Published 08 July 2023 4 min read
Men's U21
England hero James Trafford: 'I knew I was going to save it'
Young Lions' goalkeeper was one of the heroes of England's UEFA U21 EURO title win after late penalty heroics in the 1-0 win over Spain
England’s record-breaking goalkeeper James Trafford revealed he had a feeling that he’d save a penalty in the U21 EURO Final.
The 20 year old was one of the Young Lions’ heroes of Batumi, as he made a stunning double-save deep into stoppage time to help Lee Carsley’s team to a 1-0 win over Spain.
And the victory also saw another accolade for the Cumbrian-born stopper, as England became the first team to win the UEFA U21 EURO title without conceding a single goal in their six games at the Finals.
“This was what we set out for at the start of the tournament and we achieved it and we are all really proud of ourselves,” said Trafford, who will still be young enough to feature for the MU21s again next season.
“I’m very happy, very happy for the team, very happy for all my family and friends and the coaching staff - it was a massive group effort and we delivered.”
The 20 year old was one of the Young Lions’ heroes of Batumi, as he made a stunning double-save deep into stoppage time to help Lee Carsley’s team to a 1-0 win over Spain.
And the victory also saw another accolade for the Cumbrian-born stopper, as England became the first team to win the UEFA U21 EURO title without conceding a single goal in their six games at the Finals.
“This was what we set out for at the start of the tournament and we achieved it and we are all really proud of ourselves,” said Trafford, who will still be young enough to feature for the MU21s again next season.
“I’m very happy, very happy for the team, very happy for all my family and friends and the coaching staff - it was a massive group effort and we delivered.”
09 Jul 2023
3:24
Highlights: England MU21s 1-0 Spain
See the best of the action as the Young Lions become European champions
The Manchester City player, reported to be on the verge of a switch to Burnley, had been one of England’s stand-out performers in what has been a stunning tournament.
And he admits his self-confidence played a part when he went eye-to-eye with Spain captain Abel Ruiz in the last minute of second-half stoppage time, following a penalty award via VAR for Levi Colwill’s foul on the same player.
“I told everyone this morning that I was going to save a pen and I’d told all my mates back home that I was going to save one,” revealed Trafford, who hails from the town of Cockermouth in Cumbria.
“When it was a penalty, I knew I was going to save it so it was pretty easy to be fair.
“It means a lot for us to get the record, it will take a massive effort to get broken.
“But we’re a very good team and we believed no-one could score against us and we showed it.”
And he admits his self-confidence played a part when he went eye-to-eye with Spain captain Abel Ruiz in the last minute of second-half stoppage time, following a penalty award via VAR for Levi Colwill’s foul on the same player.
“I told everyone this morning that I was going to save a pen and I’d told all my mates back home that I was going to save one,” revealed Trafford, who hails from the town of Cockermouth in Cumbria.
“When it was a penalty, I knew I was going to save it so it was pretty easy to be fair.
“It means a lot for us to get the record, it will take a massive effort to get broken.
“But we’re a very good team and we believed no-one could score against us and we showed it.”
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