England U21 fell to a 2-1 defeat to Germany of their ultimate group sport of the European U21 Championship however nonetheless progressed to the quarter-finals as runners-up.
In a sport that England noticed a lot of the ball, Ansgar Knauff and Nelson Weiper put Germany two targets to the nice within the first half earlier than Lee Carsley’s facet surged ahead within the second, pulling one again by Alex Scott.
Regardless of the outcome – which noticed Germany high Group B with most factors – Carsley’s crew transfer into to the final eight the place they may meet Spain on Saturday night in a repeat of the ultimate two years in the past.
Slovenia have been overwhelmed 2-0 by Czechia within the different group sport as the possibility of an early exit for the 2023 winners not often regarded like a risk.
Our #YoungLions progress to the #U21EURO quarter-finals as Group B runners-up, regardless of tonight’s defeat. pic.twitter.com/ogJAC1IM4x
— England (@England) June 18, 2025
England make worst potential begin
Germany head coach Antonio Di Salvo made 11 modifications to the beginning lineup, protected within the data that his facet’s passage to the final eight had already been secured earlier than kick-off.
And his crew wasted little time of their bid to impress. Inside three minutes, Lukas Ullrich’s inch-perfect lofted go dropped over the pinnacle of Jarell Quansah to the ft of Knauff.
If the Eintracht Frankfurt winger’s first contact was good, his second was elegant, rifling the ball into the far nook past James Beale to provide Germany an early lead.
5 minutes later, England went near an equaliser when Ethan Nwaneri’s ball in was brilliantly cleared away from just about beneath the bar by Tim Oermann with Quansah inches from making contact with the ball.
Omari Hutchinson then fired huge earlier than Jonathan Rowe lashed into the facet netting when a first-time strike regarded the extra fascinating choice.
However Regardless of a promising England response after going behind, Germany then doubled their lead on 33-minutes when Weiper jumped between Jack Hinshelwood and Charlie Cresswell to beautifully information a header into the nook.
The duty had instantly been made all of the harder for Carsley’s younger Lions; a floodlight going out on the stroke of half-time serving as a quite apt metaphor for the dwindling hopes of ending as Group B winners.
ANOTHER excellent first half for our U 21 squad 🤩 we take a 2-0 lead over England into the break! 🔥#DFB #GermanFootball #GermanYNT
📸 Thomas Böcker/DFB pic.twitter.com/GSiWC7uafl
— German Soccer (@DFB_Team_EN) June 18, 2025
Three Lions resurgent within the second half
However qualification to the final eight seldom regarded in jeopardy for England. Carsley made three modifications on the break, introducing James McAtee, Jay Stansfield and Brooke Norton-Cuffy.
And, once more, England largely dominated the possession statistics. The vigorous Norton-Cuffy hit a tame effort into the palms of Tjark Ernst earlier than Stansfield dragged a shot huge after a neat flip within the field.
However Germany’s affected person, resolute sport plan was proving efficient.
That’s till the 76th minute when some superb work from Hutchinson down the left culminated in a faucet in for Scott to halve the deficit.
Buoyed by the aim, England surged ahead seeking an equaliser, Charlie Cresswell’s thumping header requiring an excellent save from Ernst.
However Germany held on to make it three wins from three and look forward to Italy on Sunday. For England, in the meantime, a date with a well-recognized foe awaits in Trnava in three days’ time.