England finished their qualifying campaign for the 2025 European Under-21 Championship in style by thrashing Azerbaijan 7-0 at Bristol City’s Ashton Gate stadium.
The Young Lions are the reigning European champions after winning last year with Lee Carsley in charge, and had already qualified for next summer’s tournament in Slovakia before Tuesday’s match.
An early goal from Toulouse defender Charlie Cresswell and another header from Callum Doyle, a defender on loan at Norwich City from Manchester City, gave the side a 2-0 lead at half-time.
Further strikes for Ben Futcher’s side came from Manchester City attacker James McAtee, an own goal from Azerbaijan’s Jalal Huseynov, while Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson claimed the fifth in the 72nd minute.
Dane Scarlett, on loan at Oxford United from Tottenham, made it six with an acrobatic effort and Ipswich Town winger Omari Hutchinson added a seventh in the 90th minute.
The result took England above Ukraine, who had also already qualified but lost 1-0 at Serbia, to finish as Group F winners.
Carsley has been in interim charge of England’s senior team, winning three and losing one of his four matches in the Nations League, with two more games to come before Thomas Tuchel takes over as national boss.
After that, Carsley is expected to return to his under-21 role and has a chance of defending the title his team won in Georgia in 2023.
Qualified countries for the 2025 European Under-21 Championship: Slovakia (hosts), Denmark, England, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Ukraine.
Play-offs (three to qualify): Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, Georgia, Norway.