The Three Lions head to Kazakhstan this week for their penultimate qualifier in Aktobe, before facing Bosnia & Herzegovina in Walsall next Tuesday to conclude their group fixtures.
Boothroyd and his squad know that with just two points required from the two games, a victory on Thursday would be enough to set up a trip to Poland next July.
Kazakhstan v England
UEFA European U21 Championship
Group 9 Qualifier
4pm (BST), Thursday 6 October 2016
Central Arena, Aktobe
Live on BT Sport
And having met up with the group on Sunday night, following a handover from Gareth Southgate as he takes on the senior job, the former Watford and Colchester United boss has enjoyed his time so far.
“It’s been excellent really, I’m quite lucky that the squad was picked and everything was organised beforehand,” he told FATV, following Tuesday’s training session at St. George’s Park.
“They’re a good group of players and I’m really only here to stabilise everything and help the team over the line, it’s as simple as that.”
The transition has been made easier for Boothroyd and many of the squad, with a lot of them having already worked under him for the U19s or U20s over the last two seasons.
“It makes it easier when you know the players’ characters and they know mine, so it’s been like a bit of a reunion for one or two of us,” he laughed.
“They’re all a little bit bigger now, a little bit stronger and a little bit better football-wise so they’re all developing really well.
🎥 As the Men's U21s prepare for their trip to Kazakhstan, interim head coach Aidy Boothroyd speaks to FATV. pic.twitter.com/uQ5fIPArk7
— England (@England) 4 October 2016
“It’s that last little step now to make sure we get the points we need in Kazakhstan.”
Boothroyd knows his side are well-versed in what to expect when they get to Aktobe, with a sell-out crowd expected at the Central Arena for the game.
But he knows they’ll be ready for the game and the occasion, against a side they faced almost exactly a year ago in Coventry last October.
Goals from Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Nathan Redmond and Chuba Akpom sealed a 3-0 win on that occasion and everyone would settle for a similar outcome again.
“That’s what happens [sell-out crowd], wherever England go and it’s going to be a very tough game,” admitted Boothroyd.
“We know that and they’ll want to turn out to cheer on the home team, but we think we’ve got enough to get the job done and the points required.
“It’ll be lovely to get the three points and we wish it was as easy as that, but it’s going to be tough and we’ve been working hard to build on the good work that’s already been done by Gareth and Steve.
“It’s just about putting that plan into practice now and making sure we get over the line.”
The squad will return home after that game to continue their preparations for the match with Bosnia at the Banks’s Stadium.
