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England U21 2-2 Germany U21 (3-4 on penalties after extra-time): Nathan Redmond misses crucial spot-kick
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KONTAK PERKASA FUTURES - England crashed out of the
European U21 Championship at the semi-final stage after a heart-breaking
4-3 penalty defeat to Germany on Tuesday.
Nathan Redmond missed the crucial spot-kick after 120 minutes of action left the score 2-2 in Tychy.The Southampton forward saw his penalty saved by Julian Pollersbeck to send Germany into the final on Friday, where they will face Spain.
Germany dominated for large spells, registering 38 shots to England's 17 and controlling nearly 70 per cent of possession.
They had chances to win the game in normal time, with Maximilian Philipp particularly wasteful, while Platte saw a second header ruled out for offside.
When the game went to penalties, England edged ahead thanks to Jordan Pickford's save from Yannick Gerhardt but Pollersbeck promptly denied Abraham.
And when Redmond stepped up needing to score to keep England alive, the Germany goalkeeper dived to his right to put Germany through.
Team news
Nathaniel
Chalobah was passed fit to start but a hamstring complaint relegated
Nathan Redmond to the bench. Tammy Abraham replaced the Southampton
winger, while Will Hughes came in for John Swift in midfield.
The Chelsea midfielder was unmarked six yards out but planted his header over the bar.
Gray then went close and Pollersbeck smartly saved an Abraham header before Stefan Kuntz's side found their footing.
Selke, who had an early penalty shout turned down after tangling with Calum Chambers, served warning when he tested Pickford with a first-time shot midway through the half.
The RB Leipzig striker went one better 10 minutes before half-time, heading home from Jeremy Toljan's clipped cross.
It was fully deserved after a spell of heavy German pressure, with Ben Chilwell particularly exposed down England's left.
Player ratings
England:
Pickford (7), Holgate (7), Chambers (8), Mawson (7), Chilwell (5), Gray
(6), Chalobah (6), Hughes (7), Ward-Prowse (7), Baker (6), Abraham (7) Subs Iorfa (6), Redmond (5), Murphy (5), Swift (6) Germany:
Pollersbeck (8), Toljan (8), Gerhardt (7), Stark (7), Kempf (6), Meyer
(7), Arnold (8), Gnabry (6), Haberer (7), Philipp (7), Selke (7) Subs: Amiri (7), Kehrer (6), Kohr (6), Platte (7)
It could have got even better for England on the stroke of half-time when Maximilian Arnold appeared to take out Abraham off the ball in the penalty area but the Lithuanian referee was unmoved.
But Germany always looked a threat and Platte - on for the injured Selke - expertly guided a header past Pickford to level.
Kuntz's side had plenty of chances to win it in normal time, Philipp and Serge Gnabry squandering good opportunities, while Platte had a goal chalked off for offside.
England survived to force extra time but continued to cede ground, with substitute Nadiem Amiri a threat for Kuntz's side.
He nearly turned home in the first minute but a vital touch from Pickford denied the Hoffenheim forward.
England dug in and held on for penalties and looked set to advance when Pickford kept out Gerhardt's low effort.
But Abraham's miss put the pressure back on England, taking second, and Redmond's failure sent them home.
Man of the match
Germany captain Maximilian Arnold controlled the tempo as Germany dominated for large periods in Tychy.England's midfield struggled to get near the Wolfsburg man despite Aidy Boothroyd's change of system at half-time.
His passing was crisp and his Champions League experience showed as the likes of Lewis Baker, Will Hughes and Nathaniel Chalobah scrambled to keep up.
Reaction
Aidy Boothroyd told Sky Sports: "We tried our hardest to get a foothold in the game but at times they were really good."There were times in the game - I felt they went ahead against the run of play - but they came back into it and gave us a lot of problems. It was backs to the wall at times.
"I thought we showed real character and determination and we then went ahead and showed what we are about.
"In the end we are all deeply disappointed, to take it as far as we did. We can be proud and disappointed. I want us to take that next step and we are so close. On the night it just wasn't to be."
Source : skysports.com
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