Report: England MU21s 2-0 Germany
Young Lions continue their 100 per cent start to the UEFA Under-21 Championship thanks to goals from Cameron Archer and Harvey Elliott
Cameron Archer and Harvey Elliott were on target as England men’s under-21s maintained their perfect start to UEFA Under-21 European Championships with a 2-0 win over holders Germany.
Archer opened the scoring inside four minutes on his first start of the tournament after a perfectly paced through ball from the in-form Jacob Ramsey.
Elliott then doubled England's lead on 21 minutes after a breath-taking solo run and Lee Carsley’s side never looked overly troubled from there, as they secured a third consecutive 2-0 victory.
Reward for England’s perfect run in the group stage is a quarter-final tie with Group B runners-up Portugal, which takes place on Sunday in Kutaisi, Georgia.
Carsley made eight changes from Sunday’s win over Israel and it was one of those new arrivals who helped England to a brilliant start in Batumi.
After picking the ball up inside the left half-space, Ramsey spun superbly before playing a well-timed through ball for Archer to latch onto.
His Aston Villa team-mate, who impressed on loan at Middlesbrough this season, left the chasing defence behind and pushed the ball out from under his feet to slot calmly past Noah Atubolu.
A rangey cross-field pass from Cole Palmer led to England’s next opening. After working the ball into the Germany box, a few failed clearance attempts led to a chance for captain Ramsey after Archer’s lay-off, but his low shot was well saved by Atubolu.
Highlights: England MU21s 2-0 Germany
See the best of the action as the Young Lions made it three wins from three in their group stage
The England defence were given a rare scare when a cross from Brentford’s Kevin Schade evaded everyone except for Noah Weißhaupt, but his snapshot was deflected wide off team-mate Nelson Wiper.
England continued to break with pace and did so to devastating effect with a move which began inside their own box.
After a quick throw from goalkeeper James Trafford, Elliott spun, pinned his ears back and raced away from all those who dared to stop him before striking into the bottom corner to complete an outstanding breakaway.
It was very nearly three for Lee Carsley’s side inside half an hour. Ben Johnson’s chipped ball over the top allowed Noni Madueke to race in behind the high line and he was only denied by a last-ditch block from Germany skipper Yann Bisseck.
Madueke continued to cause problems for full-back Henning Matriciani, with his pace too much for the Schalke star to handle, but the ball would not break England’s way.
There was one warning before the break, however, with Trafford forced into a fantastic stop from Schade.
Matriciani was spared at the interval after a difficult first half, but the lively Madueke kept the pressure on substitute Luca Netz.
He combined with Johnson at start of the second period before Elliott took aim from the edge of the area, with Atubolu denying him a super second.
Meet the MU21 squad
Trafford’s goal was rarely tested, while the chances kept coming at the other end, as James Garner went close.
Even a very promising free-kick chance failed to yield a shot on target for Germany, whose exit from the tournament was confirmed after defeat in Georgia.
England, meanwhile, march on, and will enter the knockout stages as the only side yet to have conceded after an auspicious start to their campaign.
England: 1. James Trafford, 3. Luke Thomas, 6. Oliver Skipp, 8. Jacob Ramsey, 9. Cameron Archer, 12. Jarrad Branthwaite, 15. Charlie Cresswell, 16. Ben Johnson, 19. Harvey Elliott 20. Cole Palmer, 23. Noni Madueke
Substitutes: 2. Max Aarons for Johnson 59’, 10. Emile Smith Rowe for Ramsey 59’, 14. James Garner for Madueke 59’, 11. Anthony Gordon for Archer 69’
Substitutes not used: 4. Levi Colwill, 5. Taylor Harwood-Bellis, 7. Morgan Gibbs-White, 13. Josh Griffiths, 17. Curtis Jones, 18. Tommy Doyle 21. Angel Gomes, 22. Carl Rushworth
Goals: Archer 4’, Elliott 21’
Germany: 1. Noah Atubolu, 2. Josha Vagnoman, 4. Marton Dardai, 5. Yann Bisseck, 6. Tom Krauss, 8. Yannik Keitel, 9. Kevin Schade, 10. Angelo Stiller, 14. Henning Matriciani, 17. Noah Weißhaupt, 19. Nelson Weiper
Substitutes: 13. Kilian Fischer for Vagnoman 14’, 22. Luca Netz for Matriciani 46’, 20. Jessic Nganjam for Weiper 67’, 21. Faride Alidou for Weißhaupt 68’, 7. Finn Ole Becker for Keitel 81’
Substitutes not used: 12. Nico Manl, 15. Maximilian Bauer, 16. Eric Martel, 18. Denis Huseinbasic, 23. Christian Fruchtl