By Graham Ruthven
It took an additional time winner by Jonathan Rowe, however England received the higher of Germany to win the U21 European Championships, highlighting the expertise the Three Lions have coming by and a system that has already produced the likes of Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka.
Thomas Tuchel already possesses one of many strongest and deepest squads in worldwide soccer, however he may nonetheless dip into England’s triumphant U21 workforce for a participant or two forward of the 2026 World Cup. Listed here are 5 such gamers who look to have a vibrant future for the senior nationwide workforce.
Elliot Anderson
It wasn’t so way back that Elliot Anderson was known as up by Scotland, even coaching with Steve Clarke’s facet north of the border. Now, the Nottingham Forest midfielder is certainly one of England’s brightest prospects for the longer term, shining for Lee Carsley’s facet within the centre of the pitch on the U21 Euros.
Anderson was a artistic power for Forest final season, registering six Premier League assists. He ranked behind solely Morgan Gibbs-White, Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi for probabilities created over the entire marketing campaign, additionally rating extremely for dribbles per 90 minutes (1.2). Anderson provides dynamism and directness.
Harvey Elliott
Handed the Participant of the Match award, Harvey Elliott shone brighter than anybody else on the U21 Euros. The Liverpool participant operated on the appropriate facet of England’s midfield 4, however was afforded the liberty to float inside the place he may affect matches together with his pure creativity and skill on the ball.
Elliott lacks the velocity to play as an out-and-out winger, however his clever use of the ball and consciousness of house makes him good for the trendy recreation. Carsley made good use of Elliott’s talent set by funnelling numerous England’s attacking play by the Liverpool midfielder on the U21 Euros.
Regardless of his clear potential, Elliott has been strongly linked with a transfer away from Liverpool this summer time. The Premier League champions are reportedly open to promoting the 22-year-old, however just for a charge of over £40m with a buy-back clause. Elliott scored in every of England’s three knockout video games on the U21 Euros and has a vibrant future forward of him for membership and nation.
Tino Livramento
Tino Livramento was one thing of an exception in Carsley’s England squad for the U21 Euros. The Newcastle United full again is already thought of a part of Tuchel’s senior squad and will have featured in final month’s video games towards Andorra and Senegal. Nevertheless, the choice was made to provide him some event expertise this summer time.
Livramento can play on both facet of the defence. This versatility can be helpful on the 2026 World Cup with England going by one thing of a generational transition at left again and proper again. The 22-year-old is safe in possession and likes to get ahead. His remaining product may typically be higher, however the potential is apparent.
James McAtee
Manchester Metropolis’s academy is likely one of the most efficient within the Premier League and James McAtee is the subsequent younger star off the conveyer belt on the Etihad Campus. McAtee has all of the hallmarks of a Metropolis youth participant – good on the ball, clever together with his motion and versatile throughout the midfield and into the ultimate third.
Very like Elliott, McAtee will return to his membership together with his future up within the air. Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund are each reportedly within the 22-year-old who has acquired restricted first workforce alternatives at Manchester Metropolis. Would the Etihad Stadium outfit be repeating their Cole Palmer mistake by letting McAtee depart earlier than he has had a run within the lineup?
Ethan Nwaneri
18-year-old Ethan Nwaneri solely got here off the bench within the remaining overcome Germany on the U21 Euros and was solely a peripheral determine for Carsley’s facet over the course of the event. Nonetheless, it might be remiss to not point out the Arsenal teenager as somebody who may make their Three Lions breakthrough in some unspecified time in the future sooner or later.
The 2026 World Cup may come too early for Nwaneri, however he has already demonstrated his potential for Arsenal, making 26 appearances (11 of them begins) within the Premier League final season. Nwaneri is an uncommon participant. He has the talent set to play as a winger, however can even function in central midfield and even additional ahead within the assault.
On his present trajectory, it’s solely a matter of time till Nwaneri is an everyday member of the senior England workforce. He’s versatile sufficient to play in quite a lot of positions. He’s an distinctive dribbler and has proven his eye for objective, scoring 9 instances for the Gunners final time period. Nwaneri is certainly one of England’s brightest hopes for the longer term.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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