England U21 7-0 Luxembourg U21: Noni Madueke, Morgan Rogers and Samuel Iling-Junior score twice in rout as Lee Carsley’s men stay on course for Euro 2025 qualification
- Lee Carsley’s side took their total to 12 goals in five days after routing Azerbaijan
- England moved level on 18 points with Ukraine, but have played a game more
- Ian Ladyman: Why I’m glad England lost against Brazil – Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off podcast
England’s Under 21s will not reconvene until September. The squad will look much different by then but FA bosses must hope the head coach doesn’t.
Reaching next summer’s European Championship is within their grasp. Even as defending champions they still have to qualify and – despite a dispiriting defeat in Ukraine earlier in the campaign – are doing so with relative ease again.
On Tuesday night brought another convincing victory to go with Friday’s 5-1 win in Azerbaijan but Lee Carsley now has five months away from these players.
He’s set to spend some of that working for Gareth Southgate, scouting opposition at the Euros.
Carsley, the mastermind of a first Euro title in 39 years, has fended off interest from various places – including the Republic of Ireland – and is likely to be high up a few lists before England meet again. One day, there will come an opportunity he cannot refuse.
Noni Madueke caressed a left-footed shot through Franz Sinner’s legs and inside the far post
Juventus winger Samuel Iling-Junior fired home the second goal in the 41st minute
If there isn’t before Euro 2025 then he will head there with plenty of excitement.
Noni Madueke, who scored twice in this rout of Luxembourg, claimed last week that the current crop have a higher ceiling than the last. We’ll see whether that is true but the signs are good regardless.
‘Players are putting themselves in the frame,’ Carsley said. ‘Adam (Wharton), Jarell (Quansah) is like a Rolls Royce. The results are a real bonus. I didn’t think we were as good as I’d have hoped out of possession.’
Carsley has been missing around 10 stars in this camp, plus saw Kobbie Mainoo, Rico Lewis, James Trafford and Jarrad Branthwaite given senior recognition.
So while only faced with two minnow nations, those underneath the core of Carsley’s group gave him plenty to ponder. Alex Scott in particular as England hunt for a deep-lying playmaker.
Much of that is dependent on club form and some will think back to this time last year when Cole Palmer couldn’t even get into this team. Things change quickly.
Jamie Bynoe-Gittens put the finishing touch to a swift counter attack just after half-time
Madueke benefited from another Elliott threaded through-ball to fire home his second
Morgan Rogers scored England’s fifth from close range in the 62nd minute in Bolton
Iling-Junior headed home the sixth goal for England in a dominant display by Carsley’s side
Madueke stroked home the opener, midway through the first half, and hammered in the fourth 10 minutes after the break.
In between that, Juventus winger Samuel Illing-Junior – filling in at left back – slammed in after Archie Gray’s dart before later heading in the sixth.
Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Bynoe-Gittens had slid underneath the goalkeeper and Morgan Rogers scored twice off the bench as England’s tally extended to 32 goals from seven qualifiers.
