European U21 champions again – but who could make World Cup?

As they won the Euro 2025 trophy, the triumphant England Under-21s were hidden by the ticker tape. They must now make sure they don’t vanish once more.

The Young Lions were enthralled as the blue and white confetti fell from Slovakian skies.

They were due to be. After Germany rallied in Bratislava from 2-0 down, Jonathan Rowe’s extra-time goal won the previous European titles.

Many of them thought it was their last chance playing under 21, but with a World Cup coming up next summer, they have an opportunity to make a big impact on Thomas Tuchel’s plans.

Who can make the transition now that the US, Canada, and Mexico are less than a year away from hosting the World Cup?

James Trafford, Levi Colwill, Cole Palmer, Morgan Gibbs-White, Noni Madueke, and Curtis Jones were all chosen for Tuchel’s squad for the games against Andorra and Senegal last month.

Will the class of 25 make such a move?

After a successful campaign and a successful season for the Magpies, it seems obvious that Newcastle full-back Tino Livramento will follow them.

He has played for England’s right this summer, but Tuchel might need him to play the troublesome left-back position.

Given that Carsley made his senior debut against the Republic of Ireland last season and his form continues, Myles Lewis-Skelly, who started in the 3-1 defeat by Senegal and Livramento, will be a standout option for the summer.

After discussions with Tuchel and Carsley, the pair were eager for the 22-year-old to use his experience to lead the Under-21s. He made a second appearance in the Under-21s this summer.

The opening goal in the final, two match-winning strikes in the semi-final, England’s opening goal against the Czech Republic, and Harvey Elliott’s first game of the tournament were the highlights.

His and Liverpool’s influence are only strengthened by those big moments, which further enhance his talent.

After only two Premier League starts as a result of Liverpool’s title success, which should help him gain more senior recognition, the attacker may leave Anfield this summer in search of regular football.

After struggling for game time for the champions this season and despite being 33, Dan Burn’s England career won’t last forever, Anfield team-mate Jarell Quansah will be eager to see more top-level minutes at Bayer Leverkusen when his impending move from Liverpool is confirmed.

James McAtee, a Manchester City U21 captain, excelled in the competition. However, with rumors that he might leave Etihad Stadium this summer, he is uncertain about his future like Elliott and Quansah.

One of the problems facing the Premier League’s academy players is highlighted by this. Because little or no transfer fees were initially paid for them, selling them on has become extremely lucrative for clubs’ balance sheets. They now appear in the accounts as pure profit.

The former Leeds centre-back was linked with Serie A side Como during his debut season in France.

After making just six starts for his boyhood club, Cresswell, the son of former Preston and Sheffield United striker Richard, made 33 appearances for Toulouse, finishing 10th in the league.

Elliot Anderson, a player for Scotland Under-21s and Nottingham Forest, impressed at the City Ground.

The young Lions’ youngster, who is dynamic and combative, is now too old for them, and a repeat of his first season at Forest will be difficult to ignore.

Ethan Nwaneri, the youngest player in the group, is expected to do a lot, even though he is only 18 years old.

The attacker has time to develop after making 37 appearances for the Gunners last season and made the group debut against Slovenia and Germany.

Many more must be taken into account, including a number that Carsley’s squad did not have.

Before joining Chelsea and traveling to the Club World Cup, Liam Delap was chosen as the Slovakia’s first member. Tuchel will have a strong option with a strong season at Stamford Bridge following his 12 goals for relegated Ipswich last season.

Jamie Gittens, who previously represented Manchester City at the club world cup with Borussia Dortmund, is close to moving to Chelsea, where he will be able to showcase his skills in front of the premier league.

Adam Wharton, who was sidelined for the duration of the tournament while recovering from a concussion, did not play at Euro 2024, but the Crystal Palace midfielder will undoubtedly make a senior squad come off the bench next year.

Tuchel ran away from the 1982 and 1984 Club World Cup to cheer on the Young Lions against his home country as they continued to triumph in the same way.

Victory, which started out as an anomaly, is now becoming accepted.

In five of the previous six tournaments, they had previously failed to leave the group.

However, manager Lee Carsley’s goal has always been to develop players, along with his coaches and predecessors, and results have shown this has since been proven and justified by the Football Association since St George’s Park opened in 2012.

The U17s won the Euros in 2014 and U19s followed in 2017 and 2022. Both the U17s and U20s won World Cups in 2017 and both did so.

We talked about this two years ago, when we put under-21s champions and under-19s in play together, and developed the dynamics of that group, Carsley said.

You can see why the under-19s did so well because they were so determined, and that doesn’t half help as a coach because they are used to winning, not because of their determination.

The more experienced England players who can put on an England shirt and win, the higher the expectation is, according to the senior team.

With the generation that has probably passed through to the seniors, “you’ll see that there’s an expectation when they play for England and a performance and a win comes along with that.”

Palmer is the most notable of the 2023 winners, and six more made Tuchel’s most recent England selection.

Senior caps have been won by Palmer, Colwill, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Gibbs-White, Emile Smith Rowe, Anthony Gordon, Jarrad Branthwaite, Jones, Angel Gomes, and Madueke.

Aaron Ramsdale, Marc Guehi, Conor Gallagher, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Eberechi Eze are all named on the list starting in 2021, when England exited at the group stage.

Eddie Nketiah, the record-holder who has 16 goals in 17 U21 games, has only one cap since his one against Australia two years ago.

None of those who won the 1982 or 1984 squads were Three Lions legends, and neither one of them won a senior cap for England.

The most caps won by Mark Hateley, who was on both teams, 32, with Terry Fenwick and others who added 20.

Gary Owen, who had two goals in the 3-1 win over Germany in the second-leg, was never given a senior bow for England. He only had seven B caps.

Laurent Blanc, Fabio Cannavaro, Gianluigi Buffon, Francesco Totti, and Manuel Neuer are just a few of the 29 players who have won the Under-21 European Championship and a significant senior tournament overall.