England U21 vs Spain LIVE: Euro 2025 match stream, latest team news, lineups, TV, prediction

While the Young Lions still made it through to the last eight, they now face a tough test against Spain in a repeat of the Euro 2023 final in Georgia, when Curtis Jones' goal and a last-gasp penalty save from James Trafford to deny Abel Ruiz secured England their first title for almost 40 years. This time La Roja pipped Italy to top spot in Group A on goals scored following a 1-1 draw between the sides that followed Spain's opening wins over hosts Slovakia and Romania.

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BBC News

28 minutes ago

• BBC News

Fighting spirit lifts England U21s as they eye more history

England Under-21s have proved they have the fight to defend their European title. The mass brawl at the final whistle, coupled with a brilliant Euro 2025 quarter-final victory over Spain on Saturday, removed any doubt these Young Lions could be a soft touch. Charlie Cresswell promised pre-game there would be no lack of fight from England after their limp 2-1 loss to Germany and the Young Lions lived up to the billing. Cresswell was at the heart of protecting his team-mates, with players willing to fight for each other following a late challenge on Tino Livramento seconds before the final whistle. Similar scenes followed England's Euro 2023 final victory over Spain and the defending champions are not willing to let their title go quietly. They now face the Netherlands in the semi-finals on Wednesday after a performance full of class, style, guile and fight. "There's better ways to build camaraderie," manager Lee Carsley joked afterwards. "But we had something similar in the final [in 2023]. Emotions run high in those scenarios, you don't want anyone to get sent off or throw a punch. "You can see what it means to the players, we probably have to give them a bit of leeway. Thankfully it didn't go over the top, it's still not nice to see. We are always trying to encourage younger players to take up football but the passion was just a bit much."James McAtee, scorer of England's early opener, also epitomised the mood, the Manchester City midfielder ready and willing to dish it out. He said: "We were the two big teams in the tournament, so them kicking off, we can't just sit back and just let them do it. We have to give them a bit back, so I'm happy with the boys." Is it all coming together for England now? "I think there's still a lot more to come from the team. I said at the start of the tournament that the longer we can stay in I think the more joined up we'll become," said Carsley. The head coach has always been confident in his assertion England would start to find their feet and momentum in the competition as long as they qualified from the group. A win over the Czech Republic was followed by a draw with Slovenia and the defeat by Germany. Cresswell and Jay Stansfield produced standout performances while the substitutes also made an impact, especially Elliot Anderson after he came on soon after the break. "They are a really together group but I've been with together groups who have gone home quite early," said Carsley. "It was just a matter of time before it did click. I think our expectation of these players is always very high and I'm just glad that we've got into a position now where I feel that we've got a real good chance of pushing."Yet, despite saying he did not feel like an underdog going into the game against Spain, Carsley was reluctant to paint his side as tournament favourites now. He added: "We have to be humble. It's going to be a really difficult game, the semi-final. So we'll be fully prepared again. The Netherlands are another team we've watched for maybe six months now."We're fully aware of all their players, their strengths, their weaknesses. I've already got a few ideas on what we might change in terms of how we're going to build and attack them and you can guarantee we'll definitely be attacking them again." Making light of missing men Losing Liam Delap - the striker's £30m move from Ipswich to Chelsea saw him going with the Blues to the Club World Cup instead - robbed Carsley of a focal point up front. While it is easy to focus on the missing forward it created a clear problem, with England lacking a presence going forward and someone to finish off promising moves in the group continued to work good positions in the group stage - creating the third most chances in the tournament - but lacked the finishing touch. Marseille's Jonathan Rowe started up front in all three group games but failed to score and Stansfield was the only recognised out-and-out striker in the squad. The Birmingham striker scored 24 goals to help win the League One title last season and he does not have the physical presence of Delap yet he ran himself into the ground in Trnava. His selfless work opened space for others and he never gave the Spanish defence time to rest. The striker came off late on when it was clear he had nothing left in the Friday, Carsley spoke about taking more risks and being brave enough to potentially leave the gaps and that is exactly what he absence was key but he was not the only missing Bellingham's £33m move to Borussia Dortmund also saw him head Stateside with his new club, scoring against Mamelodi Sundowns a couple of hours before England kicked off in Trnava. Off the back of helping Sunderland return to the Premier League via the play-offs the midfielder would have undoubtedly been an asset for Carsley, as would Adam Wharton. The concussion Wharton suffered in Crystal Palace's FA Cup final triumph means he is another key man missing in this Taylor Harwood-Bellis, a winner in 2023, was absent with an ankle injury while Jarrad Branthwaite - also a champion two years ago - suffered a hamstring injury to keep him out. Despite the missing players, Carsley's band of brothers have shown they are ready to defend their title.

North Wales Chronicle

39 minutes ago

• North Wales Chronicle

We deserve it so much – Harvey Elliott hails England's quarter-final victory

The Young Lions benefited from an early let-off after a VAR check resulted in an overturned penalty before captain James McAtee netted a 10th minute opener, Elliott scored five minutes later and substitute Elliot Anderson added a penalty in second-half stoppage time. Javi Guerra's 39th-minute penalty denied a clean sheet for the defending champions, but it was nevertheless a splendid night for Lee Carsley's men, who face the Netherlands in the final four on Wednesday. What a win. What a performance. OUR #YOUNGLIONS ARE INTO THE #U21EURO SEMI-FINALS! 👏 — England (@England) June 21, 2025 'Incredible. Lost for words, I think,' said Elliott. 'I said at the start of the game it was going to be very tough, they're going to play an incredible game against us, but I thought the way the lads handled it, handled the pressure, conceding a goal and being determined to keep on going, keep on fighting, we deserve it so much. 'Now it's kind of time to celebrate, but we need to think about the semis now. Celebrate, recover, rest, go again.' Tyler Morton will miss the last-four clash through suspension after he was booked against Spain, while Napoli's Rafa Marin saw red before a post-match scuffle broke out between the sides. Elliott added: 'It was always going to happen. I think it's just passion from both teams, it's just one of them. I was trying to calm everyone down, because at the end of the day we have everything to lose. They don't if they get sent off. 'We have to focus now, we can't get too carried away, we can't lose players for the semi-final.' Manchester City midfielder McAtee was more subdued than his team-mate, adding: 'We're over the moon, but the focus is the semi-final now. We're happy about the win, but we need to switch focus.' England boss Carsley was delighted by the way his men responded after nearly conceding a penalty in the early stages of the first half. 'We talked about getting a fast start and to give the penalty away after a minute, obviously then going to VAR – the lads showed a lot of character,' Carsley said. Through to the semis! 💪 — England (@England) June 21, 2025 'I thought the first half we were so good. I was saying before the game, I think the longer we can stay in, the more fluid we will become. Some really outstanding performances and they should be proud of themselves.' England will now get some much-needed rest and a day off before turning to their semi-final tie. Carsley added: 'The big thing is this can't be our final. This can't be our highlight of the competition, there's better nights to come.'

North Wales Chronicle

39 minutes ago

• North Wales Chronicle

England reach last four of European Under-21 Championship after beating Spain

The Young Lions, who next face the Netherlands, benefited from an early let-off after a VAR check resulted in an overturned penalty. Captain James McAtee opened the scoring in the 10th minute and Harvey Elliott netted his second goal of the tournament five minutes later. What a win. What a performance. OUR #YOUNGLIONS ARE INTO THE #U21EURO SEMI-FINALS! 👏 — England (@England) June 21, 2025 Javi Guerra clawed a goal back for Spain with a 39th-minute penalty, but substitute Elliot Anderson's own spot-kick in second-half stoppage time assured Lee Carsley's men of their spot in the final four. England got off to an unsteady start as Spain thought they won a penalty when Charlie Cresswell – looking like he was trying to get out of the way – was penalised with a handball by on-field referee Simone Sozza. The Italian was called to the monitor by his VAR compatriot, and England breathed a sigh of relief when the call was overturned. McAtee opened the scoring from an Alex Scott corner after a flick-on by Omari Hutchinson. Spain got a touch, but only in the direction of the alert England skipper, who turned home from close range. A big quarter-final performance from the England captain ©️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿#U21POTM | #U21EURO — UEFA Men's Youth (@UEFAMensYouth) June 21, 2025 Elliott doubled England's advantage five minutes later, tapping in the rebound after Spain goalkeeper Alejandro Iturbe spilled a save from Jarell Quansah's long-range effort. England gifted Spain another chance from 12 yards, however, after losing the ball deep inside their own third, exacerbating the error when Quansah, who dangled a leg, caught Alberto Moleiro and Sozza immediately pointed to the spot. Guerra stepped up and halved the deficit after coolly sending James Beadle the wrong way. Some great work from Quansah and Hutchinson after the restart nearly set up Jay Stansfield, who saw his effort deflect over, shortly before Cresswell nodded a corner into the side-netting. Beadle twice denied Guerra then gathered up a Mateo Joseph effort, while England were still in search of a first shot on target since Elliott's goal with 20 minutes remaining after Morton fired just wide. Jack Hinshelwood should have extended England's lead but he mistimed a free header over the crossbar. England hit Spain, who were searching for a late equaliser, on the counter when Iturbe was punished for bringing down Jonathan Rowe inside the penalty area, which Anderson slotted home to seal victory.