James Trafford made a last-minute double save from the penalty spot to help England win the tournament. Photo: AP/Tamuna Kulumbegashvili
England Under 21 players rushed to James Trafford after the final whistle at the stadium in Batumi. He went to the European Championship after a season in League One but will return from Georgia as a Premier League number one and a hero after his stoppage-time save marked his first triumph in 39 years.
Trafford looked like they would miss their first Euro goal when Spain were awarded a penalty with seconds left after Levi Colville fouled Abel Ruiz. But the 20-year-old, who will travel to Burnley after the tournament, saved Ruiz's penalty and got up to deflect a rebound off Aimar Oroz.
It was a defining moment in the final, but the winner got a piece of fortune. A lot is expected of the Class 23s: Their goal bounced off the back of Curtis Jones as the Liverpool midfielder crouched in front of the defensive wall, deflecting a free-kick from Cole Palmer.
Young players Lee Carsley join the likes of Mark Hateley, Steve Hodge and Mel Sterland as winners of the tournament when England previously won in 1984. Gareth Southgate watched from the stands and saw a positive future for the senior side. , not least with their goalkeeper.
Some of these players are almost ready to step up. Steve Holland, Southgate's assistant, was at Nottingham Forest's training ground watching Morgan Gibbs-White, who looked like a senior player in a youth tournament in England games. Colville had already gotten a taste of the elderly, as had Emile Smith Rowe.
Trafford saved Abel Ruiz's penalty in the last seconds of the match. Photo: Getty Images/Sebastian Frej called for action again with another save in a dramatic finale. Credit: PA strong protection. Photo: AFP/Vano Shlamov
In this game, they showed street maturity to see through the top scorers of the tournament. They were just as skilled in the dark arts as the Spaniards, who were deeply rooted in smart game control. When it mattered, they had the level of skill Trafford showed to get the job done.
The England team last reached the final of this tournament in 2009 when they were crushed by Germany, who had six players to win the World Cup. Since then the Under 21s have been playing in tournaments where progress has been difficult to see, Adie Boothroyd called it a «completely impossible job», but it shows what a golden generation of youngsters there are in England right now.
Players cheered at the final whistle after six matches that kept a clean sheet for dry. It was again their defense led by Colville and then Trafford holding Spain back to seal the triumph.
Mauricio Pochettino integrated England under-21 star Levi Colville into the Chelsea first team
After an evasive first half, the final burst into life with an accidental first goal from Jones, sparking an ugly mass brawl that also involved both benches. Palmer was the creator of the first kick, provoking a foul from Manchester City teammate Sergio Gomez on the edge of the penalty area to see the goal.
Spain players were focused on Gibbs-White, who formed a shot on goal — but it was Palmer who hit the net. A set piece ricocheted off Jones' back as he dived in front of the defensive wall, with Arnau Tenas making a complete mistake on the goal line.
Palmer celebrated towards the bench, angering the Spaniards who were confronting City forward. Shots and pushes between players and staff were split, but Ashley Cole was sent to the stands, his first red card for England after 107 caps as a player. «If you know Kolya, his emotions are definitely running high,» said Sean Wright-Phillips, a former under-21 winger who covered the match as a Channel 4 pundit.
Emil Smith Rowe (left) and Max Aarons were key figures in England's path to glory. Photo: PA
Until this moment, there was almost nothing between the teams. England got off to a strong start, acquiring Anthony Gordon with the ball, and the Newcastle striker parried as he ran and then nearly framed Gibbs-White with another run for the Spanish defence.
But the Spaniards, who have won three of the previous six tournaments, entered the game with ease and regretted missed opportunities, including Aitor Paredes' free-kick with a header that was not well directed and did not interfere with a teammate. After the break, they scored with a header from Abel Ruiz, but he was ruled offside when he met a free kick from Gomez. The reaction to War's check was as disgusting as Jones' missed goal.
Jones raced through the middle of the second half and nearly scored a great, more orthodox goal. As the Spanish defenders retreated, Jones headed towards the penalty area and his shot was accurate, but was parried by Barcelona goalkeeper Tenas.
In the end, Palmer was overjoyed, hoping that this would bring them even more glory in the future.
«It means a lot. Obviously I've been working hard for the last few years for this moment and it's here, so we're thrilled,» said the winner of the match. «Honestly, I don't know about the goal. «I was just thinking of scoring. You're lucky, but you create your own luck, don't you? I was a bit frustrated with the game, they were falling down and screaming. So when we scored, the celebration might have been a bit over the top, but I'm just happy.»
Match details
England U21 (4-2-2-2):< /strong> Trafford 7; Garner 7, Harwood-Bellis 8, Colville 8, Aarons 7; Gomez 7 ( Archer 73), Jones 7; Palmer 7 (Elliot 82), Smith Row 5 (Madueke 66); Gibbs-White 7 (Skipp 73), Gordon 7 (Doyle 82) ): Thomas, Branthwaite, Griffiths (w), Johnson, Doyle, Elliott, Rushworth (w)
Warnings: Gomes, Colville, Gibbs-White, Trafford
Spain U21 (4- 2-3-1): Tenas 8; V Gomez 5 (Barrenechea 73), Paredes 7, Pacheco 6, Miranda 6; Blanco 6 (Camello, 82), Baena, 6 (Oros, 59); Rodri 6 (Riquelme 59), Sunset 5 (Veiga 59), C. Gomez 6, Ruiz 5 d), Gila, Sanchez, Bernabe, Roman (d)
Warning: Baena, Blanco, Sunset, Oros, Riquelme
Referee: Espen Escas (Norway)
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