Can England retain their European U21 Championship crown?

England head into the upcoming U21 European Championship as defending champions, aiming to retain their crown after a flawless campaign in 2023.

Newcastle United ace Anthony Gordon led the charge in 2023 as England won the title with a perfect record of six wins from six without conceding a single goal in the tournament.

With a fresh crop of exciting talents managed by England’s ex-interim boss, Lee Carsley, the Young Lions look primed for another deep run on the continental stage.

Tricky section

Carsley’s charges enter the tournament as the fourth-favourites to lift the crown, behind group rivals and familiar foes Germany, among others.

Only beaten 2023 finalists Spain boast better pre-tournament chances of dethroning England in Slovakia than the Germans, suggesting the two continental heavyweights will likely fight for the top spot.

It’s hard to escape the supposition that the Czechia and Slovenia will probably conclude their participation in the group stages, though the latter’s qualification campaign makes for good reading.

Formidable competition

France have been well backed to lift the crown this summer.

Les Bleus are probably the most intimidating squad on paper, yet they stuttered in the qualification cycle, finishing second to Slovenia, courtesy of two defeats in eight matches.

By contrast, Germany and Spain matched their ‘superpower’ tag in qualifying, with the latter only dropping points once in ten outings while only conceding five times.

Exciting crop

The strength of England’s title rivals shouldn’t faze Carsley much, considering the Young Lions possess one of the most gifted squads in the tournament.

Most of the England team ply their trade in the Premier League, with whizz-kids such as Ethan Nwaneri and Liam Delap adding extra quality to a squad brimming with top-flight experience.

Defending the title won’t be simple, but Carsley’s men are up there with Europe’s elite, giving the home faithful every reason for optimism going into this summer’s event.