Harvey Elliott scored both goals for England as the holders saw off Netherlands 2-1 in the first UEFA European Under-21 Championship semi-final at the National Football Stadium in Bratislava.
Key moments
3' Roefs boot keeps out Elliott effort
12' Keeper thwarts Elliott from close range
59' Maatsen tests Beadle from distance
62' Elliott thumps England in front
72' Ohio levels from long range
86' Elliott drills in England winner
Match in brief: Elliott leads England into final
England were in the ascendancy from the off with Omari Hutchinson a constant menace and Elliott calling goalkeeper Robin Roefs into action twice inside the opening 12 minutes. But the Jong Oranje held their own and steadied the ship for the remainder of the half, offering a threat on the counter with Ernest Poku's pace down the left.
The introduction of Wouter Goes at half-time by Michael Reiziger limited Hutchinson's influence and the Netherlands grew in confidence, as displayed by Ian Maatsen's fierce drive from 25 metres which James Beadle parried behind. But Lee Carsley's side then struck the first blow as Elliot Anderson slipped in Elliott and the Liverpool midfielder crashed his finish inside Roefs' near post.
Harvey Elliott drills England into the lead
Harvey Elliott drills England into the leadUEFA via Getty Images
Goalscoring substitutes have been a feature of this tournament and that trend continued with a spectacular Netherlands equaliser ten minutes later, Noah Ohio seizing on Charlie Cresswell's loose control before whipping a stunning finish around the unsuspecting Beadle from long range.
England would not be denied their place in the final though, Elliott surging through the centre past two Netherlands defenders and thumping in his 13th goal at U21 level from the edge of the area to settle the contest.
Noah Ohio is mobbed after his equaliser
Noah Ohio is mobbed after his equaliserGetty Images
As it happened: England 2-1 Netherlands
Player of the Match: Harvey Elliott (England)
"A permanent threat to Netherlands, scoring twice and getting involved in almost every chance England created."
UEFA Technical Observer Group
Harvey Elliott with his Player of the Match trophy
Harvey Elliott with his Player of the Match trophyUEFA via Getty Images
Simon Hart, match reporter
England are now just one step from retaining their title, and repeating their feat of 1982 and 1984, after this tightly contested semi-final in the heat of Bratislava, with Elliott the hero after two terrific finishes. Ohio scored an excellent goal too as the Dutch found another scoring substitute but it was Elliott's excellence which eventually swung the tie England's way.
Reaction
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Key stats
England have only lost one of their last 12 finals matches (W10 D1).
Netherlands have lost their last three semi-finals. They were beaten 1-0 by Italy in 2013 and 2-1 by Germany in 2021 before this game.
This was only Netherlands' second defeat in their last 28 matches in U21 EURO qualifying and final tournaments (W20 D6).
This was England's 11th semi-final – level with Italy and Spain as the most in U21 history.
Line-ups
England: Beadle; Hinshelwood, Quansah, Cresswell, Livramento; Scott (Hackney 84), Anderson, Hutchinson (Norton-Cuffy 78); Elliott (Gray 90+1), Stansfield (Nwaneri 84), McAtee (Rowe 78)
Netherlands: Roefs; Kasanwirjo (Goes 46), Van den Berg, Hato, Maatsen; Valente (Meijer 76), Milambo (Ohio 69), Flamingo; Manhoef (Van Brederode 87), Van Bergen (Regeer 87), Poku
What happens next?
England will play the winner of the second semi-final between Germany and France in the U21 EURO final in Bratislava at 21:00 CET on Saturday 28 June.