Carsley Previews England's U21 EURO Opener Against Czech Republic

England U21 coach Lee Carsley expects a potentially 'clunky' start in their U21 EURO opener against the Czech Republic. Get the latest team news and Carsley's thoughts on the tournament.

England U21 manager Lee Carsley expects his team to potentially struggle in their opening game against the Czech Republic at the European Championships, admitting it could be “clunky” and “unorganised.” Despite their flawless performance in the 2023 tournament, where they conceded zero goals and scored 11, Carsley is cautious due to the limited preparation time ahead of the 2025 edition.

At Dunajska Streda’s DAC Stadium, where England faces the Czech Republic, Lee Carsley acknowledged that his team won't be at their best in the opening game. “We will play a little bit differently (in this tournament). It's not a case of replacing like for like,” he explained.

“It's a case of being able to adapt and I think we've shown that. I expect at times tomorrow against a really strong Czech team that it may look a little bit unorganised, it may look a little bit clunky. 

“I've made that known to the players as well that they shouldn't expect too much too soon. I think the longer we can stay in the tournament, the more these players can play together.”

England and the Czech Republic previously met in the 2023 U21 EURO, with England winning 2-0. However, the current squad has undergone significant changes, with only Harvey Elliott and Charlie Cresswell remaining from that match. Given the limited preparation time, Carsley has focused on tactics rather than fitness, hoping his team will adapt well to the challenges in Slovakia.

Lee Carsley's #YoungLions. 🪪❤️ pic.twitter.com/oFkaQu2ldp

— England (@England) June 6, 2025

He added: “We've got a lot of flexibility within the squad. I think the main thing is that I adapt and put the tactics around the players' attributes, not how I see it, but what they can do and what they're good at. It's a challenge because we've got a lot of really good players.”

England U21s will be without Jobe Bellingham for the tournament. Initially named in the pre-tournament squad, he has joined Borussia Dortmund and will be in the US for the Club World Cup, ruling him out for the team.

Liam Delap will also miss the Euros due to Chelsea commitments. Carsley believes this opportunity is beneficial for both Delap and Jobe Bellingham, saying, “I think it's brilliant for both the lads. I think the more English players we can have playing at the highest level, long-term, is only going to help the senior team.”

Lee Carsley has confirmed that James McAtee will be our #YoungLions captain for the #U21EURO finals ©️ pic.twitter.com/gy8cNDMOBo

— England (@England) June 6, 2025

“It's a great opportunity for them, and it's a good opportunity for the players that have come in to replace them. We've known about the Club World Cup now for a couple of years, and we've been preparing it for maybe six months in terms of the coming and going.”

UEFA has introduced an 8-second rule for goalkeepers to prevent time-wasting. If a goalkeeper holds the ball for longer than 8 seconds, the opposing team will be awarded a corner. The referee will count down from 5 seconds to alert the keeper.

The new 8-second rule will be implemented in tonight's U21 EURO opener between Slovakia and Spain. England's Lee Carsley believes his team, including goalkeeper James Beadle, are well-prepared for the change, saying, “We had a 30-minute presentation on the eight-second rule, so it was very informative. I don't see it being a problem.”

England trained earlier in the day at Samorin, with only Jack Hinshelwood absent due to personal reasons; he's expected to join the squad on Thursday. Tom Fellows is on standby, ready to join the team after Jobe Bellingham's departure. England's upcoming fixtures include matches against the Czech Republic, Slovenia, and Germany.