England's Young Lions Roar in Chisinau, Crushing Moldova to Stay on Course

CHISINAU, Moldova — The defending champions made their intentions crystal clear on a crisp Friday evening at Stadionul Zimbru, dismantling Moldova's Under-21 side with clinical precision that underscored why they remain the team to beat in European youth football.

England's 4-0 victory was never truly in doubt after Jamie Gittens broke the deadlock in the 28th minute, but the manner of the triumph—methodical, ruthless, and utterly professional—sent a message reverberating through Group D: the Young Lions are hungry to defend their crown.

The opening half-hour saw England dominate possession without breaking through Moldova's determined defensive block. The hosts, still smarting from consecutive defeats to Slovakia and the Republic of Ireland in September, packed bodies behind the ball and dared the visitors to unlock them. England obliged. Gittens, the Borussia Dortmund winger whose pace has terrorized defenses across Europe this season, finally pierced Moldova's resistance with a composed finish that settled any early nerves.

That breakthrough transformed the match's complexion. Moldova, who had harbored hopes of frustrating the champions, suddenly faced an impossible calculus: sit deep and invite more pressure, or push forward and expose themselves to England's devastating counter-attacks. They chose the former, and for 40 minutes after halftime, it seemed the strategy might limit the damage.

Then came the flood. Divin Mubama, the powerful striker who has emerged as one of England's most promising talents, doubled the advantage in the 68th minute with a predatory finish that showcased his growing confidence at this level. Six minutes later, he stepped up from the penalty spot after a clumsy challenge in the box, converting with the assurance of a player who has done this countless times before.

Rico Lewis, Manchester City's versatile defender who has seamlessly transitioned into England's youth setup, applied the coup de grâce in the 89th minute, rifling home from distance to cap a dominant performance. The final scoreline flattered Moldova only in that it could have been worse.

For England, now sitting on six points from two matches—having also dispatched Kazakhstan 2-0 in September—the path toward qualification for the 2027 tournament in Albania and Serbia appears increasingly clear. They trail Slovakia and the Republic of Ireland, who both boast perfect records of six points from two games, but England have a game in hand and the quality to overtake both. Friday's fixture between Slovakia and Ireland will determine who maintains sole possession of the Group D summit, but England's superior goal difference and the four players in their squad who lifted the trophy just four months ago in Slovakia provide reasons for optimism.

Moldova's struggles, by contrast, have deepened. With three points from three matches and a negative goal difference, their hopes of reaching even the play-offs appear remote. Mihai Lupan's solitary goal against Ireland in September now feels like a distant memory, a brief flicker of promise in what has become a challenging campaign. They have conceded five goals in their last two outings and face an uphill battle to remain competitive in a group that features not only England but also the formidable duo atop the table.

The broader context makes England's performance all the more impressive. Retaining a major tournament—even at youth level—requires not just talent but also mental fortitude and hunger. The Young Lions possess both in abundance. Their September victory in Kazakhstan, featuring goals from Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri and Jobe Bellingham, demonstrated their attacking versatility. Friday's rout in Chisinau confirmed their defensive solidity and ability to grind out results on difficult away trips.

As the qualification campaign progresses, England's blend of technical excellence and tactical maturity positions them as clear favorites to secure one of the automatic qualification spots. The nine group winners and the best runner-up qualify directly for the final tournament, with play-offs awaiting the remaining eight runners-up. Given their pedigree and current form, England should expect nothing less than direct qualification.

Moldova, meanwhile, must regroup quickly. Their next fixtures will test whether they possess the resilience to salvage something from this campaign or whether the gap between them and Europe's elite youth sides has grown too wide to bridge. Friday's performance suggested the latter, but football's beauty lies in its capacity for surprise.

For now, though, England marches on, eyes fixed firmly on defending their crown.