England crowned Under-21 European champions with win against Spain
Last updated on: 09 July,2023 01:13 pm
Lee Carsley's side executed a flawless campaign that did not see them concede a single goal
London (Reuters) - England edged Spain 1-0 in the Under-21 European Championship final on Saturday to lift the trophy for the first time in 39 years thanks to a goal from Curtis Jones as their opponents missed a penalty in stoppage time.
Lee Carsley's side executed a flawless campaign that did not see them concede a single goal, with five-time winners Spain unable to find the back of the net in the final. Jones broke the stalemate four minutes into first-half stoppage time when Cole Palmer's free kick was deflected off his back and into the net.
Yet they had a reprieve five minutes into stoppage time, as Spain were awarded a penalty after Levi Colwill fouled Abel Ruiz inside the box, but keeper James Trafford saved both Ruiz's shot and the follow-up.
"We've been talking about it a lot, and we felt it was our time to do it," England captain Taylor Harwood-Bellis told UEFA.com. "All the lads have pushed each other when they've not been playing. That's something we take pride in."
England assistant coach Ashley Cole, who was never sent off in 107 appearances for his country as a player, was given his marching orders soon after the goal for his role in an altercation involving players from both teams. Ruiz thought he had equalised six minutes after the break with a header from a free kick, but VAR ruled he was offside.
As the clock ticked towards the end, both England and Spain had multiple opportunities, but failed to find the back of the net on a humid Georgian night at Batumi Arena. Trafford was England's hero as he came to their rescue in stoppage time.
"I told everyone this morning I was going to save a penalty and it happened. We're a good team and believed nobody would score against us," Trafford told Channel 4.
Both sides were then reduced to 10 men in the dying seconds, with England's Morgan Gibbs-White and Spain's Antonio Blanco receiving their second booking for dissent.