England 1-0 Spain: James Trafford saves last-gasp penalty as England win dramatic UEFA European Under-21 Championship
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Updated 09/07/2023 at 09:57 GMT+1
England’s Under-21s are champions of Europe following a dramatic 1-0 victory over Spain at the Batumi Stadium in Georgia. A closely-fought contest was settled thanks to a deflected Cole Palmer free kick which hit teammate Curtis Jones before nestling in the back of the net. James Trafford denied Spain an equaliser at the death with a stoppage-time penalty save that also saw him repel the rebound.
'It was a really tough test for us' - Carsley after England win U21 Euros
Curtis Jones’ deflected goal and James Trafford’s 99th-minute penalty save helped England win the Under-21 European Championship for the first time since 1984.
Lee Carsley’s England side beat Spain 1-0 in the final in Georgia and won the tournament without conceding a goal.
England took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Cole Palmer’s free kick deflected off Jones before wrong-footing goalkeeper Arnau Tenas and nestling into the far corner.
Spain had the ball in the net early on in the second half when Ruiz’s powerful header got the better of James Trafford, but the assistant referee’s flag was quickly raised for offside.
There was late drama when Colwill was adjudged to have fouled Ruiz after a VAR check, however the Spain captain saw his stoppage-time spot-kick saved by Trafford to spark euphoric scenes for England.
It’s the third time in their history that England have won the tournament.
England had a couple of early chances to go ahead, both fuelled by an electric Antony Gordon down the left-hand side, but were inches away from an opener on both occasions.
Palmer was at full stretch but couldn't turn in the rebound from Gordon’s low driven strike at the back post and moments later, Gordon’s cross for Morgan Gibbs-White - with the goal gaping - was slightly out of reach for the Nottingham Forest midfielder.
Spain grew into the game after a shaky start but struggled to trouble Trafford in the England net.
England, who had dropped off after a bright start, threatened again when Colwill’s header from a dead ball skimmed off the turf before crashing off the top of the post.
However, their persistence eventually paid off when Palmer’s free kick took a deflection off Jones and beyond goalkeeper Tenas on the stroke of half-time.
Spain thought they were back on level terms five minutes after the restart when Ruiz’s fierce header troubled Trafford, who couldn’t stop the ball from crossing the line, but breathed a sigh of relief when the assistant referee raised his flag for offside.
Spain pushed for an equaliser towards the end of the match and were awarded a penalty in the 98th minute when Colwill caught the boot of Ruiz mid-air as the pair jumped to meet a cross.
The late VAR check showed Ruiz had made contact with the ball first, and referee Espen Eskaas had no choice other than to award the spot-kick.
Ruiz stepped up but was dramatically denied by Trafford before the Manchester City goalkeeper also saved the rebound to secure the tournament with virtually the last kick of the game.
England stood firm in the final few seconds - just as they had done all tournament - to win the trophy for the first time in 39 years.
TALKING POINT - TRAFFORD’S DOUBLE SAVE TOPS A STUNNING DEFENSIVE DISPLAY
England have become European champions without conceding a single goal.
The immaculate record looked in doubt when Spain were awarded a penalty deep into added time, but it was written in the stars for Trafford - who has been exceptional in Georgia and Romania - to step up one last time and pull off the unthinkable.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH - JAMES TRAFFORD (ENGLAND)
A sensational end to a stunning tournament for Trafford.
Not only did he guess right to deny Spain’s captain with almost the last kick of the game, but he was also alert to pull off another brilliant save to stop Aimar Oroz.
There’s a reason he’s one of the most sought-after young goalkeepers in the game at the moment, and he has certainly proved his worth over the last couple of weeks.
MATCH RATINGS
ENGLAND: Trafford 9, Garner 7, Colwill 8, Harwood-Bellis 7, Aarons 6, Smith-Rowe 6, Jones 8, Gibbs-White 5, Gomes 6, Palmer 8, Gordon 7
Subs: Skipp 6, Doyle N/A, Elliott N/A, Archer 6, Madueke 7
SPAIN: Tenas 7, Gomez 7, Paredes 6, Pacheco 7, Miranda 6, Baena 6, Blanco 6, Sancet 6, Rodri 6, Gomez 7, Ruiz 7
Subs: Veiga 6, Oroz 6, Riquelme 6, Barrenetxea 6 Camello N/A
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
5’ - GORDON TROUBLES TENAS! He drives into the box and cuts in on his right foot, sending a low drive toward the back post which Barcelona's Arnau Tenas is able to palm away at full stretch. The ball dribbles away from goal as Palmer arrives and stretches in an attempt to poke in the rebound, but it's just out of his reach.
6’ - ENGLAND COME CLOSE AGAIN! Once again, Gordon causes more trouble in the box as he spins away from Victor Gomez before squaring a low delivery across the face of the six-yard box. Gibbs-White is arriving to meet the ball with an empty net in front of him, but again, the ball is just out of his path. A really positive start for England.
11’ - BAENA HAS TRAFFORD SCRAMBLING! This time it's Spain piling the pressure on England as Alex Baena opens up on the edge of the box and sends an effort toward the bottom-right corner which flashes just wide.
44’ - OFF THE POST! Palmer delivers a free kick from wide left which Colwill heads towards goal. The ball skims off the turf and bounces off the top of the post.
45’+4 - GOAL! ENGLAND 1-0 SPAIN (PALMER) - Palmer does really well to win the free kick in the first place with a direct run at goal before being brought down on the edge of the box. His following free kick deflects off Jones before wrongfooting Tenas and nestling into the far corner.
51’ - SPAIN HAVE THE BALL IN THE NET! ...but the assistant referee puts his flag up! A free-kick is swung in from the left and Ruiz sends a bullet header towards Trafford who can't stop the ball from crossing the line. After a quick VAR check the goal has indeed been ruled out - Ruiz denied his fourth of the tournament.
63’ - BIG, BIG CHANCE FOR ENGLAND! Gordon runs at goal on the left and pulls a cross back for Gibbs-White in the middle, who has to deal with an awkward ball at mid-flight, and sends his volley from close-range wide of the right post.
69’ - RUIZ WASTES A GOLEN OPPORTUNITY! Sergio Gomez delivers a fantastic ball toward the back post where Ruiz is ready to pounce, but his header from very close range is wide of the goal.
90’+6 - THERE IS A VAR CHECK FOR A SPAIN PENALTY! Colwill makes contact with Ruiz's boot as the pair jump for the ball from a cross. He puts Ruiz off after he made contact with the ball first.
90’+9 TRAFFORD SAVES!! And England have surely won it now! Wow!
KEY STAT
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