• England 2-1 Netherlands: Elliott 62, 85; Ohio 72
  • Defending champions to face either France or Germany

There is something about Lee Carsley and this competition. Just when it looked like England were heading for a nervy period of extra-time in their semi-final against the Netherlands after Brighton?s James Beadle had been embarrassed by Noah Ohio?s brilliant equaliser, a stunning winner five minutes from full-time by Harvey Elliott ? his second goal of the evening and fourth in total in Slovakia ? means the dream of winning successive European Under-21 tournaments is alive and well.
It is a reflection of what a cool customer Carsley is these days that while other members of the England bench looked shellshocked after Ohio had come off the bench to cancel out Elliott?s opener, he refused to panic. But while the Liverpool forward was the toast of Bratislava as England?s place in the final against either Germany or France was confirmed, his manager greeted the full-time whistle by gently embracing his assistant, Ashley Cole. The job is clearly not done yet as Carsley attempts to emulate the feat of Dave ***ton?s sides in 1982 and 1984.
Continue reading...

More...