England moved closer to retaining their European Championship crown after pulling off a crucial victory against Spain in the quarter-finals of the competition.
Lee Carsley’s side came out victorious in the 2023 final against La Roja and triumphed once again in a fluctuant affair full of twists and turns.
Spain thought they were awarded a penalty after Charlie Cresswell seemed to have handled the ball inside the box before captain James McAtee broke the deadlock with 10 minutes gone.
England continued to apply pressure and by 15 minutes, they were up by two goals when Harvey Elliott turned in a rebounded effort when Alejandro Iturbe parried Jarell Quansah’s long-range effort awkwardly.
Santi Denia’s side, who had failed to beat England in their last seven meetings ahead of kick-off, found an avenue back into the game when Javi Guerra converted from the penalty spot.
But Spain’s efforts, which ran until the final whistle, were discarded when Elliot Anderson netted a third from the spot to put La Roja out of their misery on 94 minutes.
This victory for England, which earned them a place in the semi-finals of the competition, seemed as unexpected as it was important due to an awfully conflicting start for Carsley’s side.
After just two minutes, Three Lions defender Cresswell thought he had sunk his side’s youthful chances of victory when he stuck an arm out to block Diego Lopez’s edge-of-the-box effort.
But despite referee Simone Sozza pointing to the spot, England were saved through an on-field review and immediately reminded of what was at stake in this clash – and their reply was instant.
Through some fortune, or otherwise misfortune for Spain, Alex Scott delivered a low and hard corner which clipped the back of Benat Turrientes’ head and into further danger.
Still, the ball fell to Cristhian Mosquera inside the six-yard box, but his touch was inept, granting McAtee the opportunity to slot in the opening goal at the bottom-right corner.
It wasn’t long before matters worsened for Denia’s side when another defensive error led to England’s second of the night.
Guerra pulled one back for Spain after 37 minutes (Photo by Christian Hofer/Getty Images)
Impressively, Liverpool centre-back Quansah tested Iturbe from 27 yards before the goalkeeper let the ball slip from his reach and invited Elliott with a close-ranged strike into the open net.
This game contradicted the pair’s meeting in November—which ended in a goalless draw—as Spain vied to beat England for the first time competitively.
Too strong were England, who came out victorious in the 2023 final against their counterparts here, but Spain’s reply to going two goals down was nothing short of menacing.
For all his importance in England’s second, Quansah made a costly error when he lunged at Alberto Moleiro inside the penalty area after 37 minutes.
Spain had been progressive in their threat up until that point, and when Matteo Joseph—who missed the target from 12 yards against Romania—handed the ball to Guerra, the midfielder tucked one back for Spain.
By the hour, James Beadle further ensured England’s entry into the semi-finals amid unremitting pressure by making a double save to prevent an equaliser.
Guerra received the ball inside the box and dispatched neatly towards the right side of the net before Beadle made a strong block that fell back into the path of the Spain U21 international.
Elliott scored the second of the match inside 15 minutes (Photo by Christian Hofer/Getty Images)
Then came another from Guerra to which Beadle replied instantly by parrying the strike out with his knee in the closest moment to success for Spain for over 25 minutes of football.
Ten minutes prior, England came agonisingly close in an opportunity which could have, perhaps, ended it there and then when Elliott floated in a deep corner.
Cresswell, who scored a similar goal against the Czech Republic in the opening game, looked for further headed success when he beat Guerra inside the box.
But amongst the cheers of fans who thought the ball went in lay an important chance for England spurned as the game neared its conclusion.
Still, the Three Lions progressed, and all was confirmed when Anderson sank a spot-kick into the bottom-left corner with just seconds to go.
Player of the Match – Alex Scott
Among England’s best players on the pitch, Scott, despite playing just 51 minutes, was the most prominent threat to Spain on an eventful night in Trnava.
The 21-year-old delivered a piercing ball into the box for England’s first and played like a natural in the middle of the pitch throughout.
And although he was taken off early, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him start in the semi-finals against the Netherlands next time out.