Aidy in peril after young Lions flop
AIDY Boothroyd is facing mounting criticism as England’s Under-21 European Championship campaign flopped at the first hurdle again.
Manager Boothroyd insisted England’s kids were “horribly unlucky” and beaten by a “freak goal” from Switzerland, but conceded they lacked attacking prowess.
The Young Lions boss was lucky to keep his job after the failure of Phil Foden and James Maddison’s generation in 2019, when they exited the finals at the group stage.
This time in Slovenia it was Eddie Nketiah, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Emile Smith Rowe struggling to produce under the pressure of group stage football.
Boothroyd said: “There is no time for moping around.We have to have a real go against Portugal on Sunday.
“We played a safe game.We didn’t risk the ball.We have to go through adversity to come out of the other
ENG U21 0 SWITZ U21 1
side.They have to live these experiences before they get to the seniors.
“It’s a very down dressing room. It is disappointing.We were horribly unlucky. Is it deja vu from 2019? The format is different, so we are not out yet. It is a setback.”
Boothroyd’s side were sleepy, lacking punch and pace, and managed just one shot on target, a free-kick from Hudson-Odoi.
They were beaten by a 78th-minute strike from long-range by Nice striker Dan Ndoye, which looped over keeper Aaron Ramsdale after flicking his standing foot.
Defender Ben Godfrey said: “This makes it difficult.We have to bounce back. We trust the manager tactically.We have to show good character.” ENGLAND (3-4-3): Ramsdale 6; Guehi 5, Godfrey 5, Kelly 5; Aarons 4, Skipp 5, Davies 4 (Eze 66, 4) McNeil
5 (R Sessegnon 75); Smith Rowe 4 (Jones 66, 4), Hudson-Odoi 5, Nketiah 4 (Brewster 75)