England Under-21s Begin European Title Defense with Victory

England Under-21s Begin European Title Defense with Victory

England Under-21s Begin European Title Defense with Victory

England's Under-21 team kicked off their European title defense with a decisive victory in their opening qualifier against Kazakhstan.

Managed by Lee Carsley, the Young Lions have previously won the European Under-21 Championship in both 2023 and 2025, although many players from those victorious squads are now too old to participate in the current tournament.

Arsenal winger Ethan Nwaneri, aged 18, opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a precise low shot into the bottom corner, following a clever setup by debutant Divin Mubama, who is currently on loan at Stoke City from Manchester City.

Captain Jobe Bellingham, 19, extended England's lead by heading in a second goal from a corner taken by Everton's Tyler Dibling.

Bellingham, younger brother of England midfielder Jude, missed the summer's European Under-21 Championship as he was competing for Borussia Dortmund in the FIFA Club World Cup held in the United States, following his £27.8 million transfer from Sunderland.

Nwaneri nearly added a third goal but his curling free-kick was tipped over the bar by the opposing goalkeeper.

The upcoming 2027 tournament will be hosted by Albania and Serbia, with both nations qualifying automatically for the 16-team competition.

There are nine qualifying groups, with Andorra, Moldova, the Republic of Ireland, and Slovakia also competing in Group D.

Only the group winners are assured qualification, along with the second-placed team with the best record. The remaining eight runners-up will compete in play-offs to determine the final four qualifiers.

England's next match is scheduled against Moldova on 10 October, followed by a home game against Andorra three days later at Derby County's Pride Park.

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