Last night, England’s U21S defended their title with an energetic and thrilling 3-2 win over Germany. Now we look ahead to the Lionesses and their bid to retain their European title. Could it be a summer of English Euro wins?
TL;DR
A summer of English Euro wins?
- England’s U21 men’s won the Euros last night after beating Germany 3-2
- It marks a back-to-back win for the young lions
- England’s Lionesses head to the women’s Euros in a bid to retain their title
- Another England win could massively boost women’s football in England
- Lionesses play Jamaica in send-off game on Sunday
England U21 win Euros
Last night, Lee Carsley led his U21S team to a back-to-back European Championship victory, something that will hopefully inspire the Lionesses who head to the Women’s 2025 European Championship in Switzerland next week.
The U21S final highlighted what makes the young lions so great – fast, positive and gunning for glory. Even when Germany fought back from 2-0 down, the young lions never looked too fazed. They remained in high spirits and kept attacking.
Carsley’s second Euros win comes with a new team. Key players Jobe Bellingham, Liam Delap, Adam Wharton and Jarred Branthwait were unable to take part in this tournament, but it didn’t seem to faze Carsley or his squad. They dug deep in the final 15 minutes of extra time, defending well and showed England fans that the future of the men’s team knows how to win.
Boss Carsley has signed a two-year extension with the young lions, but following this back-to-back victory, big clubs will undoubtedly be knocking on his door. Many see him as Tuchel’s successor for the senior men’s team, but during his short stint as senior manager, he didn’t quite look comfortable. Perhaps some time in the Premier League will change that.
Lionesses kick off Euro title defence
With the U21S retaining their title… and providing England can win a trophy on foreign soil, the Lionesses will no doubt take confidence in their ability to do the same.
The lionesses have found themselves in the dreaded ‘group of death’, joining France, the Netherlands and Wales. Only two teams will make it to the knockout stages, and given the Lionesses’ form, there are fears that England might not get out of the group.
England’s 2022 Wembley Euros win seems a million miles away. The team made it to the final of the 2023 World Cup in Australia, but has since struggled to find consistency. Their recent performances have been choppy amid a chaotic backdrop of players retiring or withdrawing from the tournament.
First, there was the Mary Earps drama. With Hannah Hampton rightly taking the first spot, Earps decided to quit international football altogether in a move that many saw as bratty and selfish. Could she not have supported Hampton in her first major tournament?
England’s goalkeepers and defence are the biggest concern. All three keepers are young and inexperienced at the international level. The backline has also been shaky. Another key player, Millie Bright, announced she was withdrawing from England duties to rest, leaving an already fragile back line looking even more uncertain.
Perhaps more concerning was the timing. All of this just before a major tournament has done little to stop the noise around the team. Whilst England should be considered one of the favourites, the fans, media and pundits are less convinced.
What doesn’t help is the massive gulf between the 2022 winning team and where the team are now. England doesn’t have the same level of depth in their team as the Wembley-winning squad. The growth of the Women’s Super League has been incredible, but there is also a downside for the national team. With the growth of the English league, there are more and more foreign players in key roles. Despite the Lionesses’ success, there are fewer English players in the WSL now than before winning the Euros. Investment at grassroots levels remains key for further development of English players, but much like how the Premier League grew and developed, if the WSL takes the same route, the depth of English talent will continue to dwindle.
Sarina Wiegman confirms everyone apart from Lauren James are fit enough to play a full 90 minutes tomorrow, including Georgia Stanway.
— Emma Sanders (@em_sandy) June 28, 2025
But with all that negativity, there’s plenty to be positive about. England is still a talented bunch, and Sarina Wiegman is a top manager who knows how to keep the noise and negativity away from the squad.
England will also be blessed with the two-week camp ahead of today’s friendly with Jamaica – a final pitch for many players to make it into the starting XI.
Lauren James is back in the squad! Another great sign for the team. She’s a one in a million player, a ‘cheat code’ as captain Leah Williamson described her. She’s likely to start on the bench for the Jamaica game, having been out with injury for a long stretch. But having her back is massive for the Lionesses, who will look to her for those magic moments.
Lauren Hemp is also back in action – arguably key to England’s success. She’s one of the most underrated players in the world, something that will only continue to work in our favour.
Alessia Russo will need to take her excellent form into the competition, having played a crucial role in Arsenal’s Champions League victory.
For all the chaos and uneven performances, England still has plenty of talent. The group is without a doubt the hardest, and getting out of it won’t be easy – but concentration is key. If England does make it out of the group stages, they can go on with major confidence in retaining their title.
Sunday’s Jamaica game will give us a good glimpse at what the Lionesses have been working on and towards, and where they see their tournament going. Jamaica won’t be an easy game; they’re fast and physical. A win is a must for the team: the fans need to see the plan for the summer ahead.
England vs Jamaica
You can watch England vs Jamaica on Sunday, 29 June at 5 pm on ITV1 or stream online via ITVX.
The match takes place at the King Power Stadium in Leicester.
England Lionesses at the Euros
England’s group stages:
France vs England (5 July, 20:00)
England vs Netherlands (9 July, 17:00)
England vs Wales (13 July, 20:00)