ENGLAND’S under-21s should be applauded for their efforts in Sweden. The fact that they were the first side from this country to reach a football final in 16 years at any level tells its own story, yet there are lessons to be learnt, nowhere more so than in the mentality of the players.
England went into Monday’s final as favourites, but you would never have guessed that by watching the game. Germany may not have set the competition alight in the group stages – as England did – but, ultimately, they came good when it mattered most. Overall, the tournament was a relative success, with Kieron Gibbs and Jack Rodwell in particular, catching the eye, but Stuart Pearce’s claim that “we need to produce more creative Mesut Ozil types” should not fall on deaf ears. The German number 10 was a joy to watch, and this time next year could be lighting up South Africa.
England went into Monday’s final as favourites, but you would never have guessed that by watching the game. Germany may not have set the competition alight in the group stages – as England did – but, ultimately, they came good when it mattered most. Overall, the tournament was a relative success, with Kieron Gibbs and Jack Rodwell in particular, catching the eye, but Stuart Pearce’s claim that “we need to produce more creative Mesut Ozil types” should not fall on deaf ears. The German number 10 was a joy to watch, and this time next year could be lighting up South Africa.
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