Slovakia U21s 0-4 England U21s: Young Lions move top of European Championship qualifying group

England Under-21s maintained their unbeaten start to the defence of their European title with a dominant victory in Slovakia to move top of their qualifying group.

Lee Carsley’s side have now won all five of their Group D matches and lead second-placed Slovakia by two points having played a game less.

England won the European Under-21 Championship in 2023 and 2025 and, with five qualifying games to go, are in a strong position to secure their place in the 2027 finals in Albania and Serbia.

Divin Mubama, on loan at Stoke City from Manchester City, scored with a close-range header in the 18th minute after Chelsea’s Tyrique George had done well to keep the ball in and create the chance.

The Young Lions nearly doubled their lead within the first minute of the second half as Sheffield United’s Sydie Peck shot from the edge of the area, with Slovakia goalkeeper Adam Hrdina fumbling the ball against the post and then stopping it on the goalline.

But the visitors were in command and made it 2-0 in the 60th minute as Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri produced a composed lifted finish over Hrdina following Peck’s through-ball.

Fulham forward Josh King added a third with his first under-21 goal moments after coming on, sweeping the ball into the net after Genoa’s Brooke Norton-Cuffy and Manchester City’s Rico Lewis had combined to set up the opportunity.

England got a fourth in the 87th minute as Mubama grabbed his second of the night with a strike into the bottom corner to maintain the side’s 100% qualifying record.

Carsley’s side are next in action in March when they play Andorra away on 27 March, before a home encounter with Moldova four days later.

The nine group winners and the runners-up with the best record will qualify automatically for the tournament, with the other eight nations that come second taking part in the play-offs to decide the final four places.