England’s U-21 national team crowned their outstanding performances at the European Championships in Georgia and Romania with their third title. In the final in Batumi, the “Young Lions” defeated record European champions Spain 1-0 (1-0) and thus won the European Championship trophy for the first time in 39 years. The Spaniards, on the other hand, failed to surpass Italy with triumph number six and become the sole record holder.
Curtis Jones of Liverpool FC (45+4) scored the winning goal for the English side under the eyes of senior national coach Gareth Southgate, who had sealed the premature end of defending champion Germany in the preliminary round. England goalkeeper James Trafford saved a penalty kick from Abel Ruiz in added time (90+9). For the first time in the history of the U-21 European Championship so far, a team has won every game and also not conceded a goal. After the penalty, Morgan Gibbs-White and Antonio Blanco both saw yellow and red.
Lots of speed, lots of emotions
The match at the Adjarabet Arena on the Black Sea started as expected with a lot of speed. But for a long time there was little to see of the offensive power of both teams after the two great chances of England’s Gibbs-White (6th) and on the other side Alex Baena (12th). Bad passes, fouls and yellow cards accumulated much more – five in the first half alone, plus two red cards against a co-coach each after a pack formed after the opening goal.
Jones scored that by deflecting a standing free-kick from Manchester City’s Cole Palmer, who had already dominated the semi-finals with three goals, into the opponent’s wall. Previously, Baena was lucky not to have to leave the field with his second caution after a tactical foul. England’s central defender Levi Colwill from Chelsea FC also headed the crossbar (44′).
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Immediately after the change of sides, Baena was the focus again, followed up after a duel – but got away with a warning again (50th). The supposed equalizer by Spain’s Abel Ruiz was disallowed for offside (51′), and the top scorer and captain missed another dangerous header chance (69′).
