James McAtee celebratesGetty Images
Nick Mashiter
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.
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Player of the match
T. Livramento
8.11
Spain U21
England U21
9Mateo Joseph
5.08
6Javi Guerra
4.74
22Hugo Bueno
4.73
1Alejandro Iturbe
4.67
8Beñat Turrientes
4.66
19Roberto Fernández
4.65
16Juanlu Sánchez
4.65
11Raúl Moro
4.64
20Alberto Moleiro
4.61
2Marc Pubill
4.58
3Cristhian Mosquera
4.56
17Jesús Rodríguez
4.56
14Mikel Jauregizar
4.53
7Diego López
4.52
10Pablo Torre
4.48
5César Tárrega
4.47
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2T. Livramento
8.11
18J. Stansfield
7.96
8E. Anderson
7.89
1J. Beadle
7.58
19H. Elliott
7.56
10J. McAtee
7.36
5C. Cresswell
7.26
9J. Rowe
7.18
23T. Morton
7.14
12B. Norton-Cuffy
7.11
11O. Hutchinson
7.11
16J. Hinshelwood
7.09
20A. Scott
7.03
4J. Quansah
6.98
6H. Hackney
6.80
21E. Nwaneri
6.79
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After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
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