England U21s vs Germany: Prediction, kick-off time, team news, odds

England are one game away from defending their European Under-21 Championships title, and they face Germany in Bratislava this evening.

Lee Carsley’s Young Lions have seen off Spain and the Netherlands en route to the final at the Stadion Tehelne Pole, where they take on the only side that have beaten them at this tournament.

Germany, led by Antonio Di Salvo, beat England 2-1 in the group stage, with that victory decisive when it came to who topped Group B.

Carsley’s team had already stuttered in their second game, drawing 0-0 with Slovenia, and, despite falling to Ansgar Knauff and Nelson Weiper’s goals in Nitra, the holders still progressed with four points to their name, just one clear of the Czech Republic in third, who England had beaten 3-1 in their opener thanks to strikes from Harvey Elliott, Jonathan Rowe, and Charlie Cresswell.

Since then, the Young Lions, who have Premier League quality oozing through the squad, have really come into their own.

They were hugely impressive against pre-tournament favourites Spain, downing Santi Denia’s men 3-1 after an early scare, with Cresswell initially penalised for a handball inside the box on two minutes, but the awarded penalty was disallowed by VAR.

England responded superbly, with captain James McAtee and Elliott notching a five-minute double salvo to stun the Spanish, who halved the deficit before the break through Javi Guerra’s spot-kick. Elliot Anderson made it three late on with a penalty of his own, won by Rowe utilising his pace in behind before being felled by Alejandro Iturbe.

Carsley’s men left it late in the last four, with Elliott notching a brace, netting the winner five minutes from time after Noah Ohio had cancelled out his 62nd-minute opener.