England U21s celebrated qualifying for next year’s European Championships by pipping Ukraine to top their group with a 7-0 thrashing of Azerbaijan at Ashton Gate.
There were seven different scorers for the Young Lions, managed again by Ben Futcher while Lee Carsley remains the senior interim manager.
Charlie Cresswell fired the hosts ahead inside two minutes before Callum Doyle netted a second just before the half-hour.
England really came into their own after the interval, when James McAtee’s strike was followed by a Celal Huseynov own goal, plus further goals from Elliot Anderson, Dane Scarlett and Omari Hutchinson to give England another big win.
The Young Lions had already qualified for Euro 2025 over the weekend as they were guaranteed to finish at least as one of the three-best second-placed finishers in their group.
But following Ukraine’s final-game slip-up against Serbia, who beat them 1-0 in Stara Pazova, England signed off in perfect style by topping Group F – before now beginning the seven-month wait until the finals next June in Slovakia.
More to follow…