U21 Euro 2025 final recap

ENGLAND EDGE OUT GERMANY TO COMPLETE SUCCESSFUL EURO U21 TITLE DEFENCE

England completed a successful defence of their European Under-21 Championship title defence, as Jonathan Rowe’s extra-time header sealed a dramatic 3-2 victory over Germany.

The Young Lions were pegged back having led 2-0 in Bratislava through Harvey Elliott and Omari Hutchinson, with Nelson Weiper and Paul Nebel levelling the final.

However, substitute Rowe headed in what proved to be the winner in the 92nd minute as Lee Carsley’s side became the first nation to defend this title on separate occasions.

The defending champions made a bright start and were rewarded after just five minutes. Germany failed to clear after Noah Atubolu denied Hutchinson, and Elliott confidently swept into the bottom corner.

James McAtee and Jay Stansfield went close before England doubled their advantage in the 24th minute. McAtee latched onto Elliott’s dinked pass and did well to retain possession before teeing up Hutchinson, who drilled home through Atubolu’s legs.

However, their lead was slashed in half just before the break, as Nebel’s cross was powerfully headed beyond James Beadle by Weiper.

Germany then equalised on the hour mark when a deep corner fell kindly for Nebel, whose shot nestled in the top corner via a slight Stansfield deflection.

Antonio Di Salvo’s side almost completed the turnaround in stoppage time, but Nebel saw another deflected strike crash against the crossbar, with the contest heading into extra-time.

It was there that, with only his third touch of the ball, Lowe sprung the offside trap to meet Tyler Morton’s deep cross, and plant a header firmly beyond Atubolu’s reach.

England had to defend deep as the clock ticked down and the woodwork came to their rescue again in stoppage time, with Merlin Rohl’s fierce volley denied by the crossbar, as they held out for an historic triumph.