CHAOS erupted at the final whistle as England beat Spain 3-1 to set up an Euro U21 semi-final against Holland.
The holders will battle the Dutch in Bratislava on Wednesday for a place in the European Championship final.
James McAtee and Harvey Elliott showed the precision of a Spanish archer to take the lead in a lightning quick start before Eliot Anderson wrapped things up with a late penalty.
Despite handing their much-fancied opponents a lifeline before the break, England held firm in Tranava to roar on.
But the match ended in chaos as players from both sides clashed in a touchline fracas, with former Leeds man Charlie Cresswell at the centre of things.
Tempers spilled over as unsettling scenes of shirt-grabbing and shoving took centre stage.
And it even needed Chelsea legend and England coach Ashley Cole to step in and break up the ruckus amid fears of a red card for a Young Lion.
Speaking about the fight afterwards, goalscorer Elliott said: “It’s always going to happen. I think it’s just passion.
“It was one of them when I was trying to calm everyone down at the end of the day. We have everything to lose, they don’t.
“We have to focus now and can’t get too carried away. We can’t lose players for the semi final.”
But Spain boss Santiago Denia Sanchez fired back: “I am not going to comment on their conduct.
“The federation and my parents have instilled in me how to win and how to lose. When you lose you have to respect the opponent.”
Six members of Lee Carsley’s army headed to the Stadion Antona Malatinskeho, where Big Sam Allardyce won his only game in charge of England in 2016, with happy memories.
Teddy Sharman-Lowe, Brooke Norton-Cuffy, Jarell Quansah, Alex Scott, Samuel Iling-Junior and Ronnie Edwards were all returning to the scene of their 2022 Under-19 Euro triumph with England.
And it proved to be a happy hunting ground once again as they refused to relinquish their grip on the trophy.
Only Quansah and Scott out of them started here as Carsley rang the changes after Wednesday’s 2-1 defeat to Germany.
In came Tino Livramento for Iling-Junior, Tyler Morton replaced Elliot Anderson in midfield, captain James McAtee took over from Ethan Nwaneri.
The fourth, and biggest eyebrow raiser, was the inclusion of Birmingham City’s Jay Stansfield over Jonathan Rowe as Carsley opted for a more traditional No9 in attack for the first time this tournament.
Meanwhile, Leeds striker Mateo Joseph, whose father is cousins with ex-England star Emile Heskey, was the man tasked with leading the Spanish attack against the Three Lions.
Though our boys had more than just him to worry.
In-demand Valencia midfield duo Javi Guerra and Diego Lopez and Las Palmas’ Alberto Moleiro were the three matadors ordered to provide the magic for him.
Lopez was straight into it, heading over before a minute had passed and then 30 seconds later his shot hit Charlie Cresswell’s arm and the ref pointed to the spot.
Fortunately, England survived as a VAR check led to the Italian official Simone Sozza overturning his decision.
And Carsley’s men roared back to turn a potential nightmare start into a dream one.
Alex Scott’s corner flicked off a defender’s head and the Spaniards failed to deal with and allowed McAtee to pounce and drill home from eight yards.
Moments later the Young Lions doubled their advantage when Quansah powered forward and thundered a strike towards goal.
It was too much for Alejandro Iturbe, and Elliott reacted quickest to slot home after the keeper spilled it.
Spain were stunned and struggled to threaten until they were gifted a way back into it.
Scott’s sloppiness allowed Moleiro to nick it, dart into the box before going down after colliding with Quansah’s outstretched left leg.
Guerra, after a lengthy delay, kept his cool to send James Beadle the wrong way to leave the game on a knife edge going into the break.
England shot out the traps after the restart as Quansah found Omari Hutchinson on the edge of the box. The Ipswich winger’s brilliant backheel set Stansfield free, but his strike was deflected over.
Cresswell headed Elliot’s corner into the side-netting but it was Beadle’s heroics that kept their lead on the hour with a superb double save to deny Guerra.
Spain were beginning to pile on the pressure as Cresswell threw his body in front of a stinger from Moleiro.
But for all of their play and passing, they just could not find a way through as their hopes died right at the death when Beadle saved low down from Roberto Fernandez.
Nottingham Forest ace Anderson then stepped up to the spot to fire home a penalty at the death, knocking the stuffing out of Spain for good.
It was a display to make Sir Francis Drake proud. Now bring on the Dutch.
Speaking after the match, England boss Carsley said: “We talked about getting a fast start and to give a penalty away after a minute… the lads showed a lot of character.
“First half we were so good. I said before the longer the game went on the more fluid we will become.
“We talk about attacking so much you forget the other side of the game and I felt the whole back four and goalkeeper were excellent defending the box.
“Jay [Stansfield] has been outstanding all camp, I talk about managing minutes because a game every three days is a big ask.
“With our situation in the group we could not rest players, which is the reason Elliott [Anderson] could not start.
“This can’t be our final, this can’t be our highlight of the competition, there are better nights to come.”
On the post-match brawl, Carsley added: “I think there are better ways to build camaraderie! But I think awe had something similar in the final [two years ago].
“Emotions run very high and in those kinds of scenarios you don’t want anyone to get sent off, anyone to throw a punch or get themselves in trouble.
“You try and be as respectful to both sides but you can see how much it means to the players. To represent your country in a quarter-final, it means a lot.
“We probably have to give them a bit of leeway. Thankfully it didn’t go over the top but it’s still not nice to see.
“We are always trying to fly the flag and encourage younger players especially to take up football and enjoy the game… but the passion was just a bit much.”
Captain McAtee said: “I never saw the challenge (on Livramento). I saw the boys start going into it, so always going in to help. It’s part of football, and you just have to stick together as a team.
“It’s a big game, we know that. It’s two big teams in the tournament, so them kicking off, we can’t sit back and just let them do it, we have to give them a bit back, so I am happy with the boys.”
Read the full article here
