Ten of England's victorious squad from 2023 have won senior England caps England are just two games from making it back-to-back European Under-21 Championship triumphs. Lee Carsley's side, who won the tournament in 2023, face the Netherlands in the semi-final of this year's competition on Thursday (17:00 BST). Germany play France in the other semi at 20:00. But how important is winning the competition? What do the winners usually go on to do? Of the 24 teams to win the European Under-21 Championship, 10 of them have gone on to win either the World Cup or the senior Euros in the next 12 years. Nine of those have featured players from that successful U21 squad. Of course there is still time for Germany, winners in 2017 and 2021, and England in 2023 to do so. Another five have reached a final in that time frame but lost. The teams to win the U21 Euros and a major tournament are: 1988 France (1998 World Cup) 1998 Spain (Euro 2008) 1994, 1996, 2000 and 2004 Italy (2006 World Cup) 2009 Germany (2014 World Cup) 2011 Spain (Euro 2012) 2013, 2019 Spain (Euro 2024) Of those, Spain, in Euro 2008, were the only team not to have any members of their successful U21 squad. As the table above shows, 29 players have won the U21 Euros and then a major senior tournament - including Laurent Blanc, Fabio Cannavaro, Gianluigi Buffon, Francesco Totti and Manuel Neuer. Not just counting the winning team, many of the world's best players have impressed at previous European Under-21 Championships. Among the players to win the best player of the tournament award were Rudi Voller, Blanc, Davor Suker, Luis Figo, Cannavaro, Andrea Pirlo, Petr Cech, Juan Mata, Thiago and Fabian Ruiz. However, there are a few outliers. Renato Buso and the late Francesc Arnau never won a senior cap for Italy or Spain respectively, while Royston Drenthe only played once for the Netherlands. Arsenal's Fabio Vieira, 25, has yet to feature for the Portugal senior team. Sweden's Marcus Berg had a good goal-laden career, although never played for one of Europe's top clubs. The list of Golden Boot winners is more of a mixed bag. Andrea Pirlo, despite being a midfielder, Alberto Gilardino and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar were among the previous winners. But Massimo Maccarone, Maceo Rigters, Jan Kliment or Luca Waldschmidt are unlikely to have any statues made of them. Germany's Nick Woltemadeis the top scorer in this tournament with five goals - two clear of three different players. In 2015, Uefa social media followers picked this 11 of the most illustrious names to have appeared at Euro U21s England won the tournament in 1982, 1984 and 2023. Mark Hateley, in 1984, and Anthony Gordon, in 2023, were named player of the tournament. About half of those 1982 and 1984 squads never won a senior cap for England - and none of them went on to be Three Lions legends. Hateley, who was in both squads, went on to win the most caps, 32, with five more players reaching 10 caps or more. Of the 2023 winners, the most notable current star is Cole Palmer - and another six were in Thomas Tuchel's last England selection. Palmer, Levi Colwill, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Morgan Gibbs-White, Emile Smith Rowe, Anthony Gordon, Jarrad Branthwaite, Curtis Jones, Angel Gomes and Noni Madueke have all won senior caps.
How important is winning U21 Euros to senior success?
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"England's U21 Championship Success and Its Impact on Future Senior Team Performance"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
England's U21 football team is on the verge of achieving back-to-back European Under-21 Championship victories, having won the tournament in 2023 and now facing the Netherlands in the semi-finals of this year's competition. The significance of winning this tournament often raises questions about its correlation with future success at the senior level. Historical data indicates that of the 24 teams that have triumphed in the U21 Euros, ten have gone on to win either the World Cup or the senior European Championships within the next twelve years, with nine of those teams featuring players from the successful U21 squads. Notable examples include France in 1988, Spain in 1998 and 2008, and Italy across various years. The tournament has not only been a stepping stone for national success but has also showcased many of the world's best football talents, with former U21 stars such as Gianluigi Buffon and Andrea Pirlo eventually gaining international acclaim.
However, not every U21 success story translates to senior team glory, as some players from winning squads never received senior caps. For instance, Renato Buso and Francesc Arnau are notable examples of players who achieved U21 success without making their mark on the senior team. Conversely, players like Cole Palmer, who shone in the 2023 U21 squad, are already making appearances for the senior national team, suggesting a promising future. The current U21 Championship has also highlighted individual talents, such as Germany's Nick Woltemade, who leads the tournament in scoring. As England looks to continue its U21 success, the question remains: how crucial is this competition in shaping the future of its senior team and contributing to their long-term success on the international stage?
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