Lee Carsley has reaffirmed his commitment to England’s Under-21s as preparations for this summer’s European Championship intensify. The former midfielder, who had been approached by the Republic of Ireland for their managerial role, ultimately chose to stay with England, continuing his work in developing young talent for the senior team.
Carsley, who stepped in as interim senior manager after Gareth Southgate’s departure following Euro 2024, has now resumed his role with the under-21s, working in tandem with Thomas Tuchel. Despite a 5-3 defeat to France in his first match back, he remains focused on shaping a squad capable of defending their title, which England won two years ago for the first time since 1984.
With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, Carsley is aware that many of his players could be called up for senior duties. He has made it clear that their development remains the top priority, stating, “As soon as Thomas needs them, I won’t put a blockage to that.” His ultimate goal is to support the senior team’s ambitions of winning the World Cup.
Time is limited, with only a friendly against Portugal at the Hawthorns and another behind-closed-doors match before the tournament in Slovakia. Against France, an experimental three-at-the-back formation struggled to contain a talented attacking trio, though England created plenty of chances themselves. Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, a late arrival to the squad, is expected to start against Portugal, and a switch back to a more familiar four-man defense is likely.
Carsley has not been instructed to mirror the senior team’s tactics but emphasizes an attacking, forward-thinking approach. This was evident in his selection of Alex Scott and Jaden Philogene as wing-backs, even though they are more natural attacking players. The challenge now is finding the right balance in a squad packed with central midfield talent, including Adam Wharton, Elliot Anderson, Jack Hinshelwood, Jobe Bellingham, and Archie Gray.
Wharton, who missed several months due to injury, showed flashes of his quality against France but still needs to regain full match sharpness. Having been part of the senior squad at Euro 2024, he believes that experience will be invaluable heading into this summer’s tournament. “If you go all the way, it’s going to be a long trip, long days, but it’s just about getting that togetherness as a group,” he said.
The young midfielder trained with the senior team before joining the under-21s and sees the World Cup as a realistic target. “We’re only one step away, and a high percentage of the players are playing in the top division,” he noted. His time with the seniors has boosted his confidence, and while Tuchel has urged him to improve in all areas, he remains focused on his development.
James McAtee, a consistent performer under Carsley, opened the scoring against France. His and Rico Lewis’s availability for the summer remains uncertain due to Manchester City’s involvement in the Club World Cup. However, McAtee hopes to have a say in the decision. “I think I’ll get a say in it,” he said. “But I haven’t made my mind up. My opinion will matter, and the boss back home will listen to me.”
As England fine-tune their preparations, Carsley’s focus remains on striking the right balance between success at the European Championship and preparing players for the senior stage.
