McAtee off the bench as England lose at U21s Euros | OneFootball

James McAtee was a second half substitute as England were beaten 2-1 by Germany at the Under-21 European Championship in Slovakia.

But the young Three Lions have progressed to the quarter-finals after taking four points from their opening two matches.

Germany, who finished top of Group B, changed their entire starting line-up while Lee Carsley also made four changes.

Ansgar Knauff fired Germany into a third minute lead and they doubled their advantage half an hour later through Nelson Weiper.

Carsley made three changes at the break with McAtee coming on along with Birmingham’s Jay Stansfield and Genoa defender Brooke Norton-Cuffy.

England immediately improved and finally pulled a goal back when Alex Scott tapped in Omari Hutchinson’s low cross.

They kept pushing for an equaliser with defender Charlie Cresswell going closest with a thumping header that was well saved.

But a second-placed finish was secured following a win over Czechia and draw with Slovenia in the opening two fixtures.

England will now face tournament favourites Spain on Saturday in the quarter-finals in a repeat of the 2023 final when they lifted the trophy.