England U21 vs Spain U21 LIVE!
England defeated tournament favourites Spain 3-1 as the Young Lions’ title defence continued at the European Under-21 Championships. James McAtee, Harvey Elliott, and Elliot Anderson were all on target as Lee Carsley’s side proved their doubters wrong, bouncing back from a shaky 2-1 defeat in the group stages by Germany to produce a superb showing at the Anton Malatinský Stadium.
There were nervy moments as Spain had two penalties - one chalked off by VAR after Charlie Cresswell was adjudged to have handled Diego Lopez’s shot - and then another six minutes before the break as Alberto Moleiro was chopped down by Jarrell Quansah. Javi Guerra slotted it away, but it did nothing to dispel the spirited Young Lions, who battled hard to seal their place in the last four.
They will face the Netherlands in the semi-finals, after the Dutch snuck past Portugal 1-0 earlier in the day thanks to Ernest Poku’s late winner off the bench, netting six minutes from time.
England U21 vs Spain U21 latest news
- GOAL! Anderson seals victory with late penalty
- GOAL! Guerra halves deficit from spot
- GOAL! Elliott doubles lead with tap-in
- GOAL! McAtee opens scoring after Scott corner causes chaos
- How to watch: Channel 4
FT: England 3-1 Spain
21:57 , Oli GentThat’s it! England are through, and they’ve beaten the tournament favourites!
A superb performance, and they go on to face the Netherlands in the last four.
Thanks for joining us on Standard Sport, be sure to come back very soon for even more LIVE Under-21 Euros action!
GOAL! England 3-1 Spain
21:55 , Oli Gent90+4 mins: Goal! Elliot Anderson scores, and England are through! No mistake from the spot!
England 2-1 Spain
21:5490+3 mins: Penalty to England! The Young Lions have a spot-kick, and it all stems from a hopeful punt upfield. Anderson wins the flick-on and Rowe latches onto it, beating the onrushing Iturbe to the ball, and winning the penalty!
England 2-1 Spain
21:51 , Oli Gent90 mins: Four added minutes, as Santi Denia, the Spain coach, is booked for dissent on the touchline.
England 2-1 Spain
21:49 , Oli Gent89 mins: Jauregizar sends an outswinging cross in from the right half-space, and Rodriguez makes contact with a header, but it’s a tame effort that Beadle collects.
England 2-1 Spain
21:48 , Oli Gent87 mins: Spain have a free kick in their own half as Jonathan Rowe receives a yellow card for delaying the restart. The Marseille man claims that he hasn’t heard the referee’s whistle. Nice try, Jonathan...
England 2-1 Spain
21:43 , Oli Gent83 mins: Nwnaeri has gone into the central striking role where Stansfield was. It seems like he’ll play as more of a false nine for the closing minutes here.
England 2-1 Spain
21:42 , Oli Gent82 mins: Stansfield has run out of gas after a superb showing up front on his own. He’s replaced by Ethan Nwaneri.
England 2-1 Spain
21:41 , Oli Gent81 mins: Big chance! Anderson does well to pinch the ball back for England, and he tries to send Stansfield clear on goal. The striker gets to the ball, collects it, but doesn’t have the energy to make a dart into the box or get a shot off!
England 2-1 Spain
21:40 , Oli Gent80 mins: Jesus Rodriguez is on for Spain, replacing Moleiro.
England 2-1 Spain
21:39 , Oli Gent79 mins: What a chance! Hinshelwood has a free header after a superb cross into the box, and he just can’t direct it into the net!
England 2-1 Spain
21:38 , Oli Gent78 mins: Tyler Morton makes a burst towards the box down the right to evade Moro, but throws himself theatrically to the ground after the slightest touch from the Spaniard. The referee tells him to get up.
England 2-1 Spain
21:36 , Oli Gent76 mins: It’s more of a defensively-minded 4-3-3 from Carsley now, and that will become a 4-5-1 out of possession. Norton-Cuffy is an out-and-out winger down this right side ahead of Livramento, while Rowe is the inside forward off the left. Hackney has slotted into the midfield trio now, alongside Morton and Anderson.
England 2-1 Spain
21:33 , Oli Gent74 mins: Changes afoot for Spain too, with Pablo Torre replacing Lopez and Fernandez on for Joseph.
England 2-1 Spain
21:32 , Oli Gent73 mins: Two changes for England, as Brooke Norton-Cuffy replaces Harvey Elliott, and McAtee is off for Hayden Hackney.
England 2-1 Spain
21:32 , Oli Gent72 mins: England break, as Morton advances through the Spanish half on his own. He continues, and looks to curl one inside Iturbe’s near post, but it’s wide of the target.
England 2-1 Spain
21:30 , Oli Gent70 mins: Close! A ball is flashed across the box into the path of Joseph who slides in, but Cresswell is there to deal with the danger at the death! The second phase comes as Guerra collects it just inside the box and Stansfield goes flying in, and just about gets the ball! That was dangerous...
England 2-1 Spain
21:29 , Oli Gent68 mins: This game of chess keeps ticking away. Who will blink first as we move into the dying embers?
England 2-1 Spain
21:24 , Oli Gent63 mins: Spain are looking dangerous as they begin to go for it even more. Joseph drifts left, picking the ball up in the channel, and drives infield onto his stronger right foot. He doesn’t catch the effort right, though, and Beadle gathers well.
England 2-1 Spain
21:23 , Oli Gent62 mins: Great save! Spain break down the right as Jauregizar makes his first contribution, sliding one to the edge of the area where Guerra runs onto it. The midfielder looks to stroke it home, but Beadle has other ideas and denies him!
England 2-1 Spain
21:22 , Oli Gent61 mins: Free kick, Spain. Anderson clatters Lopez in centre-field to give away the foul. The midfielder needs to be careful, as he’s one yellow away from a suspension.
England 2-1 Spain
21:19 , Oli Gent58 mins: A double change for the Spanish now as Juanlu and Turrientes depart the field, replaced by Raul Moro and Mikel Jauregizar.
England 2-1 Spain
21:18 , Oli Gent57 mins: Turrientes makes a fool of Rowe, sending him to the shops with a dummy, and the ball lands at Joseph’s feet. The striker swivels and shoots, but Livramento puts a good block in.
England 2-1 Spain
21:1655 mins: It’s a free-roaming England attacking midfield three behind Stansfield. The Birmingham man is the focal point of the attack, while Rowe, McAtee, and Elliott are marauding wherever they please, looking to confuse the Spanish backline.
England 2-1 Spain
21:13 , Oli Gent53 mins: Two changes for England. Elliot Anderson replaces Scott, and Jon Rowe is on for Hutchinson.
England 2-1 Spain
21:12 , Oli Gent52 mins: Close! Elliott’s delivery is hung up to the far post, where Cresswell towers above everyone... but his header is into the side netting!
England 2-1 Spain
21:12 , Oli Gent51 mins: Corner, England. Stansfield runs the channel and looks to work it into the box with a cut-back. Bueno follows him all the way and shepherds it out for a corner.
England 2-1 Spain
21:10 , Oli Gent49 mins: Close! Great interplay between Quansah and Hutchinson on the edge of the area, as the ball breaks to Stansfield. He strikes, but it’s blocked, and goes behind for the corner. Iturbe comfortably claims the following set piece.
England 2-1 Spain
21:09 , Oli Gent48 mins: The Spanish press is looking aggressive, and Beadle is looking longer as a result.
Kick off
21:07 , Oli Gent46 mins: We’re back underway in Slovakia.
HT: England 2-1 Spain
20:55 , Oli GentThere’s the half-time whistle. A breathless first 45, what will the second half have in store?
England 2-1 Spain
20:50 , Oli Gent45+3 mins: The Young Lions are using their experience to slow the game down, looking to get to half-time in front.
England 2-1 Spain
20:46 , Oli Gent45 mins: Five added minutes.
England 2-1 Spain
20:44 , Oli Gent43 mins: Omari Hutchinson is down holding his head after a collision between himself and Pages challenging for an aerial ball.
The Ipswich winger is receiving treatment, giving the Young Lions a slight breather with the momentum threatening to swing in Spain’s favour.
England 2-1 Spain
20:42 , Oli Gent41 mins: Close! Guerra is very unlucky not to get a second with a shot from distance whistling just past the post. Beadle was rooted to the spot!
GOAL! England 2-1 Spain
20:40 , Oli Gent39 mins: Goal! Javi Guerra steps up, and makes no mistake! Spain are on the scoreboard, and halve the deficit.
England 2-0 Spain
20:39 , Oli Gent37 mins: Penalty! Another spot-kick has been awarded for Spain, and it’s Quansah who concedes it! Spain work it neatly on the edge of the area, and Moleiro darts into the 18-yard box, looking for a touch. Quansah grants him his wish, and Moleiro takes a tumble, with the referee pointing to the spot!
England 2-0 Spain
20:36 , Oli Gent34 mins: Beadle shows great confidence on the ball to bypass the high Spanish press, and finds Morton, who looks to progress up the pitch. The midfielder overruns it, and catches Turrientes to earn the first yellow of the game. He will be suspended for the next game should England make it through.
England 2-0 Spain
20:33 , Oli Gent32 mins: Corner, Spain. Another set piece for the Spaniards, as a cross-shot from Joseph comes in, and Cresswell gets the clearance wrong, slicing behind. McAtee meets the resulting delivery, and the danger is averted.
England 2-0 Spain
20:31 , Oli Gent30 mins: Corner, Spain. A lovely piece of play from the Group A winners as it’s worked out to Pages down the right. The right-back looks to deliver, but Hinselwood is there to concede the set play. It’s whipped in, but Alex Scott does enough to put Tarrega off as the defender tries to make contact.
England 2-0 Spain
20:30 , Oli Gent29 mins: The game has simmered down somewhat as Spain get on the ball once more and look to slow the pace down a tad.
They’re hoping to show a bit more purpose than they have in the last 20 minutes...
England 2-0 Spain
20:26 , Oli Gent25 mins: Stansfield’s presence has really helped England get up the field.
He can occupy the centre-backs, and the Young Lions can play off him or into his feet to link play.
He can also run the channels, which he has done, but he has plonked himself in that central third of the field, keen on attacking the box as much as possible.
England 2-0 Spain
20:2423 mins: There goes my prediction within the first quarter of the game. Superb.
What a start from England, and what a response to that early penalty drama.
England 2-0 Spain
20:21 , Oli Gent20 mins: Spain are shell-shocked. They were looking so confident in the early exchanges, pressing with a high line and looking intent to score goals.
They look a completely different side now, as England come again with Hutchinson down the left, teasing Pages.
England 2-0 Spain
20:19 , Oli Gent17 mins: Good save! Iturbe is alert at his near post with England all over the Spanish here. They streak forward with numbers as Livramento bombs down the right, looking for the cutback at the near post. Hutchinson looks to get across the goalkeeper, but Iturbe averts the danger... just.
GOAL! England 2-0 Spain
20:16 , Oli Gent14 mins: Goal! What a start! It’s two, and it’s Harvey Elliott this time! A two-minute double salvo, as Jarrell Quansah drives through the Spanish defence and lets fly from range. Iturbe can’t hold it, and the rebound is there for Elliott to tap home!
GOAL! England 1-0 Spain
20:12 , Oli Gent10 mins: Goal! England are in front, and it’s the captain, James McAtee! The corner is whipped in by Scott, with Hutchinson’s decoy run at the near post. It ricochets, and McAtee sweeps home.
England 0-0 Spain
20:10 , Oli Gent10 mins: Corner, England. Carsley’s men are looking to be direct up against their direct opponents. Hutchinson tries to do just that down the left, and wins a corner off Pages.
England 0-0 Spain
20:10 , Oli Gent9 mins: A good, concerted amount of England possession, as McAtee and Elliott begin to get on the ball. Hinshelwood produces a neat bit of interplay down the left with Hutchinson, but the service in towards Stansfield has been letting the Young Lions down so far.
England 0-0 Spain
20:07 , Oli Gent6 mins: Tactical observation for you - Livramento is at right-back, with Hinshelwood at left-back. A surprising switch from Carsley.
England 0-0 Spain
20:05 , Oli Gent4 mins: The referee is going to the monitor to take a closer look. It looks like a dubious decision, as Cresswell has his arms behind his back, holding them together. No penalty is the decision!
England 0-0 Spain
20:04 , Oli Gent3 mins: Penalty! Spain are given an early spot-kick, and Charlie Cresswell is the guilty party! The Young Lions give the ball away sloppily from the goal kick, and the strike from Lopez comes in, hitting Cresswell’s arm. He complains to the referee, and VAR is checking...
England 0-0 Spain
20:03 , Oli Gent2 mins: Close! A flash of what the Spanish are capable of as Lopez floats a ball up to the far post, where Juanlu wins the knock-down. Joseph makes contact, and nods just over!
Kick off
20:01 , Oli Gent1 min: We are underway.
The players are out
19:56 , Oli GentWe’ll have some national anthems, and then we’re underway in Slovakia.
Flying full-backs
19:45 , Oli GentTino Livramento was a curious absentee from the starting XI against Germany, with natural winger Samuel Illing-Junior given the nod at left-back.
However, Carsley has reverted to type and brought Livramento straight back into the side.
On the right, the Young Lions are spoiled for choice, but it is Jack Hinshelwood, the versatile Brighton man, who continues in the berth despite Archie Gray’s selection there against the Czech Republic and Slovenia.
How will England set up?
19:36 , Oli GentCarsley’s 4-2-3-1 is set up with the intention of playing in the pockets and in between the lines, particularly when looking at the attacking midfield trident.
Omari Hutchinson, James McAtee, and Harvey Elliott all thrive when given the ball to feet in tight areas, wriggling out of them, and driving towards or into the box looking for a quick one-two or a shooting opportunity.
Tyler Morton comes into the side with the role of orchestrator from deep, keeping the play ticking in possession while breaking things up and shielding the back four, while Alex Scott will have the licence to maraud forwards and crash the box, as he showed against Germany and in the season just gone for Bournemouth.
Stansfield in the spotlight
19:33 , Oli GentIt’s a first start of the tournament for Jay Stansfield, and what a game to make your bow.
The Birmingham City striker comes in for Jon Rowe, who drops to the bench after his half-time withdrawal against Germany.
How will Stansfield fare?
Netherlands sneak past Portugal
19:15 , Oli GentThe Netherlands are into the semi-finals of the U21 European Championships with a narrow 1-0 win over Portugal in Zlina.
Ernest Poku got the decisive goal on 84 minutes to send the young Dutchmen into the last four.
Incoming Chelsea signing Geovany Quenda missed a penalty for the Portuguese in the first-half, while Ruben van Bommel was sent off in the 21st minute for the Dutch after two yellow cards.
Spain U21 line-up
19:04 , Oli Gent... and here is how Santi Denia lines his side up:
Confirmed Spain U21 XI: Iturbe; Pages, Tarrega, Mosquera, Bueno; Guerra, Turrientes; Juanlu, Moleiro, Lopez; Joseph.
Subs: Campos, Fernandez, Fraga, Garcia, Herzog, Jauregizar, P. Marin, R. Marin, Moro, Rodriguez, Torre.
England U21 line-up
19:01 , Oli GentThe two teams are out, and here is Lee Carsley’s XI:
England U21 confirmed XI: Beadle; Hinshelwood, Cresswell, Quansah, Livramento; Scott, Morton; Elliott, McAtee, Hutchinson; Stansfield.
Subs: Anderson, Edwards, Egan-Riley, Fellows, Gray, Hackney, Illing-Junior, Norton-Cuffy, Nwaneri, Rowe, Sharman-Lowe, Simkin.
Standard Sport's prediction
18:40 , Oli GentCarsley’s side have the names and the firepower on paper, but Spain have the form and the cohesion that England just seem to lack at the minute.
Goals also seem to be drying up for the Three Lions, and that could spell trouble.
That said, Spain have not kept a clean sheet all tournament yet, so they can be got at, but do England have enough to disrupt their opponents’ momentum?
Spain to win, 2-1
England: Ones to watch
18:30 , Oli GentThe Three Lions have been a mixed bag in their title defence so far.
They disappointed in the 2-1 defeat to Germany, but started superbly with a 3-1 win over the Czech Republic on matchday one.
A nervy goalless draw with Slovenia followed, and there is pressure riding on this game now.
Carsley’s 4-2-3-1 shape has stayed consistent throughout, but he is a known tinkerer.
Jon Rowe, the Marseille forward, leads the line, but was hauled off at half-time against Germany, with Birmingham striker Jay Stansfield in his place. Who will start up top tonight?
Harvey Elliott is the leading light of this side, but even he was dragged off at the interval last time out.
Ethan Nwaneri was another that did not survive the full 90 against the Germans, but there is hope that he can repeat the magic moments he produced for Arsenal in the regular season to spur England on here.
Spain: Ones to watch
18:20 , Oli GentLooking at England’s opponents, there are a couple of names that you might recognise from the English top flight.
The first is left-back Hugo Bueno, previously of Wolves, who now plies his trade at Feyenoord, while Mateo Joseph has come through the ranks at Leeds United and was part of Daniel Farke’s Championship title-winning side that won promotion back to the Premier League.
As for those on the continent, centre-back Christian Mosquera is highly-rated at Valencia, while Barcelona’s Pablo Torre, who sports the no10 jersey, is their main creative outlet.
Battling midfielder Javi Guerra is another exciting product from the Valencia youth set-up.
Spain U21 team news
18:10 , Oli GentSpain are also at full fitness, with Santi Denia able to pick a settled line-up that has done him well so far.
The Spaniards, who England defeated in the final of this competition two years ago, are unbeaten at this tournament, but their strength in depth means that they have been able to rotate a decent amount to keep their men fresh.
England U21 team news
17:57 , Oli GentLee Carsley has a full complement to pick from this evening after every single member of the squad trained on Friday ahead of this game.
The England manager said that he does not believe that his side are the underdogs going into this game, despite the Three Lions’ 2-1 defeat to Germany last time out, and Spain’s unbeaten record at this tournament so far.
How to watch England Under-21s v Spain Under-21s
17:45 , Oli GentTV channel: In the UK, tonight’s match is being shown live and free-to-air on Channel 4, with coverage beginning at 7:30pm BST ahead of an 8pm BST kick-off time - 9pm local time - in Slovakia.
Live stream: You can also watch the game for free live online via the Channel 4 website.
Hello and welcome!
17:30 , Oli Gent... to Standard Sport’s LIVE text coverage of England Under-21’s European Championship quarter-final against Spain.
Lee Carsley’s side take on Santi Denia’s young Spaniards in Trnava, Slovakia.
The Three Lions have a stacked squad, but come off the back of a disappointing defeat to Germany in their final group game, which has pitted them against tricky opposition in the last eight.
Stay tuned for all the updates, with kick off at 8pm BST.
