European Championship U21 - England draw with Germany

Eurosport - Tue, 23 Jun 18:18:00 2009

Germany joined England in the European U21 Championship semi-finals after the two sides played out a 1-1 draw in their final Group B match in Halmstad.

FOOTBALL 2009 European U21 Championships England celebrate following Jack Rodwell's equaliser against Germany - 0

Bayer Leverkusen's Gonzalo Castro scored early for the Germans, who needed a point to ensure they progressed ahead of Spain, before Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell's header kept up England's unbeaten run at the tournament in Sweden.

The impressive Rodwell was one of 10 changes to the starting line-up made by manager Stuart Pearce, with only Middlesbrough winger Adam Johnson retaining his place from the side that beat Spain 2-0.

Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne returned to the side following his suspension for a red card in the opening match against Finland. Pearce has now fielded all 23 of his playing squad members at the tournament.

Despite winning both of their matches to date, England have begun in uncertain fashion in each of their matches, and they got off to another poor start when Castro pounced after only four minutes to toe-poke a finish through the legs of goalkeeper Scott Loach.

England responded well after going a goal behind, and scored in the first half for the first time in this tournament when Everton midfielder Rodwell headed Craig Gardner's corner into the net on the half-hour mark to mark his first U21 start with his first goal.

Hearts winger Andrew Driver made an assured debut for the U21 side and could have put England into the lead in the second half, but his low shot a the far post from a corner was saved by the boot of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

Arsenal's Theo Walcott came on to replace Fraizer Campbell for the final half-hour, but did not have as telling an impact as his game-changing introduction against Spain.

Germany seemed increasingly content with the point they knew would see them through and, Marko Marin's curled effort aside, did not create much to threaten the England goal in the closing stages.

Eurosport

Comment 2 - 21 of 21

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  1. I work in Germany and they never shut up about it!!!­ they hate the English and they hate english football­ and that people is fact!!! if you want to slag a German­ call him a vixer the German word for W@@ker they hate­ it!! :O)

    From sean p, on Wed 24 Jun 9:38PM

  2. Why do we GO ON AND ON AND ON AND ON about 66? Do the­ Brazilians, Germans and Italians go on about the world­ cups won they've won? - NO!

    We must stop looking­ at the past and look at the "Modern" game,­ learn from the better teams and build a solid team with­ a very good performance at the World cup. As it stands­ we are NOT good enough to win the WC, but we are­ getting a good team together thanks to a modest­ italian.

    We can be good enough to win the WC. I mean­ look at Spain! For years they have underperformed just­ like England and in the last 10 months have emerged as­ the team to beat in the next years tournament.­ What's to say that England can't do the same?­

    As for the under 21's, i enjoyed watching them­ play and they are the future who need all our support!

    From Mr.L, on Tue 23 Jun 8:52AM

  3. cant England seniors do better and emulate these­ youth??? really 1966 is very long ago!!!

    From Andrew, on Tue 23 Jun 7:17AM

  4. To comment 5. (DaGringo).
    It's you that's sad!

    From Troika, on Tue 23 Jun 7:01AM

  5. To comment 18 (inverkenny).
    Not another bitter,­ bigotted, narrow minded, sectarian Scot! What's­ wrong with you people?
    Just go away, and blog on your­ own Scottish footy page.

    From Troika, on Tue 23 Jun 6:56AM

  6. no.5 - from your name I detect a latin american­ influence so you should know all about real corruption­ and "buying" games - remember Argentina in­ 78?

    no.18 - If you're scottish( as seems likely)­ you have no real right to be commenting on tournament­ football do you?
    (apologies to all other scots who are­ able to post intelligent comments)

    Your comments on­ the war are so ignorant as to be laughable - I think­ you will find that casualties from all over the world­ who fought with the allies are honoured and­ remembered.

    You give me the feeling that that facism­ wasn't completely wiped out

    From richard, on Tue 23 Jun 6:20AM
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    comment 8, i think you'll find you never actually­ won the world cup, you played every single game at­ wembley, and as if that wasn't enough, were given­ the winning "goal", sorry but that tournament­ wasn't in the spirit of the world cup, it was very­ bias, but hey, your the same people that think you won­ the war and give little or no regard to the millions of­ others who gave their lives to rid the world of facism,­ so that's the type of comment we come to expect­ from you, are you flooded yet? god send the rain and­ make it plenty.

    From inverkenny, on Tue 23 Jun 5:58AM

  8. Ouch number 5, those grapes are sour as f***

    From ANDREW S, on Tue 23 Jun 4:08AM

  9. Wow! spain u21 out! That's good news!!!

    From dante, on Tue 23 Jun 3:38AM

  10. Wow! spain u21 out! That's good news!!!

    From dante, on Tue 23 Jun 3:38AM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    It was fixed!!

    From dante, on Tue 23 Jun 3:27AM

  12. well done england under 21s gives us all a bit off­ foootball to watch this week thank god!!!!!

    From simonalamb, on Tue 23 Jun 12:23AM

  13. hey gringo. (COMMENT 5) wots the matter, spitting the­ dummy out coz your greasy team has been sent packing.­ youth is the future pal, not only that but there­ representing england, it doesnt matter how old they are­ or wot tournement there in they will be supported by­ us. just like all nations should be. i guess your the­ type of fan who only supports the best team, at the­ best tournement. i bet your spanish, you support­ barcelona, even tho there apparently catalonia and not­ spain? and i bet you were the spanish shirt whenever­ spain are playing. there is a term we use for w*****s­ like you over here in england, your called a glory­ hunting c**t. now go and get mommy to change your nappy­ little boy.

    From rejiscool, on Tue 23 Jun 12:17AM

  14. Sorry comment 8..was aimed at comment 5, not at comment­ 6 as posted

    From arsnic, on Mon 22 Jun 11:24PM

  15. Comment number 6....Yes we won the world cup in 1966...­ were you there..Did you see us buying the world cup,,we­ were entitled to keep the cup, because it was lost and­ one of our british dogs found it.. have you ever heard­ the saying finders keepers.. as regards to Spain not­ making the semi finals {They are your team are they­ not] THEY HAVE JUST NOT BEEN GOOD ENOUGH IN THIS­ COMPETITION..

    From arsnic, on Mon 22 Jun 11:18PM

  16. Erm England scored in the first half against finland in­ the opening game as it was 1-1 at half time! Dunno who­ wrote this but they're not keeping up to date with­ the stats! But the important thing is that England are­ through and finished top of the group, it would've­ been nice to beat the germans but giving everyone in­ the squad a run out is a decent thing to do. Lets hope­ we avoid penalties and win the tournament!

    From stephenwalker0310, on Mon 22 Jun 11:09PM

  17. well done england. u have the passion 2 do this.

    From MARGARET, on Mon 22 Jun 10:53PM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    How sad, in England you can only get worked for a YOUTH­ Tournament. Come on England! Start saving up, maybe you­ can BUY another WC like in 66!

    From DaGringo, on Mon 22 Jun 10:48PM

  19. well done lads !! good decision pearce'y

    From lemontreesid, on Mon 22 Jun 10:39PM

  20. Come on England U21s show the senior players what­ passion and pride to play for your country is like

    From CHRISTOPHER, on Mon 22 Jun 7:45PM
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