Summary

  • England beat Spain to win European Under-21 Championship

  • Palmer's free-kick deflected off team-mate Jones to give Young Lions victory

  • England keeper Trafford saved 99th-minute penalty in dramatic finale

  • England last won competition in 1984 and were in first final since 2009

  • Final held at Batumi Arena in Georgia

  1. Postpublished at 17:52 British Summer Time 8 July 2023

    England 1-0 Spain

    That goal was the prompt for an almighty melee of players and staff on the field. Tempers flaring in a big way.

    It results in two yellow cards, one for each side - England's going to Levi Colwill.

    There's also two red cards to members of staff, one for each side. Ashley Cole is the England coach given a red card.

    England and Spain clashImage source, Getty Images
  2. goal

    GOAL - England 1-0 Spainpublished at 45+4 mins

    Cole Palmer

    England v SpainImage source, Getty Images

    It's Palmer! And it's in!

    The Man City midfielder looks to curl the free-kick and it takes a big deflection off the top of the wall to wrong foot Arnau Tenas and find the bottom corner of the net.

    England lead.

  3. Postpublished at 17:49 British Summer Time 8 July 2023

    England 0-0 Spain

    Morgan Gibbs-White looks the favourite to hit this...

  4. Postpublished at 17:48 British Summer Time 8 July 2023

    England 0-0 Spain

    Alex Howell
    Football reporter at the Batumi Arena

    The referee seems to be a little bit inconsistent with handing out yellow cards. Palmer was pulled back on the edge of the area but no card is shown. A dangerous position though.

  5. Postpublished at 45+2 mins

    England 0-0 Spain

    England have a free-kick 25 yards from Spain's goal after Cole Palmer is fouled.

  6. Postpublished at 45+1 mins

    England 0-0 Spain

    We'll have five added minutes after all the stoppages.

  7. Postpublished at 45+1 mins

    England 0-0 Spain

    For a moment, it looks like Cole Palmer might be in. But he lacks the pace to get away and it allows Spain to rally and crowd him out.

  8. HITS THE WOODWORKpublished at 45 mins

    England 0-0 Spain

    Oh, England are so close!

    Levi Colwill meets the free-kick into the box with a header into the turf that skips up and hits the upright. The ball bounces clear and Spain survive.

  9. Postpublished at 44 mins

    England 0-0 Spain

    Alex Baena - one of two Spain players on a yellow - takes a big risk by dragging back Emile Smith Rowe as he looks to break. It's a foul but nothing more.

  10. Postpublished at 43 mins

    England 0-0 Spain

    Frustration for England.

    Levi Colwill steps into midfield to try and win the ball and set up a counter but he is judged to have fouled his man. I'm not sure he did.

  11. Postpublished at 41 mins

    England 0-0 Spain

    Much better from England. A drop of the shoulder from Cole Palmer sees him evade Juan Miranda before firing a rising shot from range that is saved by Arnau Tenas.

    That was sharp.

  12. Postpublished at 40 mins

    England 0-0 Spain

    England defend well.

    Morgan Gibbs-White with an initial brave clearing header before a Spain foul relieves the pressure.

  13. Postpublished at 39 mins

    England 0-0 Spain

    England v SpainImage source, EPA

    Spain have another corner.

  14. Postpublished at 38 mins

    England 0-0 Spain

    England can't make anything of a free-kick. Morgan Gibbs-White curls the ball in, Max Aarons heads on, Arnau Tenas claims.

  15. YELLOW CARDpublished at 37 mins

    England 0-0 Spain

    Another yellow.

    This time it goes to Spain's Antonio Blanco for hacking down Anthony Gordon.

  16. Postpublished at 37 mins

    England 0-0 Spain

    You know it's a poor game when you have numerous stoppages filled by the TV coverage showing slow-motion images of anguished players brushing hair away from their face.

  17. Postpublished at 35 mins

    England 0-0 Spain

    Anthony Gordon has struggled since those two early breaks.

    He is away down the right but can't beat his man. He takes a blow too and goes down. That'll be another momentum-killing stoppage.

  18. Postpublished at 34 mins

    England 0-0 Spain

    Solid work from James Trafford, who comes out and claims with authority.

    He's certainly advanced his reputation in recent weeks. He'll get a proper testing next season at Turf Moor.

  19. Postpublished at 33 mins

    England 0-0 Spain

    England are wobbling.

    Rodri cuts inside and fires a low shot that skips just past the post.

  20. Postpublished at 32 mins

    England 0-0 Spain

    Spain remain the more likely side to make a breakthrough.

    Man City's Sergio Gomez whips a free-kick between England's goalkeeper and defence but nobody in a red shirt can get a touch.