England made it three wins from three and dumped Germany out of the European Under-21 Championship with a 2-0 win of their last group recreation in Batumi, Georgia.
Two targets within the opening 21 minutes from Cameron Archer and Harvey Elliott had been sufficient to safe one other three factors as England topped Group C with most factors whereas holders Germany had been despatched crashing out and not using a win to their identify. England will meet Portugal within the quarter-final on Sunday.
England made an explosive begin and hit the entrance after simply 4 minutes when Jacob Ramsey’s intelligent by way of ball discovered Archer and he calmly tucked the ball previous Noah Atubolu to make it 1-0.
The Young Lions practically doubled their benefit six minutes later when the ball fell to Ramsey inside the realm however his low drive went huge of the far publish.
Lee Carsley’s aspect did make it two within the twenty first minute thanks to an exquisite solo effort from Elliott. The Liverpool midfielder collected the ball inside his personal half, drove on the German defence into the penalty space earlier than coolly slotting residence to make it 2-0.
Germany wanted to win to have any probability of qualifying and their first probability got here on the half-hour mark however Brentford ahead Kevin Schade’s shot from inside the realm discovered the palms of James Trafford.
Schade was Germany’s foremost menace and he had one other probability to pull one again simply earlier than half-time when he sprinted down the right-hand aspect however noticed his effort tipped away by the keeper.
Germany might have been going through an early exit however they posed little menace within the second half as England continued to probe, with half-chances falling to Cole Palmer after Elliott had compelled an awesome save from Atubolu.
James Garner got here shut to a 3rd with quarter-hour to go after some neat link-up play however the Everton midfielder couldn’t steer his effort heading in the right direction from shut vary.
Germany’s finest probability of the sport got here three minutes from time when Finn Ole Becker’s highly effective deflected effort was palmed away by Trafford, who secured one other clear sheet alongside three straight 2-0 wins.
Young Lions coach, Lee Carsley, hailed the innovative proven by his aspect. “We were fortunate to take our chances,” he mentioned. “Germany had some really good chances but didn’t take them. We’re really happy with the result but more importantly the performance.
“We thought it was a really difficult game. We knew preparing for the game that it was going to be a tough one.
“We were lucky enough to play Germany in one of the international windows in a friendly. We knew the quality that they had. Tactically they’re very difficult to break down and you’ve seen that in the game today.”
England have but to concede a purpose within the event having stored three straight clear sheets, and Carsley praised the efficiency of his defensive unit.
He continued: “We talk about the whole team defending, as opposed to just the defence. I thought Levi (Colwill) and Taylor (Harwood-Bellis) as well as Jarrad (Branthwaite) and Charlie (Cresswell) have done outstandingly at centre-back, and obviously James (Trafford) in goal.
“As a whole, we’ve defended really well from full-back areas, with midfielders and forwards. It was really pleasing to see, right at the end of the game, players making blocks on the edge of the box and blocking crosses. It’s good to see.”
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