Same old story as England pay penalty, again
TYPICAL England. Yet another penalty shoot-out defeat. Once again inflicted by Germany.
Perfect preparation for elevation to the senior team was the joke but another imperfect semi-final collapse. Even before the penalties.
You can load up the squad with talent, add smart sports psychologists, and a good team spirit.
But when it comes down to being 12 yards out and keeper to beat, England crack.
To the roll call of World Cups and senior Euro shoot out defeats, add Nathan Redmond’s miss, a decent save from Julian Pollersbeck.
Man of the match Max Arnold scored first but Jordan Pickford saved brilliantly from Yannick Gerhardt. Max Philip netted, as did Max Meyer and Nadeem Amiri.
For England Lewis Baker scored but Tammy Abraham struck a tame kick which was too easily saved.
Ben Chilwell and James Ward-Prowse scored. That left Redmond taking the last one to keep England in it.
He missed. A poor effort and one that will haunt him and the other Young Lions if they ever get to the same defining moment in Gareth Southgate’s senior side.
But it wasn’t only the penalties that England should worry about when the debrief is done on their Poland campaign that was par for the course in reaching the last four.
They were lucky to stretch out the agony to extra time and penalties. Germany dominated, and had chances to finish it earlier, notably Amiri’s
Aet, Germany win 4-3 on pens
missed open goal in extra time.
England were exposed tactically early on. A diamond midfield formation gifted acres of space to their full-backs and midfield. It was exploited, and England banked up their wall of defence and were hanging on.
Aidy Boothroyd made some decent calls getting to this semi, but couldn’t find a formation, and he tried a few during the two hours, to get a foothold.
England started well but soon lost their way and conceded in 34 minutes. Right-back Jeremy Toljan dinked a cross for Davie Selke’s powerful header.
But England equalised when Ward-Prowse’s delivery from a corner had Germany’s back four panicking and Abraham’s touch was blocked and fell to Demarai Gray to score.
With the ball Germany were very good but England were in front in 50 minutes through Abraham.
Will Hughes dribbled into the box and smashed across goal for the future Swansea loanee to prod in. It didn’t last. Germany levelled when Felix Platte smashed home a near-post header direct from Meyer’s corner.
Out of ideas and energy, England clung on to parity. As extra time arrived they would have taken their chances with a penalty shootout.
Pickford gave England hope with his save but Abraham and Redmond missed.