England U21s

Sheffield Wednesday duo, Pierce and Shea Charles, played pivotal roles in Northern Ireland’s promotion to League B of the UEFA Nations League on Monday night. Despite a frustrating 2-2 draw against Luxembourg, which saw them squander a 2-0 lead, the point was enough to secure top spot in Group 3, as Bulgaria’s 1-1 draw with Belarus ensured Northern Ireland’s advancement. Shea, again captaining the side, provided an assist for Isaac Price’s opening goal, while his younger brother, Pierce, experienced a more challenging night, unable to prevent two quick goals from Luxembourg. However, both gained invaluable international experience from the match. Meanwhile, in England’s U21s fixture against the Netherlands, James Beadle made several key saves, though his side was held to a 1-1 draw. Across the Atlantic, Di’Shon Bernard was named in Steve McClaren’s XI for the second leg of the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal, hoping to help his side overturn a 1-0 deficit against the USA.