England won the European Under-21 Championship for the first time since 1984 on Saturday, beating Spain 1-0 in the final. The only goal of the game came in first-half stoppage time, when Curtis Jones’s free kick deflected off of his back and past Spain goalkeeper Alvaro Fernandez.
England goalkeeper James Trafford then made a pair of remarkable saves in second-half stoppage time to deny Spain a penalty and secure the win. The victory was a fitting reward for an England side that had been impressive throughout the tournament, conceding just one goal in their six games.
It was also a major boost for the future of English football, with many of the players who featured in the final likely to be involved in the senior team in the years to come.
Sure, here are some of the key moments from the England vs Spain final of the 2023 European Under-21 Championship:
- 44th minute: Cole Palmer’s free-kick is deflected in off Curtis Jones to give England the lead.
- 59th minute: Harvey Elliott has a great chance to double England’s lead, but his shot is saved by Spain goalkeeper Alejandro Tenas.
- 89th minute: Noni Madueke has a goal disallowed for offside.
- 90+3 minute: Spain are awarded a penalty after Morgan Gibbs-White fouls Abel Ruiz in the box. However, James Trafford saves Ruiz’s penalty to keep England’s lead intact.
England held on to win the match 1-0, securing their third European Under-21 Championship title.
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Here are some other notable moments from the match:
- England’s defense was outstanding throughout the match. They kept Spain at bay for the majority of the game, and they were only really threatened in the final 10 minutes or so.
- James Trafford was a hero in goal for England. He made a number of important saves, including the penalty stop in stoppage time.
- Cole Palmer was a standout performer for England. He was involved in the build-up to the goal, and he also had a number of other dangerous chances.
Overall, it was a very close and entertaining match. England deserved their win, but Spain can be proud of their performance.
The England team that won the U21 European Championship was full of talented young players. Curtis Jones, who scored the winning goal, is a highly-rated midfielder who is already breaking into the Liverpool first team. Other key players in the England side included Morgan Gibbs-White, who has been in good form for Wolves this season, and James Justin, who has been a revelation at Leicester City.
The Manager
Lee Carsley was the manager of the England team that won the U21 European Championship. Carsley is a former England international who has been coaching at youth level for many years. He was appointed manager of the U21 team in 2019. Carsley’s appointment was seen as a positive move by many, and he has since proved to be a successful manager.
The Future
The victory of the England U21 team is a major boost for the future of English football. Many of the players who featured in the final are likely to be involved in the senior team in the years to come. This is a positive sign for England, as it suggests that the country is producing a new generation of talented young players. With the right development, these players could help England to achieve success at senior level in the future.