England save late penalty to beat Spain and win dramatic Under-21 Euro final
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England goalkeeper James Trafford in action during the Under-21 European Championship final against Spain in Batumi, Georgia, on July 8.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
BATUMI, Georgia – James Trafford proved as good as his word as he saved a penalty to help England win the Under-21 European Championship for the first time since 1984, as Curtis Jones’ goal was enough to beat Spain 1-0 in Saturday’s final.
In a dramatic finale in Batumi, Spain captain Abel Ruiz had a 99th-minute penalty saved by Manchester City goalkeeper Trafford to preserve England’s record of not conceding a goal all tournament.
“I told everyone this morning I was going to save a pen, and when it was a penalty, I knew I was going to save it,” said Trafford, who has been strongly linked with a £19 million (S$32.9 million) move to Premier League newcomers Burnley.
“We are a very good team and we believe that no one can score against us and we showed it.”
Lee Carsley’s men won all six games in Georgia and Romania to continue a golden age for England’s youth sides.
The English are also reigning European champions at U-19 level and won the U-17 and U-20 World Cups in 2017.
“We’ve been talking about it a lot, and we felt it was our time to do it,” England captain Taylor Harwood-Bellis, also from treble winners City, told Uefa.com. “All the lads have pushed each other when they’ve not been playing. That’s something we take pride in.”
There was a hint of fortune about the only goal, as the ball struck Jones from Cole Palmer’s free kick in first-half stoppage time and looped into the far corner.
Spain did have the ball in the net after the break when Ruiz headed home, only to be denied by the offside flag.
The Braga striker had an even better opportunity 20 minutes from time, when he headed wide with the goal gaping.
England could also have put the five-time winners away before an incredible ending, as Arnau Tenas made fine saves to deny Jones and Noni Madueke a second.
But after Levi Colwill fouled Ruiz in the box, they needed Trafford to produce some heroics at the death.
He parried Ruiz’s spot kick and a follow-up effort from Aimar Oroz to spark wild celebrations among the England players and coaching staff.
The drama did not end there, as Morgan Gibbs-White and Antonio Blanco, who had already been substituted, were both shown red cards.
Earlier, former Chelsea and Arsenal left-back Ashley Cole, who is part of the England coaching staff, had also been dismissed from the bench.
He had never been sent off in 107 appearances for his country as a player, but was given his marching orders soon after the goal for his role in an altercation involving players from both teams.
In front of the watching Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate, England held on to go one better than the senior side managed in losing the Euro 2020 final two years ago. AFP, REUTERS
