Road to the Final: England & Germany Set for Blockbuster U21 Euro 2025 Showdown | OneFootball

Continental glory is on the line as England and Germany go head-to-head in the 2025 UEFA European U21 Championship.

Reigning holders England got the better of the Netherlands in a dramatic semi-final tie, courtesy of Harvey Elliott’s second-half double, earning a chance to defend the title for the second time.

Indeed, the Young Lions achieved that feat in 1982 and 1984 and could become the first nation in tournament history to go back-to-back on two occasions.

Keen to stop England from becoming the first side since Spain in 2013 to defend the crown, Germany will be out to claim their fourth Euro U21 title after ousting France in the semi-finals.

Die Mannschaft have been regular participants in these finals, with this showpiece serving as their fourth appearance in a title-deciding fixture in the last five editions.

England’s road to the final

England went from strength to strength in qualifying, netting a competition-high 41 goals en route to a top-table finish in Group F.

Despite only conceding six in return, Lee Carsley’s side didn’t have a 100% recording in the qualifying cycle, dropping points twice in ten games (W8, D1, L1).

Nevertheless, they got their title-defending campaign off to a flying start, trouncing the Czech Republic 3-1 in their opening Group B outing, only for their form to fall off a cliff afterwards.

Carsley’s team performed well below their xG in a dismal 0-0 draw against tournament hosts Slovakia on matchday two despite racking up 20 shots on goal.

England’s group-stage journey hit rock bottom in round three as upcoming rivals Germany beat them 2-1 in a top-of-the-table six-pointer in Nitra.

However, the Young Lions saved their best form for the knockout stages.

Pre-tournament favourites Spain were no match for the three-time Euro U21 winners as England claimed a comfortable 3-1 win in the quarter-finals.

Buoyed by an emphatic performance against La Roja, they dispatched another continental powerhouse in the semis.

Yet, they left it late to overcome the Dutch, with Elliott’s 86th-minute winner booking England’s fifth appearance in the grand final.

In search of good omens, they’ve emerged victorious from three of their four previous title-deciding games, except for a 4-0 rout to none other than Germany in 2009.

Germany’s route to the final

Germany may not have been as prolific as England in qualifying, but they reached the tournament unbeaten, drawing only twice in ten Group D matches (W8) while bagging 35 goals.

Like their opposition, Die Mannschaft enjoyed a superb Euros start, demolishing the Slovakians 3-0 in their curtain-raising fixture on the back of Nick Woltemade’s hat-trick.

The tournament’s leading goalscorer continued his scoring spree on Gameweek 2 as Germany tore the Czech Republic apart in a dominant 4-2 victory.

Despite Woltemade’s absence in Group B’s derby against England, the Germans preserved their perfect record in the competition thanks to two unanswered first-half goals.

Although the Germans ran riot in the group phase, they had to go to great lengths in the quarter-finals against familiar foes Italy.

Merlin Rohl’s 117th-minute winner sealed Germany’s nerve-wracking 3-2 win following a 2-2 draw in regulation, setting up a mouth-watering semi-final tie against France.

Few could’ve predicted that Die Mannschaft would breeze through that last-four showdown without breaking a sweat.

The French couldn’t cope with Woltemade and his teammates, with Antonio Di Salvo’s side strolling to a formidable 3-0 triumph after netting twice inside 15 minutes.

As a result, Germany will contest their sixth-ever Euro U21 final and first since hoisting the title in 2021.

Regardless of their group-stage triumph, this is not a favourable match-up for the Germans, considering they’ve lost two other meetings with Carsley’s England.