Bundesliga
Germany fought back from 2-0 down to take the UEFA U21 European Championship final to extra time on Saturday, but ultimately lost out 3-2 against England.
England 3-2 Germany
Goals: 1-0 Elliott (5’), 2-0 Hutchinson (25’), 2-1 Weiper (45’+1), 2-2 Nebel (61'), 3-2 Rowe (92')
Having won all of their matches at their tournament on the way to the final, Germany were dealt an unfamiliar blow after just five minutes when England took an early lead.
Omari Hutchinson sprinted behind the defence, and although Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu did well to block his shot, Nnamdi Collins inadvertently poked the ball straight to Harvey Elliott as he attempted a clearance. The Liverpool midfielder was left with a simple finish from close range for his fifth goal of the finals.
James McAtee drilled an inviting ball across the six-yard box that evaded all of his teammates moments later, and the Manchester City midfielder was involved with his team’s next chance as well, delivering a teasing cross that was just too strong for Jay Stansfield at the back post.
Nick Woltemade flashed a header wide following a free-kick as Germany served a reminder of their goal threat, but it was England who struck again when McAtee flicked a pass to his left for Hutchinson to fizz a low drive into the net.
Germany had been second best for most of the half but gave themselves a lifeline just before the interval when Nelson Weiper headed in Paul Nebel’s looping cross from the left.
McAtee could have delivered the knockout blow early in the second half with a fine dribble that ended with his left-footed shot bobbling just wide of the post. The Young Lions would come to rue that miss as Germany grew into the game and equalised via Nebel’s deflected shot at the back post following a corner.
Momentum appeared to be with Germany at that point but England seized control again and should have regained the lead when substitute Brooke Norton-Cuffy ghosted into the box unmarked but could only scuff his shot straight at Atubolu.
Nebel arrowed a long-range shot just wide in response and then thundered an effort off the crossbar in stoppage time as Germany sought a winner a vain, sending the game into extra time.
Jonathan Rowe came off the bench for England at the start of extra time and had an instant impact, steering a glancing diving header in at the back post for what proved to be the game-winning goal.
Germany tried to level matters and hit the crossbar again through Merlin Röhl in second-half stoppage time but in the end the Young Lions held on for victory.
Match facts
Teams
England: Beadle - Livramento, Cresswell, Quansah, Hinshelwood - Elliott (Rowe 91'), Scott (Morton 44'), Anderson (Egan-Riley 98'), Hutchinson (Iling-Junior 98') - McAtee (c) (Nwaneri 91') - Stansfield (Norton-Cuffy 62')
Unused subs: Simkin, Sharman-Lowe, Edwards, Hackney, Fellows, Gray
Out: -
Coach: Lee Carsley
Germany: Atubolu - Collins, Arrey-Mbi, Oermann (Wanner 106'), Brown (Ullrich 86') - Nebel, Martel (c) (Tresoldi 98'), Reitz - Gruda (Knauff 73'), Woltemade, Weiper (Röhl 80')
Unused subs: Ernst, Noll, Rosenfelder, Thielmann, Siebert, Jander, Baum
Out: -
Coach: Antonio Di Salvo
As it happened!
Another strike from Germany hits the post late in the game! This time it's Röhl who has a BIG chance to get an equaliser after Nebel hit the post earlier in the game. The Freiburg midfielder hits it will with his laces but can only hit Beadle's post who is beaten completely..
There is a glimmer of a chance for the Germany captain as he wriggles his way into the England box and his shot deceives everyone but flies past the near post, still 3-2 to England...
Germany are throwing in cross after cross but England's defenders are heading it all away. Can they find a way here?
Germany continue to give it their all in search of the equaliser but England are remaining resolute. They only need to hold on for five more minutes...
Three Germany crosses and three England blocks to match. Carsley's side are really locking it down in their box as Beadle collects the latest cross from Nebel.
And Germany are seemingly doing their absolute best to find it. Ullrich, Nebel and Knauff are the usual crossing suspects trying to find the heads of Tresoldi and Woltemade in the box but so far, they remain unsuccessful.
Looks as though Di Salvo is happy with just one centre back as Wanner comes on for Oermann... every potential attacking threat is on the pitch now for Germany..
Just 15 minutes to go now. Tired legs and fatigue starting to show in both camps but England take the lead into the second half and it may now be theirs to lose...
The now Germany captain finds space in the box after turning well past pressure from Livramento, but the shot is not aimed well enough to test Beadle. We are second away from the end of the first half of extra time.
That seems to be the ploy from Germany, who are trying to use Ullrich and Nebel or Knauff on either flank to find targets in the box, England attempting to close down every chance they get.
Germanny now seeing more of the ball once again, Reitz the deepest midfielder and orchestrating play from the centre of the park. Can they find the equaliser they so desire?
Two midfielders who have been pivotal to the fortunes of their teams thus far have been taken off, both Di Salvo and Carsley are really going for it here.
A cross from Nebel on the left nearly finds the inverting run from Knauff in the England box, but the cross is well dealt with by the England defence.
And it is starting to show. They are quicker to the second ball and sharper with their movements Rowe's goal. Germany second best to everything.
A scuffed shot from outside the area by the Frankfurt man fails to test the England keeper, Germany are going to need a lot more composure if they want to find their way to another equaliser in this one..
It's his first touch of the game and what an important touch it is! A diving header from the Marseille man to throw Carsley's side into the lead again! It's his third goal in the last nine matches.
How close was that? That was THE moment for the Mainz man, Reitz did ever so well to retain possession in the face of tackle after tackle from England defenders but the loose ball is then struck hard and true from Nebel and utlimately hits the post!
Four minutes has been signalled by the fourth official. Is there enough time now for a decider?
Two mistakes back-to-back from England as Germany are turning up the heat in their pressing up front, if there is a moment to win a final, it may as well be in the final five minutes. The next goal almost certainly seals this affair.
It's like for like from Di Salvo as an injury for Brown forces him to make a change. Gladbach's Ullrich is called upon.
The Frankfurt man looks worried and has sat down as the players step off the pitch for another drinks break.
England play it patiently around a well-structured Germany block around the edge of the box, but the substitute Morton fizzes his shot high and far above Atubolu's goal.
What a chance it was! Norton-Cuffy is found at the edge of the area, who scuffs his shot straight at Atubolu, who saves confidently and comfortably. That was England's best chance of the second half. The youngster has certainly Norton-Scuffed it....
Di Salvo bringing on another crafty player in Merlin Röhl, he will hope the Freiburg man can add fresh legs and the spark alongside Knauff, to complete a comeback...
As we enter the final period of the 90, England are getting back into it, but Germany also looking threatening on the break. This could go the length...
It's the England number 11 who is proving most dangerous for Carsley's side. Arrey-Mbi's intervention clears his latest cutback attempt into the penalty area.
The Frankfurt winger scored and assisted in Germany's win in the group stages against England, could he be the key once again?
A tricky ball from Anderson into the German penalty area is not cleanly dealt with by six or seven German shirts, and England are looking more and more confident with the amount of the ball they are seeing in Germany's defensive third.
The Man City man produces England's first tangible chance since the equaliser - using that left foot of his to attempt to test Atubolu, but this time his shot flies over.
The Mainz man is all over the England defensive third, producing cross after cross into the Three Lions penalty area. It has been a struggle to contain the playmaker.
Having taken off Stansfield, England are really lacking a focal point up front and without the out and out striker, the lack of threat is slowly starting to show from the Three Lions.
Now it is the Germans who are in the ascendency with the equaliser and the confidence as a result of it. Carsley's Three Lions are looking a bit shaky now.
It felt as though Germany had lost their window initially when Woltemade's strong ball carry did not result in a pass at the right time, but they do well to retain the ball and create something out of nothing. A series of fortunate events leading to that superb goal from Nebel.
This time it's the Germans who threaten on the break, pouncing forward from the England corner but Nebel's attempt at beating Beadle is not enough and it remains 2-1. A really good chance to level there.
Oermann does well to win the ball back from Stansfield to prevent a direct England attack but once again the opposition's press is a lot to handle for the Germany side who concede a corner needlessly.