Lee’s Lions face might of Germany in U21 Euros
ENGLAND Under-21s will face defending champions Germany at Euro 2023.
Lee Carsley’s side, who were in Pot Two, were also drawn against the Czech Republic and Israel in Group C for next year’s tournament in Georgia and Romania.
England beat Germany 3-1 in a friendly in Sheffield last month thanks to goals from Folarin Balogun, Conor Gallagher and Cole Palmer.
Former Sky Blues boss Carsley said: “Getting to this point, we always knew there would be tough teams in all of the pots. It’s going to be tough. We know how difficult it has been with the qualifying campaign.
“We had two difficult games against the Czech Republic (in qualifying). We played Germany in the last international window so we have done a lot of preparation on them, we need to make sure we have the same level against Israel.”
Germany beat the Young Lions on penalties in their Euro 2017 semifinal in Poland before going on to win the tournament. They have reached the last three finals, losing to Spain in 2019.
The Young Lions won Group G, finishing three points ahead of the Czech Republic, but lost their first competitive qualifier since 2011 with a 2-1 defeat to Slovenia in their final game in Huddersfield in June.
England, who will be based in Batumi in Georgia, have not won the Under-21 Euros since 1984 and have been knocked out of the group stage in the last two tournaments.
It is the first tournament – which starts in June – with the Young Lions for boss Carsley after he replaced another former Sky Blues boss Aidy Boothroyd last year.
We always knew there would be tough teams in all of the pots. It’s going to be tough. We know how difficult it has been.
Lee Carsley
n Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers continued to shrug off speculation about his position ahead of the Premier League clash with Leeds. A section of the Foxes’ fanbase called for Rodgers to be sacked following last weekend’s goalless draw with Crystal Palace, which left them mired in the relegation zone. “It’s all the narrative that is out there,” he told a press conference. “My only focus is on the game. I know the storyline and I know what the narrative wants to be. “My dedication is only with helping the team improve. I respect wholly the views of fans and opinions that will come whenever you don’t win games. I totally understand that. “My focus is purely on improving the team to finish the season in the highest possible position they can.” Rodgers said he had not had any further meetings with chairman
Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, adding: “We all have the same aim. Our aim here at Leicester is to climb the table and we’re all fighting to do that together.”
The Foxes’ 4-0 victory over Nottingham Forest two weeks ago looked like it might kickstart their season but it remains their only win and even three points tomorrow would not be enough to lift them out of the bottom three.
Rodgers has taken heart from improvements at the back, though, and now wants to see a greater impetus going forwards. “It’s slow progress for us this season but, if you look at our last two home games, we’ve kept two clean sheets, which was important, and defended the transition much better,” he said.
“It’s just now about attacking the box much better. I see the team every day and I see the confidence in the team. From a management perspective, it’s the job.
“At times you have rocky periods as well as triumphant periods. I’ve always felt with this squad we’ll make progress as the season goes on.”