As England’s Under-21 squad braces for a high-stakes clash against Germany in the European Championship final this Saturday, defender Charlie Cresswell has issued a rallying cry to his teammates: leave absolutely everything on the field. The 23-year-old centre-back, a linchpin in Lee Carsley’s defense, has been an ever-present force throughout the tournament, playing every minute en route to the final.
Cresswell was instrumental at the back in the Young Lions’ hard-fought 2-1 semi-final victory over the Netherlands, a match decided by a superb brace from Harvey Elliott. Both Cresswell and Elliott were part of the victorious Under-21 squad that lifted the trophy two years ago, and they have seamlessly transitioned into vital leadership roles within the current 2025 cohort.
For Cresswell, however, this upcoming final marks a personal milestone. While he was an unused substitute during England’s 1-0 triumph over Spain in the previous final, he now stands on the cusp of experiencing the grand stage firsthand. Speaking to reporters after the semi-final win, the Leeds United academy product articulated a simple yet powerful philosophy for the ultimate game.
“If we win, we win. If we lose, we lose, but no one’s going to say anything if you give 100%,” Cresswell asserted. “Just give everything out there and then hold your head high.”
The semi-final against the Dutch wasn’t without its moments of tension, particularly when Noah Ohio unleashed an incredible long-range strike that found the back of the net. Cresswell acknowledged his involvement in the build-up, admitting a momentary lapse. “The ball’s come wobbling at me, a bit of fatigue in the legs. I may have switched off for a second, and then he smashed it in from 45 yards,” he explained. Yet, the defender quickly brushed off the mistake, crediting Elliott’s late heroics for undoing the error. “(We) take it on the chin and just carry on doing what you’ve been doing. We pushed on, that’s when you rely on your attackers to pull one of them out of the bag. It was good.”
Throughout the tournament, Cresswell has been noted for his vocal presence and unwavering motivation, consistently marshalling his backline alongside Jarrel Quansah. This innate leadership stems from a profound sense of national pride. “Every time I pull on an England shirt it feels like an honour, a huge honour. I’m immensely proud that I get to do this,” he shared. “For me to go out there and give my everything, it’s the least I can do.”
While playing for one’s country in a major final naturally brings immense pressure, Cresswell approaches the Germany showdown with a pragmatic mindset, viewing it as another game of football. The Toulouse defender elaborated, “There’s a pressure that comes with playing for England, but it’s how you handle that pressure. It’s like you’re going out there, and it is just a game of football. I know you’re playing for your country, but it’s just another game of football. It’s how you handle that pressure individually and collectively.”
With confidence radiating from the squad, Cresswell believes in the collective strength and resilience of the Young Lions. “…We’ve got to focus on ourselves because we’ve got belief in this team and a resilience I don’t think anyone else in the tournament has,” he concluded. “So for us to go out there again on Saturday, we believe in ourselves, and I’m sure we’ll get the job done.”
