In this summer’s European Under-21 Championship, England failed because of an “over-confidence” that “bordered on arrogance,” according to newly appointed FA Technical Director Les Reed.
A squad of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, James Maddison, Mason Mount and Phil Foden came out in the group phase of the Italian competition, losing all the matches that happened, picking up only one point in a dead rubber against Croatia.
Reed, integrated in a team for his first tournament since taking up the job in February, felt that overconfidence from multiple variables–previously winning a World Cup, negotiating fresh agreements with clubs or “being talked up”–led to individual errors as a result of realizing that matches would not be a “walkover.” Romania and France defeated England prior to drawing with Croatia.
