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Lee Carsley said this week that achieving back-to-back European titles at under-21 level could help to enhance the reputation of British coaches, not to mention this group of young England players. An impressive quarter-final victory over pre-tournament favourites Spain intent on dishing out revenge will certainly not have done either any harm.
Having struggled to reach the last eight with an inexperienced squad that is one of the youngest in Slovakia, goals from James McAtee and Harvey Elliott – both of whom have uncertain futures at their clubs – and a late penalty from Elliot Anderson sealed another triumph for Carsley over the same opponents England saw off in the 2023 final. With the Netherlands up next in Wednesday’s semi-final in Bratislava, he is now two matches away from matching Dave Sexton’s feat of winning this competition in 1982 and 1984.
Spain have become regular opponents for England in the latter stages of various youth tournaments over recent years, although only their coach, Santi Denia, remained from their bad-tempered defeat in the final of this competition two years ago in Georgia when both sides had a member of the coaching staff and a player sent off. Denia has had to do without players such as Lamine Yamal – who will still be eligible for this tournament in 2029 – and Real Madrid’s new signing Dean Huijsen, but has built a team around the Valencia playmaker Javi Guerra that sailed through the group stages.
It seemed that England might be overwhelmed in the first two minutes when Diego López headed over from close range and the Italian referee, Simone Sozza, pointed to the spot after a powerful shot from López struck Charlie Cresswell on the arm. But the video assistant referee saw it differently and – to the Toulouse defender’s relief as he pumped his fist in celebration – the penalty was overturned.
That proved to be the wake-up call England needed. McAtee looks set to leave Manchester City this summer, having been allowed to play here rather than travel to the Club World Cup, and showed his eye for goal when he was quickest to react after Spain made a hash of clearing Alex Scott’s corner.
Jarell Quansah was the architect of the second after Birmingham’s Jay Stansfield, leading the line as one of four changes from the defeat by Germany in midweek, forced a loose pass. The Liverpool defender is on the verge of joining Bayer Leverkusen for £30m, while Elliott’s future at Anfield is also in question after the arrival of Florian Wirtz from the German club. But when Quansah strode forward and unleashed a shot that was not convincingly saved, Elliott was on hand to turn in the rebound. Suddenly England were rampant as Tino Livramento came close to extending their lead when he forced Alejandro Iturbe into a save at his near post.
Spain looked dazed and were grateful to be handed a lifeline from the spot. Scott gave the ball away in a dangerous area and when Quansah tripped Alberto Moleiro, this time there was no debate as Guerra swept home the penalty.
England looked determined to finish the job at the start of the second half. But Stansfield’s touch let him down following another surging run from Quansah and his shot deflected over, with Cresswell heading the corner inches wide.
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Anderson – a surprise omission for Liverpool’s Tyler Morton having started all three group stage games – was brought on with Jonathan Rowe as Carsley rolled the dice. Denia also made two changes, with James Beadle forced into a double save to keep out Guerra. There were hearts in mouths when a cross from the right fizzed across the six-yard area but Cresswell came to England’s rescue with an acrobatic clearance.
Spain continued to press for an equaliser and Jack Hinshelwood could have settled Carsley’s nerves had he directed a free header from Anderson’s cross on target rather than over the crossbar. But when Jonathan Rowe was brought down by Iturbe in injury time, Anderson made no mistake with his penalty and even some unsavoury scenes at the final whistle when members of the Spain bench provoked a confrontation will not have dampened England’s delight.
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