England’s Under 21s defended their 2023 European Championship crown as they overcame old rivals Germany in a thriller in Bratislava.
Lee Carsley’s holders came through a tricky semi-final against the Netherlands as Harvey Elliott of Liverpool (at least for now...) struck twice to book their place in this decider, and it was the Young Lions’ vice-captain who scored the opener just five minutes into the showpiece.
Ipswich’s Omari Hutchinson doubled England’s lead inside the first half-hour but they were pegged back by a resurgent Germany, who halved the deficit through a bullet header by Nelson Weiper on the stroke of half-time.
Paul Nebel erased England’s lead shortly after the restart with a superb curling strike and neither side could find a winner in normal time, setting up for a tense finale.
But Carsley made some inspired substitutions and it was Jonathan Rowe who wrote his name in the history books with a glancing header - only two minutes after coming on - to seal the title at the start of extra time.
Follow all of the latest from the Euros final with our live blog below:
England U21s vs Germany live
- '92 GOAL! Substitute Rowe heads home with second touch, two minutes after coming on [ENG 3-2 GER]
- '61 GOAL! Nebel fires home brilliant equaliser [ENG 2-2 GER]
- '45+1 GOAL! Bullet header by Weiper halves deficit [ENG 2-1 GER]
- '24 GOAL! Hutchinson doubles advantage inside half an hour [ENG 2-0 GER]
- '5 GOAL! England's top scorer Elliott scores fifth goal of the tournament [ENG 1-0 GER]
Lee Carsley wants Under-21s to complete Euros hat-trick after defending title
09:59 , Jamie BraidwoodLee Carsley has challenged England’s Under-21s to complete a hat-trick of European Championship titles after defending their crown with a 3-2 victory over Germany in Bratislava on Saturday night.
Jonathan Rowe scored the winner in extra time, after Harvey Elliott and Omari Hutchinson had given England a 2-0 first-half lead. Germany were twice denied by the woodwork as England held on.
Afterwards, Carsley praised his players’ achievement and spoke of his desire to go for three in a row. Carsley signed a contract extension through to the 2027 European Under-21 Championship earlier this month.
Lee Carsley wants Under-21s to complete Euros hat-trick after defending title
England are Under-21 European champions
Sunday 29 June 2025 00:06 , Flo Clifford
Harvey Elliott wins Player of the Tournament
Saturday 28 June 2025 23:55 , Flo CliffordThe Liverpool man (for now, at least) scored five goals, one off Golden Boot winner Nick Woltermade, and played an outsize role in England’s triumph in Bratislava.
England seal back-to-back Under-21 European Championship titles in thrilling win over Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 23:40 , Flo CliffordEngland overcame old rivals Germany in a thrilling final in the Under-21 European Championship, with the Young Lions clinching their title defence through an extra-time winner by substitute Jonathan Rowe.
England had let slip a two-goal lead late in the first half but some inspired substitutions by manager Lee Carsley made the difference as they ultimately won 3-2 in Bratislava.
It brings England's total haul in the competition to four titles, but they were pushed all the way by a German side who came into the final as favourites and had beaten the Young Lions in the group stage.
England seal Under-21 Euros title defence in thriller against Germany
'I didn't think we played great' - Lee Carsley
Saturday 28 June 2025 23:27 , Flo Clifford“Any setback we've had, the players have just got together. I said at the start of the tournament, the longer we can stay in, the better we play.
“I didn't think we played great tonight,” Carsley continues. “I thought we probably sat a little bit too deep and didn't have as much control as I would've wanted, but I probably won't remember that in a couple of days.”
Players can have a shandy - Lee Carsley
Saturday 28 June 2025 23:20 , Flo CliffordAsked how the players will celebrate, Carsley says “it's important they have a shandy or two tonight” - but they’ll be flying back to Birmingham in the early hours of Sunday, so the real celebrations will have to wait.
“I'm going to try and enjoy tonight. It's important. I love my job, I'm very proud of the job I do, I love working with the players.
“I've had a chance with the senior team and I love that, so the best thing I can do is help the pathway and try and help the senior team.”
'Challenge now is to do it again in two years' - Lee Carsley
Saturday 28 June 2025 23:13 , Flo Clifford“I'm really proud of the players,” a smiling Lee Carsley tells Channel 4. “The commitment they've shown for the last 28 days, all the instruction we've tried to put into them so quickly, they've taken it on board and they've got so much belief.
“I spoke about it when we were at St George’s Park, that this squad believe they can win and that's the kind of players we need.
“I'm so happy for them to be European champions for the second time is a great achievement. The challenge now is to do it again in two years.”
No rest for the wicked, eh?
'Everyone is exceptional' - Jonathan Rowe
Saturday 28 June 2025 23:07 , Flo Clifford“Everyone is exceptional,” matchwinner Jonathan Rowe tells Channel 4. “From the minute I came into the camp, I could just tell everyone had the same mindset, we all wanted to win.
“We've done that now - the job's finally finished and we can all celebrate!
“I came into the game with the mindset of doing anything I could to help the team. I wasn't starting, but I knew, at some point, all of us on the bench would have to come on, make a difference and help the team to push it over the line.
“I'm so happy we managed to do that in front of some important people tonight.”
England are Under-21 European champions!
Saturday 28 June 2025 23:01 , Flo Clifford
James McAtee lifts the trophy
Saturday 28 June 2025 22:53 , Flo Clifford‘We are the Champions’ rings out as James McAtee waddles over with the trophy and lifts it in front of his teammates. We can barely see them as the confetti cannons launch and practically cover the camera.
England are Under-21 European champions!
Saturday 28 June 2025 22:52 , Flo CliffordThe England players collect their medals and there’s a nice moment as the German players congratulate them.
This is the fourth time the Young Lions have lifted this trophy; back to back in 2023 and 2025, and back to back again in 1982 and 1984.
England are Under-21 European champions!
Saturday 28 June 2025 22:50 , Flo Clifford
England beat Germany 3-2
Saturday 28 June 2025 22:48 , Flo CliffordThe England players line up to applaud Germany as they walk up to collect their runners-up medals.
A moment ago Harvey Elliott went up to collect a well-deserved Player of the Tournament gong.
England are Under-21 European champions!
Saturday 28 June 2025 22:40 , Flo Clifford
England are Under-21 European champions!
Saturday 28 June 2025 22:36 , Flo CliffordHuge celebrations for Lee Carsley and the entire squad. Two years on, with a very different team, they defend their title.
Freed from Desire is already playing.
FULL TIME: England 3-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 22:34 , Flo Clifford120+2 mins: England are European champions once more! Back to back trophies!
England 3-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 22:34 , Flo Clifford120+2 mins: Cresswell makes a crucial block... Total chaos in the box, it rattles around; Atubolu has come up for Germany - Beadle lands on it!
England 3-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 22:33 , Flo Clifford120+1 mins: Sixty seconds. Reitz comes again, Hinshelwood is there, watchful; Rowe volleys it away.
HITS THE BAR! England 3-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 22:33 , Flo Clifford120 mins: Two minutes added on.
Heart in mouth stuff and Germany strike the woodwork again! This time it’s Rohl as England fail to clear a move, Beadle is beaten, but it rattles the bar again!
England 3-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 22:32 , Flo Clifford120 mins: Reitz crosses in again, Woltemade leaps for it, but there are about fifty Young Lions in the box and it’s headed clear. Still all Germany... and it drifts out. The seconds are ticking down. We’ll have a couple of extra minutes, though...
England 3-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 22:30 , Flo Clifford119 mins: Nebel crosses in; Tresoldi is beaten to the header. Quansah makes an excellent challenge to deny a Germany shirt from a great cross in by Reitz.
The captain is busy: Reitz floats in a corner, Livramento is first to it at the near post, but it’s recycled, and Reitz pulls a shot wide under serious pressure, covering his face with his hands.
England 3-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 22:28 , Flo Clifford117 mins: Collins plays a sweet disguised pass to Wanner; it comes back out Reitz, is headed out to Ullrich, and eventually Quansah gets it out of the danger zone.
Both sets of fans, by the way, have been in fine voice for all 117 minutes and counting. It’s tense in here.
England 3-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 22:27 , Flo Clifford115 mins: England win a corner and Iling-Junior plays it short to Rowe... he’s outmuscled and it’s another England throw. Very stop-start at the moment.
Germany break from a Collins throw-in; Nebel crosses into the box from range for Knauff but Hinshelwood makes a crucial touch to put him off.
Beadle gets a yellow for time-wasting, which has been coming.
England 3-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 22:24 , Flo Clifford112 mins: Germany are refusing to give in and keep pressing. It’s Knauff again who floats in a cross from the right; it’s cleared but not far enough and after a stressful spell Nwaneri eventually hoofs it down the pitch.
Nebel has a go from range but Beadle leaps onto it and takes his sweet time taking the kick, as you’d expect. Making a slight mockery of that eight-second rule.
England 3-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 22:21 , Flo Clifford110 mins: Germany break and Knauff crosses in but Quansah gets a great header to it. Germany recycle; Hinshelwood clears. This game, understandably, is nowhere near as free-flowing as it was early on.
Ullrich flashes in a lovely cross... Germany want a foul there but it’s Beadle’s goal kick.
England 3-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 22:18 , Flo Clifford107 mins: Oermann has been replaced by Wanner at half-time.
Iling-Junior draws the foul and a free-kick from Collins and that’ll waste a few seconds nicely.
EXTRA TIME, SECOND HALF: England 3-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 22:17 , Flo Clifford106 mins: Right, back to it. Squeaky bum time... Germany get the ball rolling.
EXTRA TIME, HALF-TIME: England 3-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 22:15 , Flo Clifford105+1 mins: Reitz is on the back foot but takes a touch to steady himself... and blasts over the bar. A good move on the turn but fortunately for England, it came to naught.
After one minute of extra time extra-time, the whistle goes and England have 15 minutes (give or take) to hang on.
England 3-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 22:13 , Flo Clifford105 mins: England have to ride out a spell of German possession. Quansah denies Tresoldi before Morton makes a brilliant block on Knauff at the back line.
Cresswell beats Woltermade to the corner delivery, and it eventually works it way out.
Approaching extra time, half-time.
England 3-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 22:09 , Flo Clifford100 mins: Livramento cuts out a Germany cross, and Egan-Riley’s first contribution is a tidy run down the centre.
Was this the winner? I wouldn’t rule out another late twist...
England 3-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 22:06 , Flo Clifford98 mins: Changes for both sides: Germany captain Martel is replaced by Tresoldi. Iling-Junior comes on for Hutchinson, who has been brilliant; Egan-Riley replaces Anderson.
England 3-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 22:04 , Flo Clifford96 mins: Collins makes a superbly-timed tackle to deny Hutchinson as the Ipswich man looks to make a dangerous run.
Carsley is preparing more subs: Egan-Riley is set to earn his first minutes of the tournament.
England 3-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 22:02 , Flo Clifford94 mins: That was Rowe’s second touch of the game, by the way. Super sub. Elliott goes wild celebrating in the stands.
GOAL! England 3-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 22:01 , Flo Clifford92 mins: What?!
Substitute Rowe makes an immediate impact. Morton floats in a beautiful ball, Rowe is in space at the far stick, and heads/chests it in! It’s not particularly pretty - but it puts England back in front!
EXTRA TIME: England 2-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 21:58 , Flo CliffordHere we go.
Subs have been made after a leg-sapping 90 minutes: Nwaneri and Rowe are on for captain and vice-captain McAtee and Elliott. Cresswell now wears the captain’s armband.
FULL TIME: England 2-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 21:54 , Flo Clifford90+4 mins: Nebel almost wins it with the last kick - but instead, we’re heading to extra time. Strap yourselves in.
HITS THE CROSSBAR! England 2-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 21:53 , Flo Clifford90+3 mins: Chaos! McAtee times his run well but it’s a tame effort and Atubolu collect; now Germany counter, it pinballs around the box, two German players are taken down with desperate challenges, Nebel blasts forward and surely has the winner but hits the bar!
England 2-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 21:49 , Flo Clifford90 mins: FOUR minutes added on.
England 2-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 21:48 , Flo Clifford90 mins: Ooh, a promising spell from Germany as Hinshelwood is beaten on the right flank, but Norton-Cuffy runs into space to clear the cutback.
Collins stamps on Hutchinson’s foot and England have a free-kick quite far out on the far left. Livramento plays it forward to Cresswell; Quansah heads it downward but doesn’t get enough on it and Atubolu hastily collects.
England 2-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 21:46 , Flo Clifford87 mins: Brown is taken off, Ullrich comes on. Hutchinson makes a sloppy challenge; there are some tired legs out there.
Elliott takes a punt from range but Arrey-Mbi throws himself in the way.
England 2-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 21:43 , Flo Clifford85 minutes: Brown goes down for Germany. We’ll have a few minutes added on at least, but this looks like it’s heading to extra time.
CHANCE! England 2-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 21:42 , Flo Clifford84 mins: Morton has a go and grimaces as it floats over the bar. England are probing again...
But now Nebel gets the better of Livramento and skews a shot wide.
SAVE! England 2-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 21:41 , Flo Clifford82 mins: Into the final ten minutes. Are we heading to extra time?
Hutchinson is still looking lively for England. He cuts it back, Norton-Cuffy runs into space but Atubolu isn’t too troubled by his attempt.
Anderson drives into space again. England are pressing, McAtee turns the ball over, but Germany have bodies back...
England 2-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 21:38 , Flo Clifford79 mins: Germany counter through Weiper, Cresswell cuts it back but Woltemade latches onto it... Germany have plenty of bodies pushing forward and it comes back to Martel but Norton-Cuffy makes the crucial block.
Weiper is subbed off for Rohl.
England 2-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 21:36 , Flo Clifford76 mins: Back to it. Hutchinson does well to cut it back at the backline - twice - but the first time Reitz clears and the second time there’s no teammate to run onto his cross, so Atubolu collects with ease.
Was Scott’s substitution the turning point? England have looked off-kilter since he was withdrawn - although he obviously couldn’t continue.
England 2-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 21:32 , Flo Clifford73 mins: Beadle requires some treatment and there’s a chance for the players to take on some fluids and some tactical advice.
Gruda is replaced by Knauff.
England 2-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 21:27 , Flo Clifford69 mins: A couple of speculative attempts from England... Norton-Cuffy skies well over the bar before captain McAtee has another curling strike that hits the roof of the net.
England 2-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 21:26 , Flo CliffordThe German comeback...
England 2-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 21:23 , Flo Clifford64 mins: Woltemade gets the better of three England players and draws the foul from a diving Cresswell. England need to concentrate.
Reitz curls in the resulting free-kick, Cresswell heads away.
England 2-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 21:21 , Flo Clifford63 mins: Stansfield got a touch to that but couldn’t stop the equaliser. He’ll be very disappointed that was his final act. He’s replaced by Norton-Cuffy.
GOAL! England 2-2 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 21:20 , Flo Clifford60 mins: Another Germany counter... Anderson makes the interception and knocks it out for a corner. Woltemade gestures to the fans to make some noise.
Cresswell flicks on the corner but not far enough and Nebel hammers a sublime equaliser into the top corner!
CLOSE! England 2-1 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 21:17 , Flo Clifford58 mins: Danger! Germany hijack a Young Lions corner and counter as England desperately sprint back... Nebel makes a tame effort and Beadle beats it away, Gruda comes again with the rebound, and Morton ultimately thumps away the clearance. Heart in mouth stuff.
England 2-1 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 21:14 , Flo Clifford55 mins: Martel comes under pressure from Anderson as Germany threaten again in the box, and the captain goes down a fraction too easily. Quansah makes the clearance.
CLOSE! England 2-1 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 21:11 , Flo Clifford52 mins: England need to keep clear heads as Germany push again; Di Salvo’s men have made a really bright start. Beadle leaps for it but changes his mind last minute and lets it fly overhead for a goal kick.
Morton makes a crucial block to win the ball back on the edge of the box, setting England up for a counter.
England come again, McAtee latching onto a tricky ball from Livramento and driving forward again, but skews his effort narrowly wide! The Young Lions captain has put in a huge shift tonight.
England 2-1 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 21:08 , Flo Clifford49 mins: England start the half on the front foot but Germany counter, Woltemade getting up the pitch... McAtee gets back to block Weiper and the deflected ball lands in Beadle’s gloves. Nervy moments.
SECOND HALF: England 2-1 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 21:04 , Flo Clifford46 mins: No changes for either side. Germany get this second half underway.
HALF-TIME: England 2-1 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 20:49 , Flo Clifford45+3 mins: Suddenly this game has a very different feel. Germany look much more positive.
England still lead at the break, but we’re set for a tense second half. Massive team talk incoming from both managers...
GOAL! England 2-1 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 20:47 , Flo Clifford45 mins: Reitz takes a free-kick but Cresswell heads it back to his keeper.
THREE minutes added on to this half. Germany have a corner... Cresswell beats Woltemade in the air, but it’s recycled, Nebel floats in a brilliant cross, and Weiper heads a bullet past Beadle!
England 2-0 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 20:45 , Flo Clifford44 mins: That’s Scott’s last act of the tournament. He’s helped up by teammates and Elliott gives him some encouragement as he comes off. He in tears as he’s replaced by Morton.
England 2-0 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 20:43 , Flo Clifford43 mins: Woltemade heads away an England corner... Hinshelwood recycles it but Germany clear! Dicey moments for Antonio Di Salvo’s men.
No doubt Carsley wants another goal to feel a real cushion. He’s furiously scribbling notes onto his tablet.
Scott picks up a yellow for a bad tackle on Woltemade.
SAVE! England 2-0 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 20:41 , Flo Clifford40 mins: Oof, Beadle comes way off his line to clear, it’s a sticky moment as Woltemade bears down on him - but England counter, Hutchinson cuts it back for McAtee and the Young Lions captain is denied by Atubolu! A great save.
Scott has gone down again and is surrounded by concerned teammates. Morton is getting ready to come on... but Scott insists he’s fine to continue.
England 2-0 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 20:38 , Flo Clifford37 mins: Martel gets the game’s first yellow for a late challenge on Scott, another bad one. Break in play as he gets some treatment.
Just before that Woltemade appealed for a penalty as he went down in the box under pressure from McAtee... no luck.
England 2-0 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 20:36 , Flo Clifford
CHANCE! England 2-0 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 20:35 , Flo Clifford34 mins: Hutchinson wants another as England press again but drags it just wide, via a deflection off Collins’ foot.
Danger now as Weiper leaps to a Brown cross but his header lands on the roof of the net.
England get back on top with a fine counterattack but Stansfield overthinks his shot... it was offside in the buildup anyway.
England 2-0 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 20:30 , Flo Clifford30 mins: Woltemade wins Germany’s first corner. Weiper heads the delivery on but there’s no one at the far stick to tap home.
England 2-0 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 20:29 , Flo Clifford28 mins: Cresswell gets the better of Nebel as the German tries to build something down the left, outmuscling him at the backline. He’s not very happy with that bit of defending and tells him so.
GOAL! England 2-0 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 20:26 , Flo Clifford25 mins: Martel skies an attempt that ends up in the stands, passed down to a young fan. Made that little one’s day.
And England counter! McAtee gets in a bit of a tangle in the centre of the box under pressure from two defenders but lays it off for Hutchinson, on the left edge of the box, who slots it home!
Hutchinson does a cartwheel and a backflip, by far winning the contest for best goal celebration I’ve seen.
England 1-0 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 20:23 , Flo Clifford23 mins: Hinshelwood challenges Brighton teammate Gruda and sends him to ground. Free-kick to Germany on the far right, 30 yards out or so. Woltemade gets to Reitz’s delivery but heads it wide... he was offside anyway.
England 1-0 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 20:21 , Flo Clifford21 mins: England are looking to win this on the counter. Elliott makes a heavy touch but Quansah rights the ship, sprinting forward... but Germany get bodies back in time to kill the move off.
CHANCE! England 1-0 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 20:20 , Flo Clifford19 mins: Woltemade struggles to get the ball under control and Elliott makes the turnover, scything through the German defence and driving forward at pace.
He lays it off for McAtee, who crosses it across the face of goal towards Stansfield - but he doesn’t get anywhere near it, ending up launching himself into the back of the net rather than the ball! HUGE miss.
England 1-0 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 20:18 , Flo Clifford17 mins: The alarm is sounded as Woltemade, the tournament’s top scorer, jinks and jives across the edge of England’s box. All hands on deck as the Young Lions sprint back to deal with him.
As it’s being cleared Martel leaps in late on Anderson and nicks the back of his leg. It’s not a great tackle, but the Forest man rather theatrically rolls across the turf. No harm done, it seems.
CLOSE! England 1-0 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 20:15 , Flo Clifford14 mins: Reitz gives the ball away in midfield and Anderson is onto it straight away, laying it off for Hutchinson. It comes back to Anderson and Gruda is penalised for a late challenge on the Nottingham Forest man.
Elliott delivers the free-kick, Cresswell leaps for it but it’s cleared - but England recycle and McAtee drags a shot narrowly wide!
England 1-0 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 20:13 , Flo Clifford11 mins: The game has settled back down to a slightly more sedate pace now. Both teams are still eyeing each other up, but England are managing this well.
Livramento plays it forward into the box but it’s a touch overcooked.
England 1-0 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 20:10 , Flo Clifford9 mins: Germany win a free-kick after Scott goes in with a rather robust challenge. Reitz stands over it... England clear.
Hinshelwood gets in an awkward spot chesting the ball downwards towards his keeper, but Beadle collects easily.
GOAL! England 1-0 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 20:07 , Flo Clifford5 mins: England lead, and of course it’s Harvey Elliott who gets the opener!
Livramento lays it off for the Liverpool man, who cuts inside and passes into space... Hutchinson has a go but it deflects back off Atubolu, and McAtee cuts it back for Elliott, who plants it into the far corner!
His fifth goal of the tournament and look how much he enjoys it!
England 0-0 Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 20:03 , Flo Clifford2 mins: England get things underway but it’s Germany who have possession early doors. Brighton’s Gruda builds something down the right flank and Germany apply pressure in England’s half.
Martel crosses into the box but Beadle collects easily. Germany probing at the moment.
Lee Carsley crouches in his technical area, brow furrowed.
KICK-OFF: England vs Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 20:00 , Flo CliffordIt’s tense in here already. Should be a cracker.
Away we go!
Nearly kick-off
Saturday 28 June 2025 19:58 , Flo CliffordThe anthems are sung and a very healthy crowd in the 22,000 national stadium in Bratislava applaud the players.
Moments to go...
Five minutes to go...
Saturday 28 June 2025 19:55 , Flo Clifford
Team news
Saturday 28 June 2025 19:50 , Flo CliffordEngland XI: Beadle, Livramento, Cresswell, Quansah, Hinshelwood, Elliott, Scott, Anderson, Hutchinson, McAtee, Stansfield.
Substitutes: Simkin, Sharman-Lowe, Edwards, Hackney, Fellows, Rowe, Norton-Cuffy, Gray, Egan-Riley, Iling-Junior, Nwaneri, Morton.
Germany XI: Atubolu, Collins, Oermann, Arrey-Mbi, Brown, Gruda, Martel, Reitz, Nebel, Weiper, Woltemade.
Substitutes: Noll, Ernst, Baum, Siebert, Thielmann, Ullrich, Rosenfelder, Knauff, Jander, Rohl, Wanner, Tresoldi.
How the teams stack up
Saturday 28 June 2025 19:45 , Flo CliffordGermany are on paper the best side in the tournament, having won five from five games and scored 15 goals.
England have won three - they lost to Germany in the group stage, finishing second in Group C, and drew 0-0 against Slovenia.
Tonight’s final features the two top scorers in the competition, with one of them certain to win the Golden Boot. Germany’s Nick Woltemade leads the tournament with six goals, while Harvey Elliott is on four for the Young Lions.
Lee Carsley confident England Under-21s can take ‘biggest step’
Saturday 28 June 2025 19:40 , Flo CliffordLee Carsley is confident England Under-21s have the quality, experience and self belief to beat Germany in Saturday’s Euros final and retain their continental crown.
Two years on from winning the competition for the first time since 1984, the Young Lions are preparing for another final having narrowly avoided a shock group stage exit.
Slovenia’s defeat of the Czech Republic meant England edged through as Group B runners-up despite losing 2-1 to much-changed Germany, who they will face again in Saturday’s Bratislava showpiece.
Lee Carsley confident England Under-21s can take ‘biggest step’
Eyes on the prize
Saturday 28 June 2025 19:35 , Flo CliffordEngland are hoping to get their hands on this again...
England U21s hero Harvey Elliott shows why he might have to leave Liverpool
Saturday 28 June 2025 19:30 , Flo CliffordThere were a few minutes left on the clock, with England’s finest level against high-calibre opponents in Europe, when Harvey Elliott advanced on goal. He took aim and, with clinical precision, turned match-winner. Not just in the semi-finals of the European Under-21 Championship, either: with a similar flair for late drama, Elliott condemned the eventual Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain to defeat in the Parc des Princes.
Elliott reflects the peculiarities of Under-21 football. A fringe figure at Anfield because of the talents around him, he is arguably propelled to greater prominence in age-group football because peers who play more for their clubs are picked by Thomas Tuchel and denied to Lee Carsley. Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke are all eligible for the Under-21s (even Jude Bellingham is) and potential right-wingers. They have been promoted. Elliott has not been.
More from Richard Jolly here:
England U21s hero Harvey Elliott shows why he might have to leave Liverpool
Germany's route to the final
Saturday 28 June 2025 19:20 , Flo CliffordSemi-final: 3-0 win over France
Quarter-final: 3-2 win over Italy (AET)
Group stage:
2-1 win over England
4-2 win over Czech Republic
3-0 win over Slovenia
England's route to the final
Saturday 28 June 2025 19:10 , Flo CliffordSemi-final: 2-1 win over Netherlands
Quarter-final: 3-1 win over Spain
Group stage:
2-1 defeat to Germany
0-0 draw with Slovenia
3-1 win over Czech Republic
Team news - Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 19:04 , Flo CliffordGermany boss Antonio di Salvo makes three changes from their 3-0 win over France in the semi-finals.
The injured centre-back Max Rosenfelder is replaced by Tim Oermann, while Ansgar Knauff drops to the bench, replaced by Brajan Gruda.
Team news - England
Saturday 28 June 2025 19:01 , Flo CliffordLee Carsley has opted not to rotate his squad, starting with the same XI as for the semi-final win over the Netherlands - including top scorer Harvey Elliott.
Team news - Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 19:00 , Flo CliffordGermany XI: Atubolu, Collins, Oermann, Arrey-Mbi, Brown, Gruda, Martel, Reitz, Nebel, Weiper, Woltemade.
Substitutes: Noll, Ernst, Baum, Siebert, Thielmann, Ullrich, Rosenfelder, Knauff, Jander, Rohl, Wanner, Tresoldi.
Team news - England
Saturday 28 June 2025 18:55 , Flo CliffordEngland XI: Beadle, Livramento, Cresswell, Quansah, Hinshelwood, Elliott, Scott, Anderson, Hutchinson, McAtee, Stansfield.
Substitutes: Simkin, Sharman-Lowe, Edwards, Hackney, Fellows, Rowe, Norton-Cuffy, Gray, Egan-Riley, Iling-Junior, Nwaneri, Morton.
Harvey Elliott heroics give England U21s another shot at history
Saturday 28 June 2025 18:35 , Flo CliffordHarvey Elliott spectacularly fired England Under-21s into the European Championship final as they moved one win away from becoming back-to-back champions.
One year on from the men's senior team beating the Netherlands in the Euros semi-final, the Young Lions followed suit, with Elliott's second-half double earning a 2-1 win in Bratislava.
The 22-year-old, a Premier League champion with Liverpool, scored both goals, first putting his side ahead just after the hour and then firing a superb 86th-minute winner after Noah Ohio had levelled for the Dutch with his first touch.
Harvey Elliott heroics give England U21s another shot at history
How to watch England v Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 18:14 , Flo CliffordThe European Under-21 Championship final between England and Germany will kick-off at 8pm BST on Saturday 28 June.
The final will be broadcast live on Channel 4 in the UK. Viewers can stream the game live via the Channel 4 website or All4 app.
The game is also available to stream globally via Uefa.tv.
England v Germany
Saturday 28 June 2025 18:07 , Flo CliffordEngland take on old rivals Germany in the final of the men’s European Under-21 Championship on Saturday evening.
England knocked out Netherlands in the semis after two goals by Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott, to move within one more match of defending their title as European champions.
But Germany are the team to beat, having gone unbeaten for 20 matches including their 3-0 rout of France in the semi-finals. England’s defence must find a way to tame the tournament’s top scorer, Nick Woltemade, if they are to come out on top.
Good evening
Saturday 28 June 2025 18:00 , Flo CliffordHello and welcome to live coverage of the Under-21s European Championship final!
It’s yet another meeting between perma-rivals England and Germany. Can England defend their crown? They’ll have to beat the tournament’s best team to do so...
