Lee Carsley: England U21s will be exciting at Euros this summer after 4-2 win over Portugal
England U21s returned to winning ways in style at The Hawthorns, following their 5-3 defeat against France last week.
The Young Lions showcased their attacking flair and resilience, scoring began early with Hayden Hackney firing England ahead in the 7th minute, capitalising on an intercepted pass to drill a low shot past Portugal’s goalkeeper.
Just three minutes later, 18-year-old debutant Ethan Nwaneri marked his first start with a stunning curling effort, doubling the lead and announcing his immense potential.
Portugal responded midway through the first half as Fabio Silva pulled one back, tapping in a cross from Rodrigo Pinheiro to make it 2-1.
The second half saw England weather pressure from Portugal before Omari Hutchinson restored the two-goal cushion in the 76th minute, nodding in at the far post.
Though Tiago Forbes struck late for Portugal to narrow the gap to 3-2, Jaden Philogene sealed the victory in stoppage time with a precise finish, capping off an entertaining night.
The Young Lions’ dynamic display highlighted their depth and attacking prowess as they prepare for this summer’s U21 Euros, hosted by Slovakia, with England to face Czech Republic, Germany and Slovenia in their group.
1. James Beadle (Sheffield Wednesday, on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion) 3 Charlie Cresswell (FC Toulouse) 4 Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton) 6 Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) 11 Omari Hutchinson (Ipswich Town) 12 Jack Hinshelwood (Brighton and Hove Albion) 14 Archie Gray (Tottenham Hotspur) 17 Samuel Iling-Junior (Middlesbrough, on loan from Aston Villa) 19 Harvey Elliott (Liverpool) 21 Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal) 23 Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland)
22 Teddy Sharman-Lowe (Doncaster Rovers, on loan from Chelsea) for Beadle 46′, 10 James McAtee (Manchester City) for Elliott 61′, 16 Alex Scott (AFC Bournemouth) for Hinshelwood 61′, 15 CJ Egan-Riley (Burnley) for Branthwaite 62′, 8 Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest) for Bellingham 70′, 7 Jaden Philogene (Ipswich Town) for Iling-Junior 71′, 9 Liam Delap (Ipswich Town) for Nwaneri 71′, 20 Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace) for Hackney 71′, 24 Ronnie Edwards (Queens Park Rangers, on loan from Southampton) for Cresswell 71′,
13. Tommy Simkin (Walsall, on loan from Stoke City) 2 Rico Lewis (Manchester City)
Hackney 7′, Nwaneri 10′, Hutchinson 76′, Philogene 90+1′
Lee Carsley
1 João Carvalho 2 Rodrigo Pinheiro 3 João Muniz 4 Eduardo Quaresma 5 Flávio Nazinho 7 Mateus Fernandes 10 Pedro Santos 11 Tiago Tomás 17 Diogo Nascimento 18 Gustavo Sá 20 Fábio Silva
9 Henrique Araújo for Silva 46′, 13 Francisco Chissumba for Nazinho 46′, 14 Christian Marques for Quaresma 46′, 16 Goncalo Nogueira for Sá 46′, 24 Joelson Fernandes for Nascimento 46′, 8 João Marques for Fernandes 46′, 19 Carlos Forbs for Tomás 46′, 12 Diogo Pinto for Carvalho 62′, 21 Diego Moreira for Santos 77′
23 Rodrigo Gomes
Silva 22′, Forbs 85′
Rui Jorge
“We won’t play a game before we go out to the tournament so it was important that we tried to get something out of this window.
“We could have won that game really comfortably, played with a lot more control than we did, but it’s the first time that myself and the staff have worked with the players in a year so excited for the future with them.
“We are a bit transitional and a bit ‘basketbally’ which won’t work in the summer. Because they’re so attacking and enthusiastic I don’t want to dampen that too much because I don’t think we’ve got enough English players like that.
“I think you’re going to see some exciting games and hopefully I want them to play with that belief.
“I think we’ve got a really good chance regardless of the squad we take.
“We’ve got some outstanding talent but we forget Spain are quite good as well, Italy are good and Portugal are good and we have to be respectful of that.”
“It’s definitely a finish he’s got. Everyone knows exactly what’s going to happen but you cannot stop it.
“He took his goal so well but we have to keep remembering he’s 18, unbelievable isn’t it?
“But what an impression he has made, it’s important we look after him.”
France 5-3 England U21s: 40 shots, 17 on target, woodwork 3 times, missed penalty, red card
: It’s great watching our 3 lads, Hutchinson, Delap, and Jaden, play so well together for the England U21s 👏 They are playing really well, linking up, and a Hutchinson goal as well. 😎💙🚜 The U21s defence needs to play as well as the attack, though! #itfc
: Watching highlights of England-Portugal at U21 level. My god… the Portugal team are painful to watch. Petulant, faux-aggressive, diving, blaming each other, blaming the crowd, childish, screaming at the ref.
: Could they not have just put this game on ITV
: Debut goals for Skelly and Neri, what a beautiful week for Gunners
: Nwaneri what a special talent
: Both of the Hale End graduates scored on their debut 😢 what a talent man ❤
: Ethan gives me Robben vibes! watching him every week knowing he’s cutting in on his left to hit that far corner just stopping him that’s the problem he’s so sharp with his change of direction and low centre of gravity 😎
: These games are surprisingly high quality!
: proud of the Ipswich starboys <3 @AidanB-m5k: That goal line clearance from the Hutchinson lob was incredible. @Dale-py1vs: Nwaneri will be at the WC26 for sure! @GeeEpic: Nwaneri is such an entertainer @M0J0-RL236: Nwaneri should be taking Foden’s spot for England. Prove me wrong
@sugar4522: Some proper talent there
Season 24/25: Match 56@England U21 4-2 @selecaoportugal U21
🏆Friendly
🏟 The Hawthorns
🎟 £10 (ST Holder)Ridiculously talented Under 21’s 🔥 Some fantastic football & skill on show 🤤 Bellingham & @Ethan_Nwaneri53 absolute class above 👏 Some great goals too. Great evening pic.twitter.com/vgmZNGcxJT
— Patrick Albion (@pat4wba) March 24, 2025
