AIDY IS FAILING THE FINAL TEST
AIDY BOOTHROYD is facing mounting criticism as England Under-21 boss after their Euro final campaign flopped at the first hurdle again.
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 (right) was fortunate to keep his job after the failure of Phil
Foden, Tammy Abraham and
James Maddison’s generation in 2019, when they exited the finals at the group stage.
This time it was Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Arsenal duo Eddie Nketiah and Emile Rowe Smith struggling to produce under the pressure of group-stage football.
The question for the FA is how such an array of young talent keeps failing.
Is it a lack of leadership, tactical nous or motivation on the low-key stage away from the Premier League and Championship?
England Under-21s have now won just three of their last 18 tournament final games. Boothroyd’s record at U-21 finals is played eight, won two, lost four.
Boothroyd said: “There is no time for moping around. We have to have a real go against Portugal on Sunday. We were not clinical enough and the final ball wasn’t what we needed it to be.
“We didn’t create enough, but we are not out of it yet. We can still get out of the group.
“We played a safe game. We didn’t take risks. We’ve got to go through adversity to come out the other side. They have to live these experiences before they get to the seniors.
“It is a very down dressing room. It is disappointing. We were horribly unlucky. 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 freekick from Hudson-Odoi. And the Swiss had the better chances throughout, with England keeper Aaron Ramsdale saving superbly from Brighton forward Andi Zeqiri following lax play from Ben Godfrey.
Another error, this time from Godfrey’s Everton club-mate Tom Davies, saw Bastien Toma hit the post for Switzerland.
Boothroyd’s boys were beaten by a 78th-minute long-range effort from Nice striker Dan Ndoye, who celebrated (below) after his shot had looped over Ramsdale (top).
Three Lions defender Godfrey admitted: “This makes it difficult. We have to bounce back.
“We trust the manager tactically. We have to show good character.” ENGLAND: 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). SWITZERLAND: Racioppi 7, Lotomba 7, Bamert 7, Zesiger 7, Muheim 7, Toma 7 (Ruegg 85), Domgjoni 7, Jankewitz 7, Ndoye 7 (Mambimbi 79), Guillemenot 7 (Imeri 66, 7), Zeqiri 7.