The England Under-21s capped off an already phenomenal European Championship by seeing off a tough Spanish side 1-0 in the final on Saturday.
The 2023 Under-21 European Championships were held in Georgia, with 16 teams battling to take the converted trophy. England’s group consisted of the Czech Republic, Germany and Israel, a group which they were expected to get out of, and Lee Carsley’s men did just that.
The Young Lions’ tournament started off with a 2-0 win against the Czech Republic, a scoreline which they’d replicate against both Israel and Germany. They’d go onto finish top of the group, taking the maximal nine points in the group stages something that only France would be able to emulate.
The quarter-finals would see a tough matchup against a resolute Portugal side. The Young Lions managed the game incredibly, going ahead through a first half Anthony Gordon strike before soaking up all of the second half Portuguese pressure to progress to the semi-finals. A familiar face in Israel would be their opponents in the semi-final, and this time an easy 3-0 win would take England to their first under-21 final since 2009.
The final would see Carsley’s side face pre-tournament favourites Spain, who had just thrashed Ukraine 5-1 in their semi-final. A deflected Cole Palmer free-kick would take England into the break ahead, but the game was on a knife edge. Just like the rest of the tournament, the Young Lions defence was almost impossible to break down. However an opportunity arose for Spain to get back into the game six minutes into added time, after VAR awarded a penalty following a foul on striker Abel Ruiz.
Ruiz would step up to take the penalty which if scored would take the final to extra-time, but would see his effort, as well as the follow-up saved by goalkeeper James Trafford. Trafford was the hero and had managed to go the whole tournament without conceding a single goal which not only showcased his talents as a goalkeeper but also the strength of the defence in-front of him.
It was an incredible achievement by the squad, and was England’s first win in the competition since 1984. There are now extremely high expectations for the future of English football and many will now look to go onto bigger and better things. However, many of the players had to earn their position in the squad through impressing in the lower tiers of the English Football League. The EFL no doubt acted as a spring board for many players career’s with the majority of the squad either starting off in the EFL, or gaining vital experience within the Football League.
Lets look at each of England’s European Championship winning squad’s journey in the EFL so far…
James Trafford – Goalkeeper – Manchester City – 20
Although leaving the academy as a 12-year-old, Trafford began his career with Carlisle United before being bought by Manchester City. Recent years have seen the penalty saving hero experience loan moves to both Accrington Stanley and more recently Bolton Wanderers. His second season at Bolton was especially impressive and the form that he showed all season for the Wanderers would be on show at the European Championships. Trafford now looks set for a move to Premier League newcomers Burnley this summer.
Josh Griffiths – Goalkeeper – West Bromwich Albion – 21
Griffiths has been with West Bromwich Albion for the last 12 years and made ten appearances for the Baggies in the Championship last season. The goalkeeper has plenty of EFL experience to his name and has played in each of the three leagues which make up the Football League. The youngster has progressed year on year through loan moves to Cheltenham Town, Lincoln City and Portsmouth and will be battling for the number one spot at the Hawthorns next season.
Carl Rushworth – Goalkeeper – Brighton and Hove Albion – 22
Beginning his career with non-league FC Halifax Town, Rushworth would join Brighton in 2018. Although he is yet to make an appearance for the Seagulls, Rushworth is another who has gained plenty of experience in the EFL. He has spent the last two years on loan first with Walsall and then Lincoln City and it would be no surprise to see another loan move next season, potentially making the step-up to the Championship.
Max Aarons – Defender – Norwich City- 23
One of the most experienced players in the under-21 side is Norwich Defender Max Aarons. The full-back has made 213 appearances since breaking into the Canaries side in 2018. The 23-year-old has experience in both the Championship as well as the Premier League and has made a name for himself in Norwich’s defence in recent years. Prior to joining Norwich, Aarons spent his youth days with Luton Town.
Levi Colwill – Defender – Chelsea – 20
One of the stars of the tournament and at just 20 years of age, Colwill has an incredibly bright future ahead of him. He would spend the entirety of last season on loan with Brighton, following a successful loan with Championship side Huddersfield Town the season prior.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis – Defender – Manchester City – 21
A product of the Manchester City academy, Harwood-Bellis is still yet to make an appearance for the Premier League side. That being said, he has been incredibly impressive on loan in recent seasons. Most recently with Burnley, who he helped win the Championship title, the centre-half has also enjoyed loan spells with Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City during his short career so far.
Jarrad Branthwaite – Defender – Everton – 21
Another product of Carlisle’s academy, Branthwaite would leave the Cumbrians in the 2020 January transfer window following a breakthrough year. Although he is yet to hold down a position in the starting line-up at Goodison Park, his time does not seem far away after an impressive season with Dutch side PSV. Branthwaite also had a loan spell with Championship side Blackburn Rovers, who he appeared ten times for.
Charlie Cresswell – Defender – Leeds United – 20
Cresswell spent the entirety of the 2022-23 season with Championship side Millwall, amassing 30 appearances during his time at The Den. It would be no surprise to see Cresswell feature more in Leeds’ side next season following their relegation to the Championship, where he has already proven himself as a quality defender.
Oliver Skipp – Midfielder – Tottenham Hotspur – 22
Skipp has been a familiar face in Tottenham’s midfield over the last two years, and could hold down a starting spot next season. The central midfielder excelled during a loan move to Norwich during the 2020/21 season, helping them to win the Championship title and making 45 Championship appearances in the process.
Jacob Ramsey – Midfielder – Aston Villa – 22
One of the players who is expected to be in the senior squad in years to come is Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey. A short-term loan to Doncaster Rovers during the 2019/20 season was brought to a halt following the cancellation of the league due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That being said, Ramsey was incredible for Rovers in the seven games he played in, scoring three times.
James Garner – Midfielder – Everton – 22
Yet another promising talent who is already proven in the Premier League is Everton’s James Garner. Previously with Manchester United, Garner would spend three seasons out on loan in the Championship. First with Watford before spending back-to-back years with Nottingham Forest, Garner would help both clubs to the Premier League.
Tommy Doyle – Midfielder – Manchester City – 21
Yet another product of Manchester City’s incredibly successful academy, Doyle is another player who the Citizens have chose to loan out in recent seasons. A loan to Cardiff in 2022 helped the midfielder gain experience in the senior ranks before helping Sheffield United to promotion to the Premier League the season after. Doyle would finish the season with four goals and seven assists in all competitions.
Harvey Elliott – Midfielder – Liverpool – 20
Now a regular in Liverpool’s first team, it is surprising that Elliott is only 20-years-old. He has already made 66 appearances for the Reds, as well as a further 42 senior appearances for Blackburn Rovers during a loan spell in the 2020/21 season. Elliott was hugely impressive during that spell, scoring seven times as well as providing 11 assists whilst receiving a nomination for the EFL Young Player of the Season.
Morgan Gibbs-White – Midfielder – Nottingham Forest – 23
Another midfielder who seems destined for the senior squad, Gibbs-White was Nottingham Forest’s star player last season. Previously with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Gibbs-White would be loaned to Swansea City in 2020 before really making his name after a loan spell with Sheffield United. Scoring 12 times as well as supplying ten assists in just 37 appearances for the Blades, the influential midfielder would earn himself a £42.5m move to Nottingham Forest at the start of last season.
Cameron Archer – Attacker – Aston Villa – 21
Beginning his career with Walsall, Archer would join Aston Villa at a very young age. He has made a handful of appearances for Villa, but has gained vital experience in both the EFL and the National League. Improvements have been seen each season, with Archer stepping up year on year. Loan moves to Solihull Moors, Preston North End and Middlesbrough have shaped the striker into the player he is today, and there will be more to come next season.
Emile Smith Rowe – Attacker – Arsenal – 22
Already capped by the senior England side, Smith Rowe is one of the biggest young talents in the Premier League. Although injuries have held him back in the last year, he still retains all the potential that he has shown for the Gunners. The 22-year-old would be loaned to Huddersfield Town in 2020, and was key in helping the Terriers survive in the Championship, before breaking into Arsenal’s first team the season after.
Anthony Gordon – Attacker – Newcastle – 22
The European Under-21 Player of the Tournament has already had quite the career, impressing at Everton which would earn him a £40m move to Newcastle. Gordon would enjoy a half season loan at Preston North End during the second half of the 2020/21 season, before becoming a mainstay in the first team upon his return to Goodison Park.
Other Players.
The remaining six players ; Luke Thomas, Ben Johnson, Curtis Jones, Angel Gomes, Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke have all never appeared in the EFL having came through the academy at various Premier League sides as well as the Eredivise in Madueke’s case. Luke Thomas does look set to gain experience in the EFL next season however following Leicester’s relegation where he should play a far bigger role in the Foxes’ side.
Who is a young player currently playing in the EFL that you could see playing for the England Under-21s at the next major tournament? Let us know…
