McAtee captains England U21 to Euros glory | OneFootball

James McAtee skippered England Under-21s to their second successive U21 European Championship crown following a 3-2 win over Germany in the final.

The City forward, who earned player of the match, played the full 90 minutes before being replaced ahead of extra-time, registering two first-half assists at Tehelne pole, Bratislava.

Having scored the euphoric winner in the Young Lions’ 2-1 semi-final win over the Netherlands, Harvey Elliott carried his momentum into the showpiece when breaking the deadlock inside the fifth minute.

After the ball ricocheted inside the area, McAtee teed up the Liverpool forward who drilled low into the bottom right corner to give Lee Carsley’s side the perfect start.

City’s Academy graduate continued to pull strings, and he produced a smart turn inside the box shortly after to create space before drilling across the face of goal which narrowly evaded the oncoming attackers looking to tuck home.

The Young Lions then had to absorb a small amount of Germany pressure before Elliott hit them on the break, switching the ball to McAtee whose ball across the box was just too heavy for Jay Stansfield to meet with the Birmingham forward holding his run.

But England’s second did arrive midway through the first half when the Blues' versatile forward produced an industrious run and battled to keep possession which allowed him to slide the ball to Omari Hutchinson who slammed into the net.

WATCH: In conversation with James McAtee | Official Man City Podcast

Germany pulled a goal back, though, on the cusp of half-time when a cross into the box was powerfully headed home by Nelson Weiper.

They then made a fast start to the second half and equalised just after the hour mark when Paul Nebel collected the ball at a corner and whipped into the top corner.

Aiming to inject fresh energy into England, McAtee weaved to the edge of the area and curled just over the top of the bar with the final finely poised.

As extra-time loomed with the score line level, Germany came inches from taking the lead when Nebel struck the crossbar with a thumping effort before the full-time whistle blew.

But within two minutes of the additional 30, Jonathan Rowe improvised superbly to get low and direct a cross into the back of the net with a low header to restore England's lead.

Carsley's team continued to defend their slender advantage, and in stoppage time at the end of the second half of extra-time, Merlin Rohl struck the crossbar to add another instalment of drama to the final.

However, that turned out to be the last action of the enthralling showpiece as the Young Lions triumphed in Slovakia.

Congratulations to James for winning the 2025 UEFA Under-21s Euros!