England Men's Football Team

Nick Mashiter in Bratislava
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Under-21 boss Lee Carsley believes England have lost the fear factor in penalty shoot-outs.

The defending champions face the Netherlands in Wednesday's Euro 2025 semi-final in Bratislava after Saturday's 3-1 win over Spain.

It is a repeat of the 2007 semi-final when the Young Lions lost a dramatic penalty shootout to the hosts 13-12.

Under former boss Gareth Southgate, the senior squad won their first penalty shootout for 22 years when they beat Colombia at the 2018 World Cup and also beat Switzerland in a shootout at Euro 2024.

That success came from planning and practice and Carsley believes it has helped his men going into the tournament in Slovakia.

"It's definitely something Gareth really pushed which filtered down the pathway, which is so important," he said.

"The amount of resource that would have been thrown at the senior team to be the best at penalty shootouts and have that awareness of how important they are has definitely trickled down and we've got the benefit of that.

"We speak a lot about a routine, almost like a golf swing where you would address the ball and take your time, think about your shot, the breathing.

"I've taken penalties for a club - it's fine - but taking a penalty in a penalty shootout is a totally different mentality because of the walk [from the halfway line].

"You have that much time to think about what you're going to do, if you change your mind and making sure that you're clear and focused."

Liverpool's Tyler Morton is suspended after collecting two yellow cards but Carsley has no fresh injury doubts after the squad trained together on Tuesday afternoon.

The Netherlands are missing the suspended Ruben van Bommel, son of ex-Bayern Munich midfielder Mark, captain and Roma defender Devyne Rensch and Ajax midfielder Kenneth Taylor.

"I'm not sure it changes the game too much, they have a quality squad," added Carsley. "For us it's very difficult to pick an England squad at any age group. I'm very confident with the players we have got."

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool's Tyler Morton described the England Under-21s team as "special" after they reached the Euro 2025 semi finals.

The Young Lions beat Spain 3-1 in Trnava on Saturday to set up a last-four showdown with the Netherlands on Wednesday.

It was a vastly improved performance after a stuttering group stage ended with them finishing as runners-up to Germany with four points.

England and Spain were involved in a mass brawl at the final whistle - sparked by a late tackle on Tino Livramento - and Morton believes it demonstrated their unity.

He said: "This is a very special team. It's a team that's got a bit of everything, especially fighters. You see at the end, it's part of the game and I think everyone's got passion for the game.

"That's some things that you don't develop, that's something you've just got and I think this team's got it.

"We showed that, dominating a Spanish team for most of the game was not what all English teams do.

"I think we've shown a different side. I think we were very comfortable in and out of possession and I think sometimes the out of possession bit has got to be done. I think they're a top team, they're a threat, but I think we minimised that threat."

Morton, though, will miss the semi-final against the Netherlands in Bratislava after being booked in the first half, his second caution of the tournament.

"I didn't know until after the game. I was just really in the zone. I don't think it was a yellow card, myself, but it's gone," said the 22-year-old.

"I've got to just prepare myself now for what could be, but I'll be right behind the lads the whole game."

Alex Howell
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Lee Carsley says his England side were "shell-shocked" during their 2-1 European Under-21 Championship defeat by Germany - and "need to address" how they started the game.

The defending champions found themselves 2-0 down inside the opening 33 minutes of their final group match, with Alex Scott replying during a more encouraging second-half display.

England will now face Spain in the quarter-finals as Slovenia's 2-0 defeat by the Czech Republic meant the Germany result was not more costly for the Young Lions.

"I thought there was definitely a bit of shell-shock, going 2-0 down so soon," said Carsley. "We didn't start well either in the last game [0-0] against Slovenia. That's something we need to address."

Carsley, who made four changes to his starting XI, made a triple substitution at half-time, bringing on Genoa right-back Brooke Norton-Cuffy, captain James McAtee and striker Jay Stansfield as he looked to address his side's disappointing opening.

"The first half was nowhere near good enough. The way we started the game, the goals that we conceded were really disappointing," he added.

"It was important they knew that. The changes we made at half-time, [we] could have made any number of changes. I asked for a reaction in the second half and we definitely saw a reaction.

"The performance was not at the level we need. When you think of the reaction in the second half that was more like it. It took us to go 2-0 down to get to that point which is disappointing."

Carsley has not had as much time as he usually would to prepare his squad for the tournament following his stint as interim head coach of the senior team.

He returned to take charge of the under-21s in March and has had to deal with the loss of Liam Delap and Jobe Bellingham after the pair signed for Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund respectively and will feature at the Fifa Club World Cup.

"You know, with the attention that the team get, living up to some expectations, the responsibility of when you put the shirt on, no-one's going to roll over for us," said Carsley.

"We've spoken about that. But the response was very good and I expect us to start like that in the next game, because if we give Spain a two-goal start, it's game over."