England U21s vs Germany live: Latest team news and updates from Euros final | OneFootball

England’s Under 21s are hoping to defend their continental crown (Getty Images)

England’s Under 21s will bid to defend their European Championship crown as they face old rivals Germany in a fascinating final.

Lee Carsley’s holders came through a tricky semi-final against the Netherlands as Harvey Elliott of Liverpool (at least for now...) struck twice to book their place in this Bratislava decider. With such talent at his disposal, manager Carsley was able to use Premier League regulars Archie Gray and Ethan Nwaneri off the bench as his side took a step closer to back-to-back continental crowns.

Germany, however, have arguably been the best side in the competition so far and were convincing 3-0 winners in their last-four encounter with France. Three times the winners of this competition previously, giant forward Nick Woltemade has been a standout performer with his blend of size and skill, while there is plenty of experience in midfield. Having already beaten England once in the group stage, the Germans will be full of confidence.

England U21s vs Germany live

GOAL! England 1-0 Germany

5 mins: England lead, and of course it’s Harvey Elliott who gets the opener!

Livramento lays it off for the Liverpool man, who cuts inside and passes into space... Hutchinson has a go but it deflects back off Atubolu, and McAtee cuts it back for Elliott, who plants it into the far corner!

His fifth goal of the tournament and look how much he enjoys it!

Flo Clifford28 June 2025 20:07

England 0-0 Germany

2 mins: England get things underway but it’s Germany who have possession early doors. Brighton’s Gruda builds something down the right flank and Germany apply pressure in England’s half.

Martel crosses into the box but Beadle collects easily. Germany probing at the moment.

Lee Carsley crouches in his technical area, brow furrowed.

Flo Clifford28 June 2025 20:03

KICK-OFF: England vs Germany

It’s tense in here already. Should be a cracker.

Away we go!

Flo Clifford28 June 2025 20:00

Nearly kick-off

The anthems are sung and a very healthy crowd in the 22,000 national stadium in Bratislava applaud the players.

Moments to go...

Flo Clifford28 June 2025 19:58

Five minutes to go...

(REUTERS)

(REUTERS)

Flo Clifford28 June 2025 19:55

Team news

England XI: Beadle, Livramento, Cresswell, Quansah, Hinshelwood, Elliott, Scott, Anderson, Hutchinson, McAtee, Stansfield.

Substitutes: Simkin, Sharman-Lowe, Edwards, Hackney, Fellows, Rowe, Norton-Cuffy, Gray, Egan-Riley, Iling-Junior, Nwaneri, Morton.

Substitutes: Noll, Ernst, Baum, Siebert, Thielmann, Ullrich, Rosenfelder, Knauff, Jander, Rohl, Wanner, Tresoldi.

Flo Clifford28 June 2025 19:50

How the teams stack up

Germany are on paper the best side in the tournament, having won five from five games and scored 15 goals.

England have won three - they lost to Germany in the group stage, finishing second in Group C, and drew 0-0 against Slovenia.

Tonight’s final features the two top scorers in the competition, with one of them certain to win the Golden Boot. Germany’s Nick Woltemade leads the tournament with six goals, while Harvey Elliott is on four for the Young Lions.

Flo Clifford28 June 2025 19:45

Lee Carsley confident England Under-21s can take ‘biggest step’

Lee Carsley is confident England Under-21s have the quality, experience and self belief to beat Germany in Saturday’s Euros final and retain their continental crown.

Two years on from winning the competition for the first time since 1984, the Young Lions are preparing for another final having narrowly avoided a shock group stage exit.

Slovenia’s defeat of the Czech Republic meant England edged through as Group B runners-up despite losing 2-1 to much-changed Germany, who they will face again in Saturday’s Bratislava showpiece.

Lee Carsley confident England Under-21s can take ‘biggest step’

Victory over the Netherlands saw the Young Lions into Sunday’s Euros final.

Flo Clifford28 June 2025 19:40

Eyes on the prize

England are hoping to get their hands on this again...

(Getty Images)

Flo Clifford28 June 2025 19:35

England U21s hero Harvey Elliott shows why he might have to leave Liverpool

There were a few minutes left on the clock, with England’s finest level against high-calibre opponents in Europe, when Harvey Elliott advanced on goal. He took aim and, with clinical precision, turned match-winner. Not just in the semi-finals of the European Under-21 Championship, either: with a similar flair for late drama, Elliott condemned the eventual Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain to defeat in the Parc des Princes.

Elliott reflects the peculiarities of Under-21 football. A fringe figure at Anfield because of the talents around him, he is arguably propelled to greater prominence in age-group football because peers who play more for their clubs are picked by Thomas Tuchel and denied to Lee Carsley. Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke are all eligible for the Under-21s (even Jude Bellingham is) and potential right-wingers. They have been promoted. Elliott has not been.

More from Richard Jolly here:

Flo Clifford28 June 2025 19:30