England 3 Germany 2: Young Lions retain Euro U21s crown in THRILLER as supersub Jonathan Rowe wins it in extra-time

The Sun

28-06-2025

ENGLAND retained their Under-21 Euros title with a topsy-turvy 3-2 win over Germany in extra time, after scuppering an early two-goal lead.
The Three Lions left fans worried they'd bottled it in Slovakia when Germany fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 in normal time.
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But Marseille striker Jonathan Rowe had different ideas, enjoying the night of his life when he won it for his nation after coming on at full-time of normal time.
Liverpool star and England's likely Player of the Tournament put Lee Carsley 's side in dream land inside five minutes with a clean low finish.
It wa utter euphoria when Ipswich Town and Chelsea academy star Omari Hutchinson doubled their lead 19 minutes later.
But Bournemouth full-back Alex Scott 's untimely substitution, after battling with long-term injury that saw him wearing a mask, soon saw England vulnerable.
It was moments later that Germany, who had seemed shell-shocked up until then, pulled one back from Nelson Weiper's Ronaldo-esque bullet header.
The young Lions had missed a flurry of chances and half-chances before 2-1, with the game going into half-time nervy.
Soon, ex-interim first team boss Carsley's plans went up in smoke as Germany levelled the scores from Paul Nebel's screamer from the edge of the box, albeit James Beadle finger-tipped it in in the 64th minute.
But Carsley's bizarre decision to take his only No 9 Jay Stansfield off meant his side struggled going forward, with no focal point.
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England had lost their mojo, with several half-hearted attempts before Germany smacked the CROSSBAR in the 60 seconds of normal stoppage time.
Before you know England were back in front when Carsley finally put on a striker.
Super sub Rowe, who came on at full-time, put England 3-2 up in the second minute of extra-time with a low diving header.
Tyler Morton played an absolute peach of a cross from the right into the substitute, who found space beyond his man to glance a header into the far corner.
With only the back four remaining from the starting XI, England held firm to retain their Euros title won two years ago by Cole Palmer and Co.
Germany hit the crossbar AGAIN in the second half of extra-time, with Beadle screaming at his team-mates to close them down.
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