GARETH IN A SPOT OF WARNING
AIDY BOOTHROYD and the England Under-21s fly out on their Euro mission today after taking penalty advice from Gareth Southgate.
Young Lions boss Boothroyd shares an office with national team manager Southgate and other England coaches.
And Boothroyd has high hopes for his U21s ahead of Euro Championship group games against hosts Poland, holders Sweden and Slovakia.
The former Watford boss says preparations have featured penalties, including a 7-6 spot-kick win after Saturday’s behind-closed-doors friendly victory over Iceland.
He admits Southgate has been passing on advice of what not to do after famously missing in the semifinal Wembley defeat by Germany at Euro 96.
Boothroyd said: “The key thing is we leave no stone unturned. We will be practising penalties.
“I’m not the first one to go on about practising penalties. But we have one or two ideas to make sure when it comes to it we will be ready.
“The biggest thing, being in an environment where I am sharing an office with Gareth, is listening to his experiences as a player, like the shoot-out in ‘96 – the way the team approached it.”
England U21s have failed to advance from their group at the last three tournaments.
“We have to get to a position where we get to take penalties because last time we didn’t get to that stage,” reflected Boothroyd.
His team warmed up with a 3-0 success against Iceland at St George’s Park thanks to two goals from Jacob Murphy and one from Tammy Abraham (above).
The U21s have been buoyed by the success of other England sides in the age groups below them.
Boothroyd added: “There is genuine optimism about where the England teams are going.
“In that little coaches room, we have a lot of knowledge of what the players will be going through.
“I think we are as best prepared as we have been for a long time.
“The fact the 17s have done as well as they have done, the 18s, the 19s going away to a tournament and the 20s – it is an exciting time and a nice place for me to be a part of.”