England U21s celebrated qualifying for subsequent yr’s European Championships by pipping Ukraine to prime their group with a 7-0 thrashing of Azerbaijan at Ashton Gate.
There have been seven totally different scorers for the Younger Lions, managed once more by Ben Futcher whereas Lee Carsley stays the senior interim supervisor.
Charlie Cresswell fired the hosts forward inside two minutes earlier than Callum Doyle netted a second simply earlier than the half-hour.
England actually got here into their very own after the interval, when James McAtee’s strike was adopted by a Celal Huseynov personal purpose, plus additional targets from Elliot Anderson, Dane Scarlett and Omari Hutchinson to offer England one other massive win.
The Younger Lions had already certified for Euro 2025 over the weekend as they had been assured to complete not less than as one of many three-best second-placed finishers of their group.
However following Ukraine’s final-game slip-up towards Serbia, who beat them 1-0 in Stara Pazova, England signed off in excellent fashion by topping Group F – prior to now starting the seven-month wait till the finals subsequent June in Slovakia.
England received off to a dream begin. The hosts selected to play a nook brief and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens whipped the ball to the again publish the place Cresswell evaded his marker and nodded within the opener.
Samuel Iling-Junior pulled the strings within the first half. The Aston Villa winger, who’s at the moment on mortgage at Serie A facet Bologna, was denied by goalkeeper Khayal Farzullayev earlier than England gained a free-kick which led to their second.
Futcher had opted for a again three and England’s extra peak from their further centre-back paid dividends. Alex Scott picked out the top of Doyle who rose highest to nod house.
Iling-Junior’s high quality continued to point out after the break. The 21-year-old drove on the Azerbaijan defence with blistering tempo as England threw numbers into the field. The winger confirmed nice method with a curling side-footed cross for the in-form McAtee to go in England’s third.
The Younger Lions continued to pepper the guests’ purpose as they looked for a fourth. This time, centre-back Huseynov turned the ball into his personal web as he tried to stop Anderson from getting a contact contained in the six-yard field.
However Nottingham Forest’s Anderson received the purpose he deserved within the 72nd minute. Hutchinson had come off the bench instead of Iling-Junior and the previous Jamaica worldwide despatched a harmful ball throughout the face of purpose which fell kindly for Anderson to complete first time.
England had dominated the extensive areas and Hutchinson regarded to use this as soon as extra. His left-footed cross picked out McAtee however the Manchester Metropolis man’s header hit a publish.
It was not lengthy earlier than England received their sixth. Substitute Scarlett took benefit of a goalkeeper error to faucet into an empty web.
Hutchinson received in on the act himself on the demise – his first England purpose and their seventh of the night time.
