What a game that was as England move a step closer to defending their U21 European Championship.
The holders have dumped the favourites out to advance to the semi-final against the Netherlands.
We’ll be right with you for that one but make sure you keep up-to-date with all our football content before then.
See you soon!
So that’s one semi-final sorted out but who will be in the other?
Well, Denmark take on France tomorrow at 17:00 BST and then Germany go up against Italy three hours later.
England
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England manager Lee Carsley, speaking to Channel 4: “We talked about getting a fast start. But we conceded a penalty very early that was overturned by the VAR. We showed a lot of character. We were so good in the first half. The longer we could stay in the game, the more fluent we could get.
“We talk about attacking so much that we forget the other side of the game. The two centre-backs, full-backs and the goalkeeper were all so outstanding defending their box today. We defended really well and more than deserved this win.
“The team responded so well after conceding. The players played with so much confidence. It was really great to watch.”
On Jay Stansfield: “Stansfield was outstanding throughout the camp. We haven’t been able to rest players because of our situation in the group. It’s one of the reasons Elliot Anderson did not start today.”
On the semi-finals: “The big thing is that this can’t be the final. This win can’t be the highlight of our tournament. We’ve got a big game coming next week.”
Sitting in a bar in Spain keeping updated on the app and trying not to celebrate….
Anon
England
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England captain James McAtee, speaking to Channel 4: “We’re over the moon. The focus is all on the semi-final now.
“We got through but we knew it wasn’t good enough and that we needed to step it up. Over the moon for the win.
“People say it’s all about the stats now so I’m just happy I can add goals. I came to play and help the lads as much as possible.
On the Netherlands: “I haven’t [watched them] but I know they’re a good team. They’re in the semi-finals for a reason.”
Seems a very long time ago since England conceded that penalty in the third minute!
Although it’s a pity that Tyler Morton will miss the semi-final, either Elliot Anderson or Hayden Hackney can do a great replacement job in Bratislava. #NothingToFear
John, Cumbria
England
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England’s Harvey Elliott, speaking to Channel 4: “It’s incredible. I am lost for words. We knew it was going to be very tough. The were going to play an incredible game against us. But the way the lads handled the pressure even after conceding the goal, we deserved it so much. It’s time to celebrate but we need to start thinking of the semi-finals tonight.
On his goal: “I was screaming to Jarell [Quansah] to pass really. We have been playing together for a long time at Liverpool now. So I knew he was going to shoot. It was about me being aware and following through. Happy to contribute to the team. It was amazing.”
On England’s performance: “There was a major difference form start to finish. We were compact. We were a team. We fought together. We didn’t give up. We trusted in our ability. The football was just incredible. We need to take a lot of things from this game to the next.”
On the scuffle at final whistle: “I don’t know. It was always going to happen because of the passion from both teams. It is one of those where I was trying to calm everyone down. End of the day, we have got everything to lose. They don’t. We can’t lose players for the semi-final.”
On the semi-final against the Netherlands: “We just have to take it game by game now. We can’t think too far ahead. All the teams deserve to be in the position they are in. We need to recover and focus on the Netherlands. It is going to be another tough game against a tough team.”
Time for some reaction from the England camp now.
Stephen Warnock
Former England defender on BBC Radio 5 Live
It was a much changed England in terms of performance tonight. I said before the game that it was not about performance but the result tonight. But they got both tonight.
Elliot Anderson should be starting for the seniors. Imagine a middle 3 of him, Rice and Bellingham. All athletic, high energy and technical.
Steve
Stephen Warnock
Former England defender on BBC Radio 5 Live
England have been brilliant. It’s been a tough second half for them. But credit to Lee Carsley and his men. He’s made some great changes in the second half. People would think they were negative, but they weren’t. It just allowed them to build a platform.
Here’s the date to put into your diaries…
England will take on the Netherlands on Wednesday evening.
Be there!
Spain’s Rafa Marin was shown a red card after the final whistle.
England’s James McAtee picked up a booking.
Put Carsley back on the shortlist to succeed Tuchel. Beaten Spain twice at the last two Euros. That was a masterclass.
Ben, Canada
John Murray
BBC football correspondent on BBC Radio 5 Live
There might be repercussions from this. There may well be repercussions.
There were red cards after the final whistle two years ago and this will depend on what Italian official Simone Sozza has spotted there.
Enough of that though, England are into the semi-finals and are another step closer to defending their Euro U21 crown.
Some really unsavoury scenes on the pitch at the end of this one as both sets of players clash.
No idea why that happened but the Spain players were very upset.
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ENGLAND ARE INTO THE SEMI-FINALS!
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England are into the semi-finals!
Elliot Anderson makes no mistake and sends the goalkeeper the wrong way.
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BBC Sport football news reporter
England Under-21s reached the European Championship semi-finals and remain on course to defend their title after a fine win over Spain.
Early strikes from James McAtee and Harvey Elliott were rounded off by Elliot Anderson’s late penalty as the Young Lions booked a last-four clash with the Netherlands in Bratislava on Wednesday.
The teams clashed at the final whistle with the players and benches involved in a mass confrontation before they were eventually separated.
Manager Lee Carsley wanted a fast start and he got one, but only after England were given a reprieve when referee Simone Sozza overturned his decision to award a third-minute penalty after Charlie Cresswell handled in the box.
Holders England then raced into a two-goal lead inside 15 minutes when McAtee swept in from a corner before Elliott pounced when Alejandro Iturbe spilled Jarell Quansah’s shot.
Carsley’s side were in control in Trnava but gave Spain a lifeline six minutes before the break, as Alex Scott lost the ball on the edge of the area and Quansah brought down Alberto Moleiro, leaving Javi Guerra to score from the spot.
Spain probed in the second half and James Beadle’s excellent double save stopped Guerra from levelling.
The Young Lions sealed their semi-final place when Anderson added a third from the spot in stoppage time after Iturbe felled Jonathan Rowe.
What’s the main talking point?
Carsley said he did not feel England were the underdogs going into the game, despite an underwhelming and unconvincing group stage.
They proved him right in Trnava and, in a repeat of the 2023 final – which England won 1-0 – they showed Spain their quality and fighting spirit, including in the full-time face-off between the squads.
The question now is, before Wednesday’s semi-final against the Netherlands, can the Young Lions make it back-to-back triumphs and defend their title?
After starting the tournament with a stutter it all came together in Slovakia on Saturday night and England will now be rightly considered the favourites to lift the trophy again.
What information do we collect from this quiz?
The standout stats
England fought for their victory. They had the quality when it mattered but they were prepared to put their bodies on the line too.
They made 24 clearances to Spain’s 18 and recovered the ball 44 times. Their work-rate and persistence was key to their success, and five key blocks also kept Spain from levelling.
Which players stood out?
McAtee turned down the chance to play with Manchester City at the Club World Cup and for the first 45 minutes it felt like he had arrived at the tournament.
The midfielder struggled to impose himself fully in the opening two games before coming off the bench against Germany, but in Trnava he had a positive impact.
Cresswell was exceptional and Jay Stansfield ran himself into the ground for little personal reward, opening up the space for others.
Scott and Omari Hutchinson started brightly but faded and were ultimately replaced just after half-time.
Spain goalkeeper Iturbe should have done better than to spill Quansah’s shot, a mistake which allowed Elliott to double England’s lead, and he fouled Rowe to concede a late penalty.
What is next for the teams?
A flight home awaits Spain on Sunday while England reach the semi-finals and will play the Netherlands in Bratislava on Wednesday.
The Player Rater cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable JavaScript or try another browser.
Player of the match
T. Livramento
8.11
9 Mateo Joseph
5.08
6 Javi Guerra
4.74
22 Hugo Bueno
4.73
1 Alejandro Iturbe
4.67
8 Beñat Turrientes
4.66
19 Roberto Fernández
4.65
16 Juanlu Sánchez
4.65
11 Raúl Moro
4.64
20 Alberto Moleiro
4.61
2 Marc Pubill
4.58
3 Cristhian Mosquera
4.56
17 Jesús RodrÃguez
4.56
14 Mikel Jauregizar
4.53
7 Diego López
4.52
10 Pablo Torre
4.48
5 César Tárrega
4.47
2 T. Livramento
8.11
18 J. Stansfield
7.96
8 E. Anderson
7.89
1 J. Beadle
7.58
19 H. Elliott
7.56
10 J. McAtee
7.36
5 C. Cresswell
7.26
9 J. Rowe
7.18
23 T. Morton
7.14
12 B. Norton-Cuffy
7.11
11 O. Hutchinson
7.11
16 J. Hinshelwood
7.09
20 A. Scott
7.01
4 J. Quansah
6.98
6 H. Hackney
6.80
21 E. Nwaneri
6.79
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
