For a long time, England’s youth sides were seen as talented but inconsistent—brimming with promise but often falling short when it counted.

That perception might finally be changing, and Lee Carsley believes it’s all down to a shift in mentality.

The current crop of young English players, he says, aren’t just dreaming of winning—they expect to.

A Different Breed of Players Is Coming Through

Ahead of England Under-21s’ second Euros group match against Slovenia on Sunday, head coach Lee Carsley was clear in his belief: this generation is wired differently.

Responding to former England winger Theo Walcott’s comments questioning England’s seriousness at the international level, Carsley didn’t disagree with the criticism—he just thinks times have changed.

“I think that’s definitely a generational thing,” Carsley explained.

He pointed to the example of Germany’s U21 squad from 2009, many of whom went on to lift the senior World Cup trophy five years later.

Spain’s golden generation did something similar.

Carsley’s message? England’s current U21 group—and those coming up behind them—might be heading down the same path.

Winning Is Great, But Dominance Is the Real Goal

It’s not just about lifting a single trophy. Carsley is pushing a mindset that focuses on sustained excellence.

“Winning one tournament is great, but it’s the dominating bit that we want to get better at,” he said.

He made an important distinction between hope and belief.

Where past teams might have hoped to win, these players truly believe they can—at every level.

That belief, Carsley noted, starts with the basics: qualifying from the group, building confidence, and taking it one game at a time.

England’s Youth Are Stacked Across the Board

This summer, England’s youth squads are everywhere.

The Under-17s, Under-19s, and Under-21s are all competing in major international tournaments.

And across all three age groups, there’s serious talent on display.

Carsley highlighted that England’s U21 Euros squad has changed dramatically since their 2023 win, with only two players returning from that victorious side.

Still, expectations are high—and not without reason.

No Entitlement, Just Determination

Despite the buzz, Carsley is keen to keep things grounded.

England may be rich in footballing history, but past performances don’t guarantee anything.

“We won it in 1982, 1984, and then not again until 2023,” he pointed out.

“We shouldn’t ever just expect to win because we’re England.”

What’s different now, he says, is the mentality.

Today’s players aren’t content just to be called up—they’re arriving with the goal of leaving with silverware.

All Eyes on Slovenia as Quarter-Final Spot Looms

England Under-21s now turn their focus to Slovenia in their second group game.

A win on Sunday afternoon would seal their place in the quarter-finals, and with the belief Carsley’s talking about, it’s clear this team isn’t showing up just to make up the numbers.

They’re here to win—and they might just do it.