Hurzeler: I was split for England-Germany final, but nobody will believe me!

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Jack Hinshelwood and James Beadle helped England on their way to glory at the UEFA U21 Euros.

Nick Szczepanik

2025-07-04T08:00+01:00

Jack Hinshelwood started at left-back against Germany in the UEFA U21 Euros final. 📷 by The FA.

Albion head coach Fabian Hurzeler is looking forward to pre-season training getting under way next week and to welcoming back three of the four players from the club who were involved in the UEFA under-21 Euros in Slovakia.

England goalkeeper James Beadle has gone on loan to Birmingham City, but Germany’s Brajan Gruda and new signing Diego Coppola of Italy will join up after an extra break.

Jack Hinshelwood, though, is ready to get started with the rest of the squad next week after earning his winner’s medal with the Three Lions.

James Beadle and Jack Hinshelwood won the UEFA U21 Euros with England. 📷 by The FA.

Boss Hurzeler tried to stay neutral as Germany faced England in the final.

Speaking at the opening of the new club shop at the Amex, he said, “I watched I think almost every game from our players, and I was really interested and was really happy for them.

“Of course in the final there's only one winner. I texted both [Jack and Brajan] before the final and said ‘Today I'm 50-50, although I'm German.’

“Maybe no one believes me, but I was happy for both. I felt like they had good performances, especially Jack after he had a new baby, he came a little bit later to the England national team, but he immediately got his place, and he had great performances as a right full-back, as a left full-back, so you see again his flexibility.”

Jack Hinshelwood played in multiple positions for England at the Euros. 📷 by The FA.

The boss also contacted former Hellas Verona defender Coppola before Italy’s match against Germany.

“It was funny because we signed him just before he faced Germany, so I had a conversation with him, and I said to him also ‘I wish you good luck,’ and he was laughing, he said: ‘You don't mean it.’ I said, ‘It's serious, you're now a player from us, so I support you as well.’

“I think he played a good tournament. He was with the [senior] Italy national team before, and I think there were a lot of things ongoing in his head, so I was quite impressed with how he handled all the things. He was very mature, so I'm really looking forward to work with him.”

The squad that reports back next week will look a little different from last season’s. Joao Pedro has departed and several other new faces have arrived, including Olivier Boscagli, Charalampos Kostoulas, Stefanos Tzimas and Tommy Watson, as well as a number of players who were out on loan last season returning.

Diego Coppola joined Albion this summer from Hellas Verona.

Hurzeler is happy with the way the squad is shaping up, although some trimming remains to be done.

“Yes, I think we bought now a lot of players,” he said. “I think in some ways also have to sell some players, I think that's the next part of this process, but we knew it would be a process.

“So I'm quite pleased how we are, how the situation is at the moment, but for sure there still have to be some things done.”