European Championship U21 - England reach final on penalties

Eurosport - Sat, 27 Jun 10:03:00 2009

Stuart Pearce ended England's semi-final spot-kick hoodoo as his under-21s defeated Sweden 5-4 on penalties after extra-time - following a 3-3 draw - to reach the European Under-21 Championship final.

England on penalties, FOOTBALL - 0

Pearce lost at the last-four stage twice as a player and as a coach two years ago - but it looked like his youngsters would cruise to victory in Gothenburg after leading at half-time through Martin Cranie, Nedum Onuoha and Mattias Bjarsmyr's own goal.

The Swedes then staged a stunning revival at Gamla Ullevi and levelled through two goals from Marcus Berg and another from Ola Toivonen before Fraizer Campbell was sent off for England in extra-time.

Goalkeeper Joe Hart was booked to rule him out of the final but also scored one and saved one, sending England through.

It was James Milner who took the corner that saw England lead after just 53 seconds. Micah Richards jumped for the ball initially but it found its way to Cranie, who took a touch with his chest before volleying home with the help of Gabriel Agbonlahor jumping over the ball in front of Sweden goalkeeper Johan Dahlin.

While Bjarsmyr was being treated off the field, England grabbed the second. It was a Milner corner again, with Onuoha this time allowed to take a touch close to the six-yard area, turn Rasmus Bengtsson and fire into the bottom corner.

It got worse for Bjarsmyr before the break when he tried to clear Lee Cattermole's header from Theo Walcott's cross but sliced into his own net.

The Swedes eventually forced their way into the game and Berg gave Sweden a glimmer of hope with 22 minutes remaining when he turned in Guillermo Molins' cross.

Jack Rodwell came on for Mark Noble to shore up the midfield, but Toivonen found the net from a free-kick to give the Swedes real hope, then the equaliser came with nine minutes left. Molins crossed from the right again, Rasmus Elm flicked backwards at the far post, with Berg applying the final touch.

Campbell received his second booking of the match during extra-time when he challenged with Mikael Lustig, and he had stormed off the pitch even before the red card had been shown.

England will face Germany in Monday's final without Hart, Campbell and Agbonlahor who also received his second yellow card of the tournament.

"I said we needed to be prepared for penalties," Pearce said.

"And I said we would win one. The thing we knew about the Sweden team was that they would be dogged. Their philosophy is 'if you get one, we will get one'.

"Credit to Sweden - their players, fans and their management. They worked tirelessly. It is not easy to come back from 3-0 down.

"I have to look at my players - they were great, I am so pleased. Joe Hart made a great save and although we created a mountain of problems, hopefully we can now go on and win the trophy."

PA Sport

Comment 76 - 95 of 95

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  1. MY OPINION
    ITALY THE BEST TEAM I SAW IN THIS ­ COMPETITION ! GOOD FOOTBALL BUT VERY UNLUCKY
    SPAIN ­ GOOD TEAM AND UNLUCKY
    ENGLAND NOT TOO BAD
    GERMANY VERY­ LUCKY
    SERBIA better than germany but out
    BELARUS, ­ better than germany but out
    SWEDEN
    FINLAND

    From , on Sun 28 Jun 9:43AM

  2. hey bazspur 5. i'm a thanet boy born and bred.so­ you guessed wrong.your just another one of those bigots­ that embarrass us.right now i dont think we have­ anything to feel superior about..look at the state of­ this country.no wonder other nations hate us.

    From gunsmithone, on Sun 28 Jun 1:32AM

  3. The Germans hate the lot of us British, so come lads,­ lets stand shoulder to shoulder for England in the­ final.

    From M W, on Sat 27 Jun 10:41PM

  4. Hey belachek, it’s obvious that you must be a German,­ so you wouldn’t understand anything about being­ ENGLISH, To Be English has nothing to do with being­ mixed race.

    From M W, on Sat 27 Jun 10:29PM

  5. This is all about football and hopefully an England­ team winning a major final.
    Of course the Jocks are­ gonna snipe at us, we'd do the same to them wouldnt­ we?
    As for the War, it was the BRITISH and its allies­ that won it for us.
    Andy Murray, if he wins Wimbledon,­ is a Brit, if he loses, he's a sweaty!! Quite right­ too ha ha. I honestly hope he wins and makes the UK­ proud!!

    From Nigel, on Sat 27 Jun 10:12PM

  6. gunsmithone you should kkeep it shut yourself, we are­ talking about england. not the provinces of course you­ hate everything english because your country im­ guessing will be scot, ire or wales and you have­ nothing to do except snipe at your superiors. go away­ and talk about things relating to your own country.

    From bazspur5, on Sat 27 Jun 7:19PM

  7. the right final should have been England- Italy!

    From , on Sat 27 Jun 3:34PM

  8. to hurlejohn74 your the kind of stupid english bigot­ that creeps out from under your stone anytime england­ look like winning something.of course it was england­ that won the war against germany.the rest of the uk had­ nothing to do with it.,there have been more scots,irish­ welsh aussies,canadains,kiwiskilled in wars to save­ england , not just in one war,but many.as for­ winning.take a look at the last olympics.and who are­ they rooting for in the centre court today..a little­ advice from a fellow countryman..keep it shut.england­ havent won anything yet.and havent since 66..

    From gunsmithone, on Sat 27 Jun 2:18PM

  9. l that's ridiculous!! Germany in the final!! I­ can't believe!!

    From , on Sat 27 Jun 2:02PM

  10. I thought was an opportunity to comment on a particular­ game, not snipe at each other. England yet again shoeed­ arrogance at 3-0 up, why did we not go for it, why­ negative. Germany will win again unless we are positive­ and believe in ourselves and don't rely on luck.­ Hart's yellow card, cheating and stupid. Reserve­ keeper Louis is better and hungry, so well done Joe,­ blew Premiership chance now major tournament!! UNless­ Stuart gets the team to play football for 90 minutes­ ala Germany we will be perennial runners up. WE ARE­ good enough, ignore the press and play football,­ it's worked for other Champions!!
    Good luck

    From afc, on Sat 27 Jun 1:01PM

  11. HEY will, have you forgotten this time you have to do­ the fighting on your own, and germany will beat you­ every time, go the krauts. if the referee is straight.

    From Eddie, on Sat 27 Jun 11:11AM

  12. We beat germany in the war, and we are going to beat­ them in the footy

    From willeaston, on Sat 27 Jun 10:18AM

  13. What do you call a bloke in a skirt?
    JOCK!!

    From Nigel, on Sat 27 Jun 10:02AM

  14. Amazing. Sweden are a good team, Berg is an outstanding­ prospect.. Harry buy him for us Catholic YIDS­ mate!!
    Stuart Pearce is a good manager who will become­ a great manager, he was taught by Cloughie...as was­ Martin O'Neill..not bad eh?
    What IS pleasing is­ that even though the boys were coasting and sat on­ their laurels, they showed true grit last night and so­ much character. Joe Hart spurred everyone on with his­ confident antics in the penalty shootout, he raised­ everyones spirits.Thats what Pearcey has done to this­ side...BULLDOG SPIRIT!! What odds we beat Germany­ 4-2??
    I believe we WILL win, this side oozes confidence­ and the attitude is spot on. Well done to the U-21,s.­ Am proud to be English. Its my birthday on Monday,­ guess what my best present would be? Come on boys, do­ us proud!!

    From Nigel, on Sat 27 Jun 9:59AM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    To inverkenny,what a mean spirited scot you are.Germany­ cannot win everything except cricket,they also cannot­ win a war,so get your facts correct when posting your­ drivel.Also,when was the last time Scotland won­ anything,and that includes cricket,football,Rugby­ Union,and any other sport you care to mention.Also to­ add more misery onto to your wee head,you too cannot­ win a war either.

    From John, on Sat 27 Jun 7:53AM

  16. england u rule!!

    From Ethan, on Sat 27 Jun 7:36AM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I wonder what ENG ger Lands excuse will be this time?? ­ the only time they won a trophy was when they were ­ allowed to play all their games at Wembeleeee while­ the opposition were made to travel the country.

    From John, on Sat 27 Jun 2:38AM

  18. 4 the guy made comment about mixed race players there­ all born
    Englands soil and should b able 2 rep there­ country as they earned the right
    so dont moan just back­ them 2 do what they do and hopefully they will bring­ that cup after stuffin
    the Germans.....

    From mcbubblingsparks, on Sat 27 Jun 2:25AM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    ramzi k, i presume your on the same planet as the rest­ of the uneducated english who dont seem to know what­ happened in the war, go read a history book, look up­ Dunkirk, i think you'll find you were trying to get­ away from the Germans, and try the Eastern Front, find­ out how many Russians died fighting the Germans, then­ add the Americans and you should begin to feel a little­ guilty about the "we won the war" nonsense.

    From inverkenny, on Sat 27 Jun 2:06AM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Germany will beat england, they always do, the Germans­ are too good at everything, ok, maybe not cricket, but­ thats just because they dont play silly wee games.

    From inverkenny, on Sat 27 Jun 2:01AM
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