U21 Euro 2025 Qualifiers Azerbaijan U21 vs England U21 Prediction & Betting Tips

England U21s travel to take on Azerbaijan in the latest round of the groups stage for 2025 European Championship qualification.

Date: 22/03/24

Kick-off time: 12:00

Venue: Azersun Arena

Both of these teams will be desperate for a win to strengthen their chances of qualifying for next year’s European Championships. England are in a much stronger position of the two, as they sit second in group F, three points behind leaders Ukraine. This is definitely a must win for Azerbaijan as they occupy fourth, with just one win. However, they do have a game in hand, so victory on Friday would keep their faint hopes of qualification alive. Defeat would all but end their pursuit.

A win for England could put them level on points with Ukraine, depending on their result. At worst, they would maintain their place in second and put them in a great position to qualify. A loss could open the door for the teams below them.

During this qualifying campaign, the Three Lions have lost just once, a last gasp winner condemning them to a 3-2 defeat against Ukraine. In five games, they have scored 20 goals, by far the most in the group. This was helped by a huge 9-1 win against Serbia. Azerbaijan have lost three of their four games, though haven’t been leaking goals, letting in six.

Harvey Elliott has been the joint top scorer during qualification with five, and he is in the squad looking to add to this tally in the upcoming fixtures. Chelsea’s Noni Madueke has scored three and will also be a big goal threat for Lee Carsley’s men. His side have also allowed just four goals, and will be confident of keeping a clean sheet against a team who have found the back of the net only three times.

This will be the first ever meeting between Azerbaijan and England at U21 level.

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan have no injury updates ahead of this game.

England

There are a number of players who have been called up to this level for the first time. Luton Town’s Teden Mengi, Man United’s Kobbie Mainoo, Chelsea’s Carney Chukwuemeka and Bournemouth’s Alex Scott have been regulars for the younger age groups.

Azerbaijan U21

In their last five games, Azerbaijan U21s have won two and lost three. Four of these fixtures came in European Qualifiers, and they have endured some mixed results. The first game of this stretch came all the way back in September, as they took on Serbia away from home in the group stages. Mihajlo Ilic put the hosts ahead after 19 minutes, before doubling the lead seven minutes later. This would be an advantage that they held for the rest of the game. Azerbaijan were reduced to ten men very late on as Suleyman Damadayev saw red.

They fell to another defeat in the October international break, as they narrowly lost 1-0 at home to Northern Ireland. They went behind to another 19th minute goal, this time from Ciaran McGuckin. Their opponents then had a player sent off prior to half-time. Despite playing for over a half with an extra man, Azerbaijan could not take advantage in what was a missed opportunity to pick up some points. A home game against Luxembourg finally saw them record a win, as they were 3-2 victors. However, it took a very dramatic turnaround to snatch victory. Nəriman Axundzadə converted from the penalty spot to give them the lead, but this did not last long as the visitors equalised on the stroke of half-time. Shortly after the restart Leon Elshan put Luxembourg ahead. With the game heading towards another defeat, an own goal and an Agadadas Salyanskiy strike won the game in the final minutes. This winning momentum continued with a 1-0 friendly win over Latvia, before they were on the wrong side of the same scoreline away to Ukraine in their most recent fixture.

England U21

In their last five games, England U21s have won four and lost one. All of these came in Euro 2025 qualifiers, and they have enjoyed a great run of form. Their latest game was a 3-0 victory over Northern Ireland. Tyler Morton, who is on loan at Hull City from Liverpool, put them ahead on the half hour mark. His Liverpool teammate Harvey Elliott then scored a second half brace to take the game away.

This followed an equally as comfortable 3-0 win at Serbia. Elliott was on the scoresheet once more, as he scored the third early in the second half. Sheffield United loanee James McAtee netted a double within the first 20 minutes. It was an excellent response to their only defeat of the group stages so far, in which they lost 3-2 at Ukraine, who are still yet to drop points. They fell 2-0 behind at half-time after goals from Nazar Voloshyn and Oleh Ocheretko. Noni Madueke pulled one back with just over 20 minutes to go. Charlie Cresswell bagged in the 89th minute with a goal that many thought had rescued a point. The hosts had other ideas, however, as Illya Kvasnytsya scored a winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

Serbia were the recipients of another defeat, though this one was far more convincing with the score ending 9-1. England actually went behind in the first half, but scored nine unanswered from six different scorers to record the thumping victory. Jaden Philogene and Elliott scored braces, whilst Liam Delap, Madueke and Jonathan Rowe also found the back of the net. The first game of this stretch was another 3-0 win, against Luxembourg. Delap, Callum Doyle and Cole Palmer scored the goals.

This is a must win game for Azerbaijan, but they take on an England team who have lost just once in this qualifying campaign. At home, Azerbaijan may cause a threat, but the quality of the Three Lions should be too much to overcome, which is why we expect this to end in a comfortable England victory – Azerbaijan U21 0-3 England

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Azerbaijan U21 vs England U21 will not be available to watch on TV in the UK.

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