The Young Lions will meet Germany or France in Saturday's final when they will hope to retain the crown they won two years ago.
Harvey Elliott celebrates
Harvey Elliott sent England into the Under-21s European Championship
(Image: Petr David Josek/AP)
Harvey Elliott brilliantly propelled England Under-21s into the European Championship final, bringing them one victory away from securing consecutive championships.
A year after the men's senior team triumphed over the Netherlands in the Euros semi-final, the Young Lions mirrored their success. Elliott's second-half brace secured a 2-1 victory in Bratislava.
The 22-year-old, who boasts a Premier League title with Liverpool and has recently been linked with a summer transfer to Newcastle United, netted both goals. He first put his side in the lead just past the hour mark before delivering an exceptional winner in the 86th minute, following Noah Ohio's equaliser for the Dutch with his debut touch.
Lee Carsley's squad will face either Germany or France in Saturday's final, where they aim to defend the title they clinched two years prior.
The win was well-deserved under the scorching Slovakian sun as they consistently outperformed their opponents, with the Dutch goal materialising seemingly from nowhere.
Carsley's lads nearly opened the scoring in the fourth minute. Omari Hutchinson wreaked havoc down the left flank and delivered a low cross to Elliott at the far post, but the midfielder's low strike was expertly thwarted by the extended leg of Dutch goalkeeper Robin Roefs.
Roefs once again denied Elliott in the 12th minute as England continued to apply pressure, maintaining his composure to block a low shot following Jay Stansfield's cutback.
The Young Lions maintained their dominance, though opportunities became scarce until a superb play just before half-time. James McAtee released Hutchinson who then found Elliott; his precise cutback set up Alex Scott perfectly, but the Bournemouth midfielder's attempt was deflected over the bar.
The Netherlands, having failed to register a shot in the first half, came back stronger after the interval and started to pose a threat.
They tested James Beadle for the first time just shy of the hour mark when Aston Villa full-back Ian Maatsen unleashed a 25-yard strike through a throng of players, but the goalkeeper was up to the task.
Just as England were being pushed onto the back foot, they took the lead in the 62nd minute.
Elliot Anderson played Elliott through, he surged into the box and dispatched a fine right-footed shot into the near post.
However, their lead was fleeting as Ohio made an immediate impact from the bench.
Moments after his introduction, the former Manchester United and Manchester City academy player scored with his first touch. He seized upon the ball after Charlie Cresswell mishandled it, spotted Beadle out of position and fired first time from the left wing into the near post.
But England were not to be denied and some Elliott heroics propelled them into the final for only the second time since 2009.
He collected the ball 30 yards out, turned his marker, beat another man and advanced into the penalty area before driving a low shot into the bottom corner.