England will play Spain within the quarter-finals of the Below-21 European Championship after they had been crushed 2-1 by Germany of their last group recreation in Slovakia to complete runners-up in Group B.
Lee Carsley’s facet wanted a victory in Nitra to undergo to the knockout rounds in first place, however regardless of already-qualified Germany making 11 modifications, the reigning champions struggled to impose themselves and conceded each targets within the first half.
A wonderful end by Eintracht Frankfurt winger Ansgar Knauff and a header from ahead Nelson Weiper of Mainz despatched the 2023 winners to defeat and left them to face pre-tournament favourites Spain – who they beat within the last two years in the past – in Trnava on Saturday.
Bournemouth’s Alex Scott tapped dwelling 14 minutes from time from Omari Hutchinson’s cross to make it 2-1 however they might not emulate the comeback from 5-1 down produced by their under-19 counterparts towards Germany on Tuesday.
Nonetheless, Slovenia’s defeat to the Czech Republic within the different match in group was sufficient to safe England’s passage.
England U21 boss Lee Carsley
England fell behind after simply three minutes. Lukas Ullrich scooped a stunning diagonal ball into the field that drifted over the top of Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah, who was caught flat-footed, and Knauff introduced it down splendidly earlier than flicking it with the skin of his proper boot past James Beadle.
It was 2-0 earlier than half-time and poor defending price England. This time Knauff was the supplier, swinging in a cross to the sting of the six-yard field the place Weiper leapt between Charlie Cresswell and Jack Hinshelwood, beating each defenders to the ball and sending a towering header down into the nook.
Harvey Elliott blasted over the crossbar from contained in the field in the direction of the top of the primary half as Carsley’s facet sought a method again earlier than the break, then Elliot Anderson was denied by a smothering low cease from goalkeeper Tjark Ernst.
The ultimate minute of the half was performed out in partial darkness after a floodlight failed contained in the Pod Zoborom Stadium.
The issue was repaired throughout half-time however England discovered their points to be a much less simple repair, struggling to place stress on Germany regardless of three modifications from Carsley on the interval.
Hinshelwood had a golden probability to scale back the arrears within the 74th minute, however badly miscued his header from six yards out and despatched it crusing over the bar. Scott then gave England hope when he turned Hutchinson’s ball over the road.
Ernst saved brilliantly from Cresswell’s header as Carsley’s facet fought gamely however in useless for a degree.
