2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship final

2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship final
Shortly before kick-off, at Tehelné pole in Bratislava.
Event2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
After extra time
Date28 June 2025 (2025-06-28)
VenueTehelné pole, Bratislava
Man of the MatchJames McAtee (England)[1]
RefereeSander van der Eijk (Netherlands)
Attendance19,153[2]
WeatherClear
26 °C (79 °F)
51% humidity[3]

The 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship final was a football match that took place on 28 June 2025 at Tehelné pole in Bratislava, Slovakia, to determine the winners of the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. The match was contested by defending champions England and Germany.

England won the match 3–2 after extra time for their second consecutive UEFA European Under-21 Championship and their fourth title overall.[4] Harvey Elliott and Omari Hutchinson both scored to put England in control of the final, before Nelson Weiper and Paul Nebel each scored respectively to bring Germany back into the game. Nebel's shot in the fourth minute of injury time at the end of the second half hit the crossbar.[5] Substitute Jonathan Rowe scored the winner in extra time with a header to seal the victory in Bratislava.[6] With the game in injury time after extra time, Germany had a final chance as Merlin Röhl's shot from 16 metres (17 yd) hit the crossbar, with the game finishing moments later.[5]

England captain James McAtee was named man of the match in the aftermath, with the game having been attended by England head coach Thomas Tuchel.[7]

The match was broadcast live in the United Kingdom by Channel 4, with the coverage being watched by 3.7 million viewers, making it that day's most watched programming in the country.[8]

Route to the final

England

England's route to the final
Opponent Result
1  Czech Republic 3–1
2  Slovenia 0–0
3  Germany 1–2
QF  Spain 3–1
SF  Netherlands 2–1

England qualified for the tournament by finishing first in their qualification group, ahead of Ukraine and Serbia.[9] In the finals, they were drawn in Group B along with Germany, Slovenia and the Czech Republic. Their opening match was against the Czech Republic at DAC Aréna in Dunajská Streda on 12 June. England won the game 3–1 with Harvey Elliott scoring the side's first goal of the tournament. Jonathan Rowe scored England's second goal from a Tino Livramento cross, before Daniel Fila scored a header for the Czech Republic three minutes later, after a cross from Václav Sejk. England's Charlie Cresswell completed the scoring with a 76th-minute header from a corner taken by Alex Scott.[10] England's second match was against Slovenia on 15 June at Štadión pod Zoborom in Nitra, and finished as a scoreless draw.[11] England's third and final group game was against Germany at Štadión pod Zoborom, with the team needing a point to guarantee progress. After Slovenia lost to the Czech Republic in the other match taking place simultaneously, England advanced to the knockout stages regardless of their game's result. Ansgar Knauff and Nelson Weiper scored to give Germany a 2–0 half time lead. In the second half, Alex Scott scored for England to make the score 2–1, which was the final result.[12]

England's quarter-final was against Spain at Anton Malatinský Stadium in Trnava on 21 June. Goals from James McAtee and Elliott helped England to a 2–0 lead before Spain scored a penalty through Javi Guerra. England were later awarded a penalty of their own, with Elliot Anderson converting to make the final score 3–1.[13] The team advanced to a semi-final match against the Netherlands at Tehelné pole in Bratislava on 25 June. Two goals from Elliott, in between a long-distance goal from Dutch substitute Noah Ohio resulted in a 2–1 win for the English.[14]

Germany

Germany's route to the final
Opponent Result
1  Slovenia 3–0
2  Czech Republic 4–2
3  England 2–1
QF  Italy 3–2 (a.e.t.)
SF  France 3–0

Germany reached the tournament courtesy of winning their qualification group in front of Poland, securing their progression with one match to play.[15]

Match details

England 3–2 (a.e.t.) Germany
  • Elliott 5'
  • Hutchinson 24'
  • Rowe 92'
Report
Attendance: 19,153[2]
Referee: Sander van der Eijk (Netherlands)
England
Germany
GK 1 James Beadle  115'
RB 16 Jack Hinshelwood
CB 4 Jarell Quansah
CB 5 Charlie Cresswell
LB 2 Tino Livramento
CM 8 Elliot Anderson  98'
CM 10 James McAtee (c)  91'
CM 20 Alex Scott  43'  44'
RF 18 Jay Stansfield  62'
CF 11 Omari Hutchinson  98'
LF 19 Harvey Elliott  91'
Substitutions:
MF 23 Tyler Morton  44'
DF 12 Brooke Norton-Cuffy  62'
FW 9 Jonathan Rowe  91'
FW 21 Ethan Nwaneri  91'
DF 15 CJ Egan-Riley  98'
FW 17 Samuel Iling-Junior  113'  98'
Manager:
Lee Carsley
GK 1 Noah Atubolu
RB 2 Nnamdi Collins
CB 4 Bright Arrey-Mbi
CB 14 Tim Oermann  106'
LB 3 Nathaniel Brown  86'
CM 20 Paul Nebel
CM 6 Eric Martel (c)  37'  98'
CM 18 Rocco Reitz
RF 19 Nelson Weiper  80'
CF 10 Nick Woltemade
LF 17 Brajan Gruda  73'
Substitutions:
MF 7 Ansgar Knauff  73'
MF 8 Merlin Röhl  80'
DF 13 Lukas Ullrich  86'
FW 9 Nicolò Tresoldi  98'
MF 22 Paul Wanner  106'
Manager:
Antonio Di Salvo

Man of the Match:
James McAtee (England)[1]

Assistant referees:
Rens Bluemink (Netherlands)
Stefan De Groot (Netherlands)
Fourth official:
Simone Sozza (Italy)
Video assistant referee:
Clay Ruperti (Netherlands)
Assistant video assistant referee:
Cesar Soto Grado (Spain)

Match rules

  • 90 minutes.
  • 30 minutes of extra time if necessary.
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores still level.
  • Maximum of twelve named substitutes.
  • Maximum of five substitutions, with a sixth allowed in extra time.[note 1]

Notes

  1. ^ Each team was given only three opportunities to make substitutions, with a fourth opportunity in extra time, excluding substitutions made at half-time, before the start of extra time and at half-time in extra time.

References

  1. ^ a b "England captain James McAtee named official Under-21 EURO final Player of the Match". UEFA. 28 June 2025. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  2. ^ a b "England vs. Germany" (JSON). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 28 June 2025. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  3. ^ "Under-21 – England v Germany – Match info". UEFA. Union of European Football Associations. 28 June 2025. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  4. ^ Mashiter, Nick (28 June 2025). "England U21 3–2 Germany U21: England retain Euro U21s title with extra-time win over Germany". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Dramatisches Ende: Deutschlands U 21 unterliegt im EM-Finale". Kicker (in German). 28 June 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  6. ^ Aarons, Ed (28 June 2025). "Rowe edges England to Under-21 Euros glory in extra-time thriller against Germany". Guardian. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  7. ^ Bate, Adam (29 June 2025). "England beat Germany to win U21 trophy again: Lee Carsley's side underline transformation in English football". Sky Sports. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  8. ^ Hardy, Matt (30 June 2025). "Channel 4 bag 3.7m viewers for England U-21 Euros triumph". City AM. Archived from the original on 1 July 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  9. ^ Emons, Michael (15 October 2024). "England U21s 7–0 Azerbaijan U21s". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  10. ^ Aarons, Ed (12 June 2025). "Harvey Elliott helps England make winning start in Euro Under-21 against Czechs". Guardian. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  11. ^ "England held to goalless draw by Slovenia in under-21 Euros". ESPN. 15 June 2025. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  12. ^ Aarons, Ed (18 June 2025). "Knauff galvanises Germany as England stumble into Euro Under-21 last eight". Guardian. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  13. ^ Mashiter, Nick (21 June 2025). "Spain U21 1–3 England U21". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  14. ^ Baker, Luke (25 June 2025). "England U21 v Netherlands live: Result and reaction as late Elliott goal sends Young Lion into Euros final". Independent. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  15. ^ "Arbeitssieg gegen Bulgarien: U 21 löst vorzeitig das EM-Ticket". Kicker (in German). 11 October 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2025.