The Young Lions retained their European Under-21 title with a dramatic 3-2 win over Germany.Jake Stokes Senior Sport Central Audience Writer and Simon Mullock
23:12, 28 Jun 2025
James McAtee was player-of-the-match during the final victory.(Image: Photo by Tullio Puglia – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
James McAtee led England to a dramatic victory over Germany in the Under-21 European Championship final on Saturday night. Jonathan Rowe emerged as the hero after coming off the bench, helping Lee Carsley’s side retain their title.
The 22-year-old ex-Norwich City forward, who now spearheads Marseille’s attack, connected with Tyler Morton’s perfectly-delivered cross to score with his first touch. The Young Lions were sailing to victory following goals from Harvey Elliott and Omari Hutchinson inside the opening half an hour.
But, they had to lean on McAtee’s leadership when Germany replied with two brilliant goals, from Nelson Weiper and Paul Nebel. Now, Carsley has matched the achievement of Dave Sexton, who won consecutive Euros with the Under-21s in 1982 and 1984.
Thomas Tuchel was present to witness the drama – having flown in from the Club World Cup in the United States to Bratislava, Slovakia. Germany had eliminated Italy and France on their journey to the final.
In the group stages, they even defeated England 2-1 despite resting several players. Antonio Di Salvo’s young side were unbeaten for 20 matches – a streak that stretched two years.
Their attack was led by Nick Woltemade, who recently scored 17 Bundesliga goals to help Stuttgart qualify for the Champions League, prompting Bayern Munich to pay £43m for his services.
The 23-year-old striker netted six goals during Germany’s campaign, earning him the Golden Boot and a runners-up medal. England should have been comfortably ahead by half-time.
The Young Lions took the lead in the fifth minute. Hutchinson had a chance to score but his shot was too close to German goalkeeper Noah Atubolu. However, when the loose ball fell to Elliott, the Liverpool forward controlled it, before driving his fifth goal of the tournament into the bottom corner with his left foot.
McAtee unleashed a powerful shot past the far post and, moments later, he found Jay Stansfield at the far post with an open goal, only for the Birmingham striker to misinterpret his pass.
Nevertheless, England managed to score their second goal in the 24th minute when the City player’s pass set up Hutchinson to drive his shot through Atubolu’s legs.
The Ipswich Town winger could have scored once again after another fluid move that left the German defence in tatters, but his shot was deflected wide. Atubolu made a sharp save to deny McAtee from scoring when he’d met with Hutchinson’s low cross with a first-time finish.
Then, the influential Alex Scott was forced to come off due to a knee injury, after being side-swiped by Germany captain Eric Martel. Substitute Morton was still adjusting to the pace of the match when he lost Weiper as Nebel delivered a cross from the right.
The German forward found the top corner with a powerful header that brushed off the fingertips of England’s keeper James Beadle. The goal invigorated the Germans.
McAtee was just inches away from reinstating England’s two-goal lead after an impressive 40-yard run. However, Nebel was given too much room on the hour-mark when England failed to clear a corner and he fired into the top corner with a beautiful curled finish.
Yet, England retaliated and substitute Brooke Norton-Cuffy could have clinched it but scuffed a decent chance too close to Atubolu. They had a massive reprieve in the fourth minute of injury-time when Nebel’s snap shot deflected off Norton-Cuffy and hit the crossbar.
German substitute Merlin Rohl thought he had created some magic in the final seconds but his shot bounced off the crossbar. But it was Carsley who introduced Ethan Nwaneri and Rowe for extra-time – and 90 seconds later came the pivotal moment.
Get City transfer updates on WhatsApp!
Our MEN team of City experts will be on top of all the goings-on at the Etihad this summer and beyond, and you can get the latest updates and inside information to your phone by joining our new free WhatsApp community. You can also join the 50,000 (and growing!) band of Blues fans who are following our WhatsApp channel.
Sign up to our community here, and join our City channel here.
—
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.