ngland ended their 39-year wait to lift the Under-21 European Championship trophy with a 1-0 win as James Trafford produced a stunning penalty save to deny Spain deep into stoppage-time.
The Young Lions kept five consecutive clean sheets on their run to the final, and knew another one would secure silverware once Cole Palmer’s free-kick deflected off Jones and left Spanish goalkeeper Arnau Tenas wrong-footed.
Victory was seconds away for England, when the referee returned from a check of the pitchside monitor to point to the penalty spot, Levi Colwill deemed to have fouled Abel Ruiz.
Extra-time appeared inevitable, as Ruiz stepped up with the best part of 100 minutes on the clock, but Trafford saved his spot-kick, kept out the rebound from Aimar Oroz brilliantly and then watched a third effort fly over the bar.
For the third time ever, the first time since 1984 and in the most dramatic fashion imaginable, England secured European glory.
More to follow…
