U21 Euro 2023: England’s future looks bright as history beckons for new breed of Young Lions

It is 39 years since England last won the European Under-21 Championship, when a team including Gary Stevens, Steve Hodge and Mark Hateley beat Spain to lift the trophy.

But Lee Carsley’s current generation of young stars now have a chance to end that long wait and continue England’s recent success at youth-level tournaments.

Goals last night from Morgan Gibbs-White, Cole Palmer and Cameron Archer saw England breeze past Israel to set up a final on Saturday against Spain, their opponents almost four decades ago, after they beat Ukraine 5-1 in the other semi-final last night.

The Young Lions were thrashed 4-0 by Germany the last time they reached the final in 2009, but this team is confident that it can go one better and emulate the class of ’84.

England are yet to concede a goal in this tournament and manager Carsley believes his side can get even better.

“There is still another level for this team to go and we are definitely going to need it in the final,” he said. “The players have really grown as a group and they are getting everything they deserve.

“I am so pleased for them, because I’m a big believer that we have got so much quality and they just need the opportunity. We’ve been speaking about it since we got here [in Georgia], the motivation and the wanting to do well.

“To watch how they’ve developed on and off the pitch has been brilliant. We sometimes take for granted the level of players we’re producing.”

Without the injured Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey, their most influential player this tournament, England overcame a nervy first half before dismantling their opponents.

“It’s hard to put into words,” said Nottingham Forest’s Gibbs-White, who missed an early penalty before giving England the lead.

“We’ve been working for the past two years just to get to this moment. It’s not an achievement yet, we still have loads of work to do. I feel like we have a good together team and the right team that can go all the way.”

This summer’s tournament has been available to watch only on UEFA’s website, but it is hoped a deal can be agreed for the final to be shown on terrestrial television.

“These young players’ mentality is different to my generation,” added Carsley. “Curtis [Jones] gives the ball away and just wants to get on it again, he doesn’t even think about it. Morgan is the same.

“It’s such a skill to have, that self-belief. The players know we believe in them, we want them to do well. It’s important that he keeps getting on it, he keeps creating chances.”