Tuchel’s radar, but when and when he deems him able to comply with Trafford and make the step up stays to be seen.
Dan Lengthy

‘Pitbull’ Stansfield may have key semi-final function to play

Jay Stansfield’s selfless efficiency towards Spain earned him a ‘pitbull’ tag from team-mate Brooke Norton-Cuffy, and if he produces one other towards Netherlands, it would simply stick.

Regardless of enjoying as a lone striker, Stansfield had simply one in all England’s 12 photographs earlier than he was substituted with 9 minutes left, along with his race run by that time.

He hassled and harried the Spain defence, making six recoveries and trying three tackles in a strong shift for the crew.

It got here at its personal private price. When performed by way of shortly earlier than he got here off, his power was so spent he let the Spain backline meet up with him, however his job had already been achieved.

In opposition to a Netherlands centre-back pairing who’re supremely comfy in bringing the ball out of defence, his defensive work might once more show as helpful as his scoring instincts.
Ron Walker

Carsley could make senior case with Euro double

Lee Carsley stated the status of British coaches could possibly be enhanced with a press release victory towards Spain. Additional success with England U21 this summer season can put him in pole place to succeed Tuchel too.

The Younger Lions are aiming for back-to-back European titles for the primary time since beneath Dave Sexton in 1984.

Sexton didn’t get a shot on the senior function and whereas Carsley has already skilled the job in a caretaker capability, his case will solely be strengthened with two extra wins.

Carsley’s U21 aspect have been again to their fearless greatest towards Spain. It was a efficiency and outcome that FA chiefs would possibly hope he can replicate with the wealth of expertise out there to Tuchel, whose contract expires after subsequent yr’s World Cup.

Carsley tried to duplicate his free-flowing attacking soccer on the senior crew, notably towards Greece final October, fielding Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer and Phil Foden in the identical aspect that went down at house in a chaotic 2-1 defeat.

He induced extra confusion afterwards, saying he would “hopefully” return to managing the U21s, showing to rule himself out of the senior job with three video games of his caretaker stint remaining.

Tuchel has the charisma to guide England however Carsley brings one thing arguably extra helpful: continuity and a deep understanding of the following technology. Being a winner will assist too.
David Richardson

Elliott placing himself in store window with Reds future doubtful

Harvey Elliott endured a massively irritating marketing campaign with Liverpool final season, that includes in solely 18 Premier League video games because the Reds gained the title, due in no small half to a foot harm picked up whereas on England U21 obligation final September that stalled his first-team progress after impressing new head coach Arne Slot in pre-season.

And through Liverpool’s title-winning celebrations on the ultimate day of the season, whereas the Reds gamers cavorted in entrance of The Kop, an emotional Elliott was seen embracing his dad, earlier than he posted on Instagram: “Reminiscences for all times! Thanks Reds.”

Liverpool have since splashed out what could possibly be a British-record price to signal Florian Wirtz, who performs in Elliott’s favoured No 10 place, which made his spectacular show towards Spain on Saturday all of the extra well timed along with his future now probably away from Anfield subsequent season.

The 22-year-old ran the present in Trnava, doubling England’s lead early on after being alert to the opportunity of a goalkeeper’s fumble, his second aim of the match having netted the primary of their title defence [he also played a key role in the side’s Euro 2023 triumph] within the win over the Czech Republic.

Elliott’s mature efficiency with the ball towards opponents of the standard of match favourites Spain, coupled with a repeat displaying in Wednesday’s semi-final, will certainly imply he has loads of fascinating gives coming his manner have been he to determine to depart the champions this summer season.
Richard Morgan

Sky Sports activities to indicate 215 reside PL video games from subsequent season

From subsequent season, Sky Sports activities’ Premier League protection will improve from 128 matches to a minimum of 215 video games solely reside.

And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League video games subsequent season are on Sky Sports activities.