England Under-21s turned up the heat when it mattered most to reach the semi-finals of the European Under-21 Championships with a 3-1 quarter-final victory over Spain Under-21s.
Reuniting two years on from the Three Lions' success in the 2023 final, Lee Carsley's men made a lightning quick start, having seemingly learned from their recent attacking failures.
England had to survive an early scare when Charlie Cresswell gave away a penalty for handball, although the decision was overturned following a VAR review, and the champions made the most of that reprieve when James McAtee reacted quickest to fire home a 10th-minute opener.
From Manchester City to Liverpool, Harvey Elliott doubled England's advantage just five moments later, poking in a rebound after Spain goalkeeper Alejandro Iturbe parried a strike from Jarell Quansah into his path.
However, Quansah then handed Spain a route back into the tie - as did Alex Scott - as the latter cheaply gave possession away before the Liverpool man brought down Alberto Moleiro inside the area.
Javi Guerra coolly sent James Beadle the wrong way to cut the deficit in half, but at the end of a nail-biting second 45, England's Elliott Anderson stepped up to the same spot and fired in the clincher after Iturbe wiped out Jonathan Rowe.
More to follow.
ID:575974:1false2false3false: from db desktop :LenBod:collect1616: