England U21 3 – 2 Germany U21

England retained their U21 European Championship title after holding on to beat Germany 3-2 after extra-time in a gripping final in Bratislava.

The Young Lions won the tournament in 2023 with a 1-0 win over Spain in Georgia and followed it up in Bratislava, just shy of two years later, repeating the feat the nation achieved in 1982 and 1984.

The victory came just 10 days after Lee Carsley’s side had lost 2-1 in the same fixture during the tournament’s group stages.

There was barely a moment to breathe throughout. Harvey Elliott and Omari Hutchinson put England 2-0 up inside 25 minutes, but it was 2-2 just after the hour, with goals from Nelson Weiper and Paul Nebel ultimately sending the game to extra-time.

At the end of the 90 minutes – and again with almost the last kick of extra-time – Antonio di Salvo’s Germany struck the crossbar.

But the win was sealed inside the first two minutes of the added 30, with Jonathan Rowe’s third touch as a substitute the one that glanced home a sumptuous Tyler Morton cross to seal a historic win.

Elliott had lit up Wednesday’s semi-final against the Netherlands, scoring the two goals that secured England’s progress – and before the game had even really got going, he plundered his fifth of the tournament, finishing off a move he initiated by drilling into the bottom right corner.

The Young Lions were already brimming with confidence, but the early goal took that up a notch and they began to slice the Germans open at will.

With 24 minutes on the clock, they added a second. Sublime link-up play between Elliott and James McAtee allowed the latter to hold off two men and find Hutchinson, who struck through the legs of Noah Atubolu – and celebrated with a trademark somersault.

A wake-up call was delivered to England in stoppage time, just after they had lost Alex Scott to injury. Nebel was given the time to lift in a cross from the left that found Weiper who, under little pressure, planted a bullet header past James Beadle.

Germany found the cutting edge they had been lacking in the first half in the second. England started to afford them space, none more so than when they drew level. A corner dropped for Nebel, who had could pick his spot under little pressure, with Jay Stansfield’s unfortunate touch helping a great strike over the line.

At the very end of a second half that had ebbed and flowed in the truest sense of the phrase, the same man almost won it. Nebel’s shot from the edge of the box struck Brooke Norton-Cuffy’s boot and time seemed to stand still as it arrowed towards the top corner, then cannoned back of the crossbar.

Elliott and McAtee were withdrawn with cramp in the moments before extra time – and within seconds of his introduction, Rowe wrote his name into the history books with the priceless touch.

‘This will be just as satisfying as 2023’

Sky Sports’ Adam Bate at Tehelne Pole:

“What a win, what an achievement. England lifted this trophy two years ago without conceding a goal, but this one will be just as satisfying in its own way because they have come through the setbacks to triumph again.

“So many impressive performances, illustrated by the fact that six substitutes featured in the final and three of them combined for the winning goal.

“A reminder that England went 39 years without winning this tournament. They have now retained it. The quality and depth of young talent is remarkable and in Lee Carsley they have a coach who has given them the platform to flourish.”

Match-winner Rowe: I had the mindset of doing anything to help

Jonathan Rowe speaking to Channel 4:

“Everyone is exceptional. From the minute I came into the camp, I could just tell everyone had the same mindset; we all wanted to win.

“We’ve done that now – the job’s finally finished and we can all celebrate!

“I came into the game with the mindset of doing anything I could to help the team. I wasn’t starting, but I knew, at some point, all of us on the bench would have to come on, make a difference and help the team to push it over the line.

“I’m so happy we managed to do that in front of some important people tonight.”

Carsley: The challenge is now to win it again in two years!

England boss Lee Carsley speaking to Channel 4:

“I’m really proud of the players. The commitment they’ve shown for the last 28 days, all the instruction we’ve tried to put into them so quickly, they’ve taken it on board and they’ve got so much belief.

“I spoke about it when we were at St George’s Park, that this squad believe they can win and that’s the kind of players we need.

“I’m so happy for them. To be European champions for the second time is a great achievement and the challenge now is to do it again in two years.

“It’s important they have a shandy or two tonight!

“Any setback we’ve had, the players have just got together. I said at the start of the tournament, the longer we can stay in, the better we play.

“I didn’t think we played great tonight. I thought we probably sat a little bit too deep and didn’t have as much control as I would’ve wanted, but I probably won’t remember that in a couple of days.

“I’m going to try and enjoy tonight. It’s important. I love my job, I’m very proud of the job I do, I love working with the players.

“I’ve had a chance with the senior team and I love that, so the best thing I can do is help the pathway and try and help the senior team.”

Foster: Great for English football if Carsley gets PL job

Former England U18, U19, U20 boss Ian Foster on Sky Sports News:

“Lee can’t do any more. It will be interesting now to see what and if offers come his way, and what he wants to do about that.

“I’m sure directors of football up and down the country will be looking at Lee’s achievements over the last few years and wondering whether he’s the next man to come in.

“I think it would be great for English football if Lee took a job in the Premier League and showed everybody what he’s capable of doing.

“But, for now, he’ll be immensely proud of his achievements and rightly so.”