ENGLAND Under-21s dramatically defended their European title with a thrilling extra-time win over Germany.
Substitute Jonathan Rowe’s stooping header, two minutes after coming on, clinched the Euro 2025 crown in Bratislava as Lee Carsley’s side retained the trophy they won two years ago, a victory which ended a 39-year drought.
Harvey Elliott swept in his fifth goal of the tournament after just five minutes before Omari Hutchinson drilled in to double their lead midway through the half.
Hutchinson, Elliot and James McAtee were denied by Noah Atubolu and Jay Stansfield missed a tap in at the far post as England threatened to run riot.
But Nelson Weiper’s towering header made it 2-1 in first-half injury time and Paul Nebel’s curling effort found the top corner to level on the hour.
The Young Lions recovered some composure but Nebel hit the bar in the closing seconds.
England then grabbed a dramatic 92nd-minute winner when Marseille forward Rowe glanced in Tyler Morton’s inviting cross – although Merlin Rohl nearly sent the final to penalties when his effort smacked the bar in stoppage time.
Boss Carsley only signed a new two-year deal to continue with the England Under-21s at the start of the month but can the Football Association keep him that long now?
The former Coventry and Everton midfielder has matched Dave Sexton’s achievements of 1982 and 1984 by winning successive European Championships.
He has done it with different groups too and was also unable to take Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens, Adam Wharton, Jobe Bellingham, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Jarrad Branthwaite to Slovakia.
The 51-year-old will now undoubtedly get touted for senior club jobs even if he is seen as a successor to Thomas Tuchel.
Elliott enjoyed a fine first half and McAtee’s all action display earned him the official man of the match.
Alex Scott and Elliott Anderson bossed the midfield for England in the first half but once Scott was forced off injured just before the break they lost their stranglehold on the game.
Germany’s Nick Woltemade – the tournament’s six-goal top scorer and expected dangerman – did not have a shot in the entire game.
Germany attempted a mammoth 44 crosses in the game as they looked for the presence and height of Woltemade but were often repelled.
They completed just five of those crosses, scoring from one of them, as England defenders Charlie Cresswell and Jarell Quansah again excelled.
That compares to England’s four successful attempts from just 14 crosses.
England are left to celebrate and they return for Euro 2027 qualifying in September against Kazakhstan as they look to go for three-in-a-row.
Germany will start again in qualifying at home to Latvia in September.