Carsley hopes obsessing over Czechs pays off for Young Lions

LEE CARSLEY has obsessed over tonight’s crunch tie in the Czech Republic for months as England Under 21s prepare for their biggest qualifier in years. The Young Lions are three points behind their hosts with two games in hand and victory would leave them in a commanding position to reach next summer’s European Championship. Defeat, however, would pile pressure on the final three qualifiers in the next 10 days. ‘I’ve been waiting for this game for so long. I’ve been watching the Czech Republic most days, to the point of overkill,’ said Carsley. ‘Every game seems to have been must-win and I’m fully aware of that. I see how good the players are, how much potential they have.’ England, who last failed to qualify for the Euros in 2006, travelled yesterday without Harvey Elliott, who has Covid, and centre back

Levi Colwill, who has a hip injury. Taylor Harwood-Bellis will captain the side, fresh from training with the senior team this week. Folarin Balogun, Morgan Gibbs-White and Jacob Ramsey also spent a session with Gareth Southgate’s squad. ‘It was a huge achievement, experiencing that with some of the best players in the world,’ Manchester City academy graduate Harwood-Bellis said. ‘The intensity was huge, but I feel like I took to it all right. The quality is ridiculous. ‘You get the taste of it and want more. But it’s not going to be easy to get there full-time. The coaches say a lot that you never know what is around the corner and that you’re not actually that far away.’ Harwood-Bellis spent last season on loan at Anderlecht and Stoke, with a number of clubs circling to sign the central defender for next year.