nehrka - RIP Natenom
Henry Winter 🤖Worth recalling what Jarell Quansah said five days ago here about stepping out from the back with the ball. “I like to see myself as a player who tries to step in with the ball and drive with the ball and create an overload in the midfield. We had Joel Matip at Liverpool. I couldn't believe how well he could step into midfield and keep the ball. It's definitely a skill I've not mastered, but seeing players like Joel do it and the way he did it with such success, I can only aspire to be that sort of player.” #ENG #SPAENG #U21EURO #LFC
Nobody expected the English Inquisition. #SPAENG
Omari Hutchinson was one of the few England players who played with any real freedom in the (improved) second half against Germany at the Uefa Under-2s. The Ipswich Town winger, nurtured at Chelsea, Charlton and Arsenal, created Alex Scott’s goal in the 2-1 loss and spoke post-match on…
On the difference for the team and himself without centre-forward Liam Delap, his old Ipswich team-mate now off with Chelsea at the Club World Cup. “I guess you could say that he gives a different presence to the team and he makes some stuff easier than what other players can do. But, look, we've got a great squad. Everyone's able to play upfront.” But for Hutchinson himself, given their old Ipswich connection, is Delap missed? “Yeah. What he does off the ball and he's a goalscoring striker. So, yeah, it's kind of a shame he's not here.”
On which wing he prefers. “I'll probably say right, but as long as I'm playing, I don't care. He (Carsley) backs me to dominate my opponent and that's what I try to do at my best.”
On what went wrong in the first half against Germany? And what did Carsley say at half-time? “We were losing our duels, our second balls and that's the one thing that he's big on. He wasn’t happy. Sometimes you need a wake-up call and second half we could have gotten another two goals. We haven't been clinical. I just had to put more intensity into my game and just keep getting at my man and hopefully get a nice cross, assist or goal.”
On the challenge posed by Spain in Saturday’s quarter-final. “They're very good on the ball, so we want to be dominant. We can be physically better than them. We’ve just got to physically outrun them and take them to the final whistle.We just want to be able to dominate and win by two goals really.”
On whether he will take a penalty. “Yeah, 100%.” On practising pens. “Sometimes but not really. At Ipswich I wasn't the penalty taker. Now there’s going to be pens then I'm going to start practising in training.”
Charlie Cresswell is proving one of England Under-21’s leaders and most vocal team members. Cresswell began at Leeds United (his dad Richard’s old club), had a loan spell at Millwall, and is now at Toulouse. French club follow their tall centre-back’s adventures at the European Under-21s closely with updates of “Charlie et les #YoungLions”.
Cresswell takes on the excellent Spanish in Saturday’s quarter-final in Trnava, here in Slovakia. Last night, Cresswell rallied the team against Germany in Nitra, shouting at them to be “more aggressive” and adding to Lee Carsley’s rhetoric at the break. Cresswell, who won the Euros in 2023, spoke candidly after the defeat by Germany …
On what Carsley said at half-time. “Show some fight, you’re playing for England, let's run harder than them, work harder than them. I was saying to the lads ‘just smash into them’, ‘I don't know you're there’ and ‘let them know they're in a game’. I just knew it wasn't good enough from everyone, myself included. We just needed more fight, more determination. We can go press them high and get the ball back.
“We showed that in the second half, but we've got to take that into the next game. I said to the lads today, ‘You're playing for England Under-21s, against Germany and next will be against Spain. It doesn't get better than this’. We'll look back on this time and want to live this point again so it's important we stay right here right now and enjoy every moment.”
On being vocal. “It's the way I've been brought up. It was drilled in me since I was first starting football. Mainly by my dad and my mum. I've got three younger siblings so being the oldest child plays its part. I'm the one they should be looking up to so it’s just trying to set an example for everyone. My dad always taught me that speaking will help me. So I speak and it helps others, but it also helps me. It helps make my job a lot easier. And if that comes off in a leadership manner then it is what it is.”
On developing at Toulouse. “Ligue 1 is very good. Like any fans, they (Toulouse’s) love anyone leaving 100% on the pitch. I've matured a lot out there, like in everyday life. It's made me more independent.” Helped by his girlfriend. “She's very good at cooking. She's been a massive, massive part for me. She's helped me through it all and been by my side.”
On increasing number of England fans out here in Slovakia. “It's great to see, especially for us players, walking out and seeing all the England flags from all parts of the country.
I've got family coming to the next game.”
On the challenge of Spain. “Spain are a top side. The first team as well, it runs through their system. You know when you play against Spain what they're going to be like. They're going to pass it around and try to make you move. But we've got to stand strong and take the game to them. Because we've got quality in that room. We know we can beat them. Everyone has their weaknesses.”
On being on the bench against Spain in the 2023 final. “It was good! I know it got a bit fiery at some points and I'm pretty sure it'll be a fiery game. I enjoy that stuff though.” #ENG #SPAENG #U21EURO #LUFC #YoungLions
Craig CockburnBe great when the #Lionesses have their own Anthem and not a hymn about a monarch that is too busy.
#ENG #SPAENG #FWWC
ianoxleyFrom that throw-in England barely had any more possession:
Matthias Oomen
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