England U21 vs Spain U21 LIVE!

England ended their 39-year wait to lift the Under-21 European Championship trophy with a 1-0 win as James Trafford produced a stunning penalty save to deny Spain deep into stoppage-time. The Young Lions kept five consecutive clean sheets on their run to the final, and knew another one would secure silverware once Cole Palmer’s free-kick deflected off Jones and left Spanish goalkeeper Arnau Tenas wrong-footed.

Victory was seconds away for England, when the referee returned from a check of the pitchside monitor to point to the penalty spot, Levi Colwill deemed to have fouled Abel Ruiz.

Extra-time appeared inevitable, as Ruiz stepped up with the best part of 100 minutes on the clock, but Trafford saved his spot-kick, kept out the rebound from Aimar Oroz brilliantly and then watched a third effort fly over the bar. For the third time ever, the first time since 1984 and in the most dramatic fashion imaginable, England secured European glory.

England vs Spain latest news

• FT: England seal European glory

• SAVE! Trafford keeps out last-gasp penalty

• GOAL! Jones' deflected strike gives England lead

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Saturday 8 July 2023 20:05 , Matt Verri

England ended their 39-year wait to lift the Under-21 European Championship trophy with a 1-0 win as James Trafford produced a stunning penalty save to deny Spain deep into stoppage-time.

The Young Lions kept five consecutive clean sheets on their run to the final, and knew another one would secure silverware once Cole Palmer’s free-kick deflected off Jones and left Spanish goalkeeper Arnau Tenas wrong-footed.

Victory was seconds away for England, when the referee returned from a check of the pitchside monitor to point to the penalty spot, Levi Colwill deemed to have fouled Abel Ruiz.

Extra-time appeared inevitable, as Ruiz stepped up with the best part of 100 minutes on the clock, but Trafford saved his spot-kick, kept out the rebound from Aimar Oroz brilliantly and then watched a third effort fly over the bar.

For the third time ever, the first time since 1984 and in the most dramatic fashion imaginable, England secured European glory.

Read our full report here!

The post-match celebrations!

Saturday 8 July 2023 19:28 , Matt Verri

Shutout

Saturday 8 July 2023 19:19 , Matt Verri

Six matches. Six wins. Six clean sheets.

Some tournament for Trafford, and it has the perfect ending for the goalkeeper.

ASTONISHING!

Saturday 8 July 2023 19:11 , Matt Verri

FT: England 1-0 Spain

Saturday 8 July 2023 19:06 , Matt Verri

THEY’VE DONE IT!

Madness. Trafford with a stunning double save, just as extra-time appeared inevitable.

Spanish players in tears, England players look stunned themselves. The 39-year wait for U21 European glory is over!

Saturday 8 July 2023 19:04 , Matt Verri

Gibbs-White sent off on the bench, it all kicked off again after that miss.

Seconds away now, surely...

TRAFFORD SAVES!

Saturday 8 July 2023 19:01 , Matt Verri

INCREDIBLE! A STUNNING DOUBLE SAVE FROM TRAFFORD!

PENALTY!

Saturday 8 July 2023 19:00 , Matt Verri

GIVEN.

Spain with a chance to equalise, as the clock ticks towards 98 minutes. We were about three seconds away from the full-time whistle.

VAR CHECK!

Saturday 8 July 2023 18:59 , Matt Verri

WOW!

The referee is going to look at the monitor, they are checking for a Spain penalty!

Did Colwill catch Ruiz in the build-up to that foul? Looks like the Spanish captain might have got to the ball first...

Saturday 8 July 2023 18:58 , Matt Verri

90+5 mins: Has to be a foul... and is! Trafford shoved in the box and that should be that.

Was a great ball in from Gomez, bounced up and about three Spain players barged into Trafford as he went to claim.

Saturday 8 July 2023 18:56 , Matt Verri

90+3 mins: Colwill has won everything in the air. Harwood-Bellis superb too.

England just a few minutes away, Carsley looking calm on the touchline but he’ll be feeling very tense.

Saturday 8 July 2023 18:53 , Matt Verri

90 mins: Six minutes added on!

Still time for Spain...

Saturday 8 July 2023 18:52 , Matt Verri

89 mins: WHAT A SAVE!

Wow. Elliott played through, his effort is parried out to Madueke. Looks to be an open goal, Madueke fires it towards the empty net but Tenas slides back and hooks the ball away on the line.

Saturday 8 July 2023 18:50 , Matt Verri

87 mins: That’s not particularly smart from Gomez.

Cuts inside onto his left foot, angle isn’t great and he drags it well wide from 25 yards out. England are very, very close...

Saturday 8 July 2023 18:47 , Matt Verri

84 mins: Doyles pounces on the loose ball, moves towards the touchline and he’s desperate to be fouled.

Contact doesn’t come, but he’ll take the throw in. Aarons not exactly charging over to take it.

Saturday 8 July 2023 18:44 , Matt Verri

82 mins: England are doing a good job of seeing this out, slowing things down. Spain unable to build up any sort of momentum, which is making them even more frustrated.

Palmer does now trudge off, shaking everyone’s hand on the way. Gordon also off. Elliott and Doyle the two introduced.

Saturday 8 July 2023 18:41 , Matt Verri

78 mins: Palmer down again, he’s not at a popular man out there. Spain have spent most of the match trying to get in a fight with him.

Looks like he’s going off, has sat down and is looking over at the bench. Elliott getting ready to come on, as the Spanish players try and ‘help’ Palmer off.

Saturday 8 July 2023 18:37 , Matt Verri

74 mins: Add it to the list. Trafford shown a yellow for time-wasting, that’s eight players in the book.

Skipp and Archer are on for England, replacing Gibbs-White and Gomes. That’s two of those on yellows off the pitch.

Saturday 8 July 2023 18:34 , Matt Verri

71 mins: Gibbs-White joins what feels like most of the players on the pitch in the book. Not sure even he knows what that was for.

Garner taking his sweet time over a throw-in, will be plenty more of that to come. He’s one of the few not on a yellow card so can afford to do so.

Saturday 8 July 2023 18:30 , Matt Verri

68 mins: First England change. Madueke on for Smith Rowe. England with 25 minutes or so to see out, that trophy is within touching distance.

Nearly moves further away though, Ruiz’s header inches wide! Trafford was not getting there.

Saturday 8 July 2023 18:27 , Matt Verri

65 mins: Jones should score!

England are rampant all of a sudden, Spain hanging on. Jones drives into the box, nobody closes him down and he gets the shot away, strong hand from Tenas to deny him.

Saturday 8 July 2023 18:26 , Matt Verri

63 mins: BIG CHANCE!

That could have sealed it. Gordon cuts it back towards Gibbs-White, slightly awkward chance and he can’t make any sort of significant contact.

He’s quick to make sure it’s Gordon getting the blame for that...

Saturday 8 July 2023 18:23 , Matt Verri

60 mins: Better from England, pretty much their first attack of the half.

Aarons it is who gets forward, drives to the byline and cuts the ball back... Tenas claims with Gordon and Smith Rowe both lurking.

England look good when they do attack, just haven’t been able to do it very often in the past 15 minutes.

Saturday 8 July 2023 18:20 , Matt Verri

57 mins: Brilliant tackle from Garner, just as Spain thought they were breaking away. He’s not moving too well after it though.

Match is starting to open up, plenty of space on offer as it becomes stretched. Very early for that!

Saturday 8 July 2023 18:17 , Matt Verri

54 mins: England have barely got out of their half since the break. Won’t want to just sit back.

Spain look dangerous, another 40 minutes or so of this and you’d back them to find a way past the England defence.

GOOO... OFFSIDE!

Saturday 8 July 2023 18:14 , Matt Verri

51 mins: Spain think they’re level, but the offside flag is up!

Free-kick clipped into the box, Ruiz completely free in the middle and he powers a header past Trafford.

Linesman quick to raise the flag. VAR having a look - it’s tight, but looks just about off. And it is.

Saturday 8 July 2023 18:10 , Matt Verri

48 mins: Spain with all of the possession since the break, imagine this will be a theme of the second half should the score remain the same.

They work it nicely down the right, but Colwill is swiftly across to charge down the cross. Spain corner.

Back underway!

Saturday 8 July 2023 18:08 , Matt Verri

Up and running again - England 45 minutes away!

That goal has now been awarded to Curtis Jones, it deflected off the Liverpool man.

Huge moment!

Saturday 8 July 2023 17:59 , Matt Verri

HT: England 1-0 Spain

Saturday 8 July 2023 17:52 , Matt Verri

Colwill and Sancet into the book for their role in that melee, while Ashley Cole has been sent off. Clearly he was involved on the touchline.

It’s been a niggly half, no surprise to see it boil over.

And that’s half-time. England 45 minutes away from lifting the trophy.

GOAL! England 1-0 Spain | Cole Palmer 45+4'

Saturday 8 July 2023 17:50 , Matt Verri

ENGLAND TAKE THE LEAD!

It’s fortunate, but they don’t care. Palmer’s free-kick deflects off the wall, wrong-foots Tenas and flies into the opposite corner.

And it’s all kicked off on the touchline, Spanish bench not happy.

Saturday 8 July 2023 17:48 , Matt Verri

45+2 mins: Palmer wins a free-kick just outside the box, good position this.

Five minutes added on at the end of the half - could have been about four times that.

Saturday 8 July 2023 17:44 , Matt Verri

44 mins: Baena already testing the referee’s patience, pulling Smith Rowe back to stop the attack. Already on a yellow card.

Palmer to whip this into the box, Colwill’s header... OFF THE WOODWORK! England inches away from taking the lead.

Nods it into the ground, bounces up and off the top of the post.

Saturday 8 July 2023 17:42 , Matt Verri

41 mins: Saying that...

Lovely drop of the shoulder from Palmer, works the space for himself 25 yards out. Catches the strike really sweetly, straight at the goalkeeper though. More of that needed from England.

Saturday 8 July 2023 17:40 , Matt Verri

40 mins: We’ll see what the fourth official says, but there could really be about 15 minutes added on here. Ball has been in play for about four minutes it feels like.

Smith Rowe and Palmer have been very quiet since that bright start.

Saturday 8 July 2023 17:37 , Matt Verri

37 mins: And another yellow card, Blanco the latest man into the book.

Gordon moves into the Spain half, sees the midfielder coming and knocks the ball away from him, as he takes the contact. Six or seven rolls just to make sure the card comes out.

Saturday 8 July 2023 17:35 , Matt Verri

34 mins: Baena with an incredibly stupid challenge, lunging in Gomes when he was going nowhere. Earns himself a yellow card too.

These two sides have been really impressive throughout the tournament, but it’s been a poor final so far. Very little quality.

Saturday 8 July 2023 17:33 , Matt Verri

33 mins: Smith Rowe loses it, Rodri pounces and his shot is deflected behind for a corner. England need to wake up.

Corner cleared away initially, comes back in and it’s superb goalkeeping from Trafford to claim under pressure.

Saturday 8 July 2023 17:32 , Matt Verri

32 mins: Another long delay, but eventually Spain are ready to take this free-kick.

Gomez with a brilliant ball in, right into the six-yard box and somehow it misses everyone and runs out for a goal-kick.

Saturday 8 July 2023 17:30 , Matt Verri

29 mins: That opening five minutes feels a long time ago. England were creating chances at will, but they’re struggling to even put a few passes together now.

Spain win another free-kick, Gomes sticking a leg out. Cannot afford many more of those, already on a yellow card.

Saturday 8 July 2023 17:27 , Matt Verri

27 mins: We might have about three hours of stoppage-time.

Blanco the latest Spanish player down, Gibbs-White crashed into him off the ball. It was a foul, not quite the assault Blanco’s reaction would suggest though.

Saturday 8 July 2023 17:24 , Matt Verri

24 mins: First booking of the match, Gomes the man to receive it. England man has to be very careful now.

Baena bursting forward in midfield, gets clipped by Gomes and the referee quickly brings out the yellow card. Wasn’t a huge amount of contact.

Saturday 8 July 2023 17:23 , Matt Verri

22 mins: Plenty of stoppages in this match so far, and here’s another one.

England come forward for the first time in about ten minutes, ball clipped into the box and Gibbs-White catches Paredes with an elbow. Spainish defender is swiftly up and fine to continue.

Saturday 8 July 2023 17:20 , Matt Verri

19 mins: Nearly 1-0!

Paredes wins the header, flicked towards the far corner and it’s just wide. Ruiz isn’t far away from getting on the end of it at the back post.

Spain well on top.

Saturday 8 July 2023 17:19 , Matt Verri

18 mins: Here come Spain again, Miranda in space out on the left where all of their threat is coming from.

He looks to fire a low cross into the box, Garner across to turn it behind for a corner.

Saturday 8 July 2023 17:15 , Matt Verri

15 mins: Spain having a much better spell, England continue to get caught on the ball.

Gibbs-White and Jones don’t communicate, Baena pounces and again he bursts forward with it. Into the box, tight angle and he slices the effort well wide.

Saturday 8 July 2023 17:13 , Matt Verri

12 mins: Trafford very calm on the ball as the red shirts pile forward to press.

And it very nearly costs England! Spain win it back high up the pitch, Baena tries his luck from just outside the box and whips it wide of the far post. Not far away at all.

Saturday 8 July 2023 17:10 , Matt Verri

9 mins: Spain have their first long spell of possession, but England win it back and they settle back into knocking it around. They look really comfortable already.

Palmer and Gordon in particular have made a sharp start, no sign of any nerves in the England ranks.

Saturday 8 July 2023 17:06 , Matt Verri

6 mins: And that’s even closer! England should lead.

Gordon with a brilliant turn and he’s clean through, squares it across the face of goal and Gibbs-White somehow fails to make contact from six yards out. Had to score.

Flying start from the Young Lions.

Saturday 8 July 2023 17:05 , Matt Verri

5 mins: Baena late on Colwill, and they have a bit of a shoving match. Referee again less than impressed, going to be a long night at this rate.

When we do eventually get back underway, Gordon cuts inside in the box, gets a shot away and it’s parried out... inches away from Palmer! He very nearly had a tap-in at the back post.

Saturday 8 July 2023 17:03 , Matt Verri

3 mins: Palmer looks to turn Miranda on the right, gets dragged to the ground. Not particularly subtle from the Spanish defender, but he still tries to protest.

England take it quickly, passing it all the way back to the centre-backs. Referee not happy with where they took it from, so they do so again.... all the way back to the centre-backs.

KICK-OFF!

Saturday 8 July 2023 17:00 , Matt Verri

We’re up and running!

Here we go!

Saturday 8 July 2023 16:55 , Matt Verri

Teams are out, decent crowd inside the stadium too. Will be a good amount of support for England this evening, though plenty of Spanish flags dotted around too.

Time for the anthems.

Ten minutes to go...

Saturday 8 July 2023 16:51 , Matt Verri

The players will be out onto the pitch very, very shortly.

The Young Lions have been perfect so far in the tournament, winning every match without conceding a goal.

This is by far their toughest test, but they have every reason to be confident after a brilliant few weeks. One more performance needed...

One last message!

Saturday 8 July 2023 16:44 , Matt Verri

We’ve had Harry Kane, we’ve had the Arsenal squad... you can add the Lionesses to the list of good luck messages sent to the England squad.

They’re in Australia ahead of the Women’s World Cup later this month, looking to pick up more silverware themselves after European glory on home soil last summer.

Fairly decent record!

Saturday 8 July 2023 16:39 , Matt Verri

England haven’t won this tournament since 1984 - no such problems for Spain.

They’ve lifted the trophy on three of the past six occasions, with a runners-up finish in that run too. Spain very much used to being here.

The Young Lions last made it to the final in 2009, when they they were beaten 4-0 by Germany. James Milner, Theo Walcott and Micah Richards also started that night.

How Spain got here...

Saturday 8 July 2023 16:32 , Matt Verri

Carsley wary of Spain threat

Saturday 8 July 2023 16:26 , Matt Verri

“Spain are a top nation, we respect them a lot,” the Young Lions’ boss said in his pre-match press conference.

“It’s important that we defend well as a team. We’ve got both parts well so far as we’ve attacked through the thirds quite quickly. Spain, along with three or four others, have always been high quality and had exciting individuals. Watching La Liga there is a very similar style at the top. It’s always good to learn and watch good teams play.

“We like the ball, as do Spain. Our main focus today has been out of possession, where we’re in a position to get it back. We won’t have the ball at some points. Watching Spain’s game, I’m expecting a really exciting final.”

Young Lions in the building!

Saturday 8 July 2023 16:17 , Matt Verri

Smith Rowe and Palmer start

Saturday 8 July 2023 16:10 , Matt Verri

Cole Palmer gets the nod for England on the right wing, with Noni Madueke having to settle for a place on the bench. Emile Smith Rowe starts on the opposite flank.

Max Aarons is back from suspension and returns at left-back, with the Young Lions side otherwise as expected. Anthony Gordon once again leads the line, Cameron Archer among the substitutes.

Spain team news

Saturday 8 July 2023 16:02 , Matt Verri

Starting XI: Tenas; Gomez, Paredes, Pacheco, Miranda; Blanco, Baena, Sancet; Rodri, Ruiz, Gomez

Extra marks for a video? No, entirely unnecessary.

England team news

Saturday 8 July 2023 15:52 , Matt Verri

Starting XI: Trafford; Garner, Harwood-Bellis, Colwill, Aarons; Gomes, Jones; Palmer, Gibbs-White, Smith Rowe; Gordon.

Subs: Thomas, Skipp, Archer, Branthwaite, Griffiths, Cresswell, Johnson, Doyle, Elliott, Rushworth, Madueke

How England reached the final

Saturday 8 July 2023 15:41 , Matt Verri

England have beaten Israel twice in this tournament, first in the group-stage and then in the semi-finals.

Another clean sheet, three goals... job well done in the last-four!

Kick-off in 90 minutes!

Saturday 8 July 2023 15:33 , Matt Verri

Colwill eyes senior breakthrough

Saturday 8 July 2023 15:25 , Matt Verri

Winning the European Championships for the first time since 1984 is all the England Under-21s are thinking about, as they prepare to face Spain this afternoon.

With Gareth Southgate flying to Batumi, Georgia to watch Lee Carsley’s side in the Adjarabet Arena — England’s first final at this level since 2009 — at least one player might allow his mind to wonder, because an England seniors call-up is a very realistic prospect.

When Southgate’s England waltzed past Malta 4-0 and North Macedonia 7-0 in their Euro 2024 qualifying double-header last month, all the talk was about Levi Colwill’s promotion to train with the seniors and travel with them to Valletta before joining up with the U21s team late.

Read more on that here!

All eyes on the final...

Saturday 8 July 2023 15:06 , Matt Verri

Emile Smith Rowe will be hoping to start this evening - the Arsenal squad hope he will too.

Martin Odegaard and his team-mates sent a good luck message to Smith Rowe earlier today. Will he be returning to London Colney with some silverware?

Saturday 8 July 2023 14:58 , Giuseppe Muro

England have beaten Portugal 1-0 and Israel 3-0 in the knockout stage and are yet to concede a goal in their run to the final.

"It's something the whole team takes pride in," said England skipper Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

"The team can suffer, like against Portugal. We've got it in our locker to stick together and put your body on the line to keep it out. James has been a massive part of that but I could go through all the bench and they'd all do the same."

Saturday 8 July 2023 14:52 , Giuseppe Muro

England are captained by Manchester City’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis and their team includes Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon, Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe and Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White.

Carsley wants them to seize the opportunity to join England’s 1982 and 1984 tournament winners.

“It draws a line under their youth development,” he said.

“Spain will be a tough team to play against. We’ve watched a lot of them. Since we got into the latter stages, we realised that you get one life. We have to make sure you make the most of the chances you get.

“Definitely [it’s a closing chapter]. We spoke as a staff that this group, and these four weeks, has felt the most like a club we’ve had in terms of team spirit. The personalities that have developed. It’s a shame in that respect [it will end].”

Saturday 8 July 2023 14:43 , Giuseppe Muro

Lee Carsley says his side are ready to put in a “hell of a performance” and has urged them put on a show for the television cameras.

Carsley believes Channel 4’s late deal to broadcast the game from Georgia can act as inspiration. It will be the only match televised in the UK from the tournament.

“That it’s being televised is brilliant for the players,” Carsley said. “They’ve played so well and with such freedom it would be great if they could put on a similar performance tomorrow and show the viewers potentially the next [full] internationals and what that team looks like.

“With it being a final, the last game a lot of these players can play at this level, it’s a big occasion.

“We’ve shown over the last two years [how we can play] – against the Czech Republic, Italy, France, Portugal – and to win [here] was a big thing coming in. If they click it’ll be a hell of a performance. The bigger stage means you’ll see a different intensity to the team.”

Saturday 8 July 2023 14:36 , Giuseppe Muro

A reminder of how England got to the final and all the goals they have scored along the way…

Match odds

Saturday 8 July 2023 14:29 , Giuseppe Muro

England to lift trophy: 9/10

Spain to lift trophy: 19/20

Smith Rowe to score or assist: 2/1

Odds via Betfair, subject to change.

‘Let’s finish the job’

Saturday 8 July 2023 14:23 , Giuseppe Muro

England captain Harry Kane has sent a message to Lee Carsley’s squad ahead of the today’s game.

Kane has told them to “enjoy the experience” and “finish the job” against Spain.

Prediction

Saturday 8 July 2023 14:15 , Giuseppe Muro

England look fearsome up top and have a defence yet to concede a goal. They have not had a better chance for glory in 39 years and will surely make it count.

Spain will need to win the midfield battle to have any chance of victory, and certainly have the firepower to punish England, otherwise I can’t see past a Young Lions win.

England to win 2-0.

England team news: Smith Rowe to start

Saturday 8 July 2023 14:08 , Giuseppe Muro

Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe looks set to keep his place in the England team.

Smith Rowe was given the nod over Harvey Elliott in the semi-final against Israel and starred as the Young Lions won 3-0.

England boss Lee Carlsey is unlikely to make too many changes but Max Aarons is available again after suspension and is expected to come back in at left-back.

Chelsea defender Levi Colwill will be looking to impress England manager Gareth Southgate, who has travelled to Georgia to watch the game.

Spain named an unchanged lineup for their 5-1 semi-final win over Ukraine and are set to go with that XI again.

How to watch: Channel 4 and UEFA website

Saturday 8 July 2023 14:01 , Giuseppe Muro

TV channel and live stream: The game will be broadcast for UK viewers on Channel 4 and via the official UEFA website and coverage starting at 4.45pm.

Welcome

Saturday 8 July 2023 14:00 , Giuseppe Muro

Good afternoon and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of the final of the European Under-21 Championship.

England face Spain bidding to end a 39-year wait and win this tournament for the first time since 1984!

Kick-off from the Batumi Arena in Batumi, Georgia is at 5pm BST.