Ethan Nwaneri and Jobe Bellingham marked while the team of under 21 of Lee Carsley, England, posed an early marker of their Euro 2027 qualification campaign with a 2-0 victory in Kazakhstan.
The young Lions – who had managed to defend their Euros title in Slovakia earlier this summer – hit twice in five minutes in the first half in Nwaneri and the young brother of Bellingham.
Only two XI players of Carsley departure for the prolonged victory against Germany in the final of Euro 2025 had been appointed to the team on Monday – goalkeeper James Beadle and Jack Hinshelwood.
Chelsea defender Josh Acheambong and Divine striker Mubama, loaned to Stoke from Manchester City, received their debut while Bellingham – who was absent from the club World Cup with Borussia Dortmund during the summer – took the captain.
England took a good start while Brooke Norton-Cuffy, who had left the bench in the final, sent a low cross of the right, which Mubama could only stab in Kazakhstan directly.
After Beadle made a simple stop by Ayan Baidavletov, England continued in the 18th minute.
Mubama overturned a high bullet in the surface of the penalty and the Arsenal Nwaneri midfielder – another successful summer team from Carsley – drilled in a low blow on the edge of the box. England struck again five minutes later when Bellingham got up from the corner of Tyler Dibling.
Nwaneri approached a third just before half-time when his free kick of 20 yards was far from the Kazakhstan goalkeeper Dulat Talyspayev.
Kazakhstan supported at the start of the second half, Ramazan Bagdat forcing Beadle to a smart reaction backup. Carsley sent an attacker from Crystal Palace Romain Esse for his beginnings under 21 just after the hour, replacing Dibling.
Astana midfielder Nuri Zhakylyk heard a just wide late effort for hosts while England has closed a solid performance.
England will then face a trip to Moldova in the October internationals before hosting the Andorra to Derby.
