U21 Championship


England U21 3-3 Sweden U21 5-4 on penalties

England Under-21s set up a European Championship final against Germany with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win over Sweden despite losing a 3-0 half-time lead.

Martin Cranie's strike, a Nedum Onuoha shot and a Mattias Bjarsmyr own goal put England in control at the break. 
A revitalised Sweden forced extra-time after Ola Toivonen's free-kick and two Marcus Berg goals levelled the score. 
Frazier Campbell saw red, but England held on to set up a final with Germany, who beat Italy 1-0 in their semi-final. 
England had fallen at the semi-final stage of this 31-year-old tournament five times, including a 13-12 penalty defeat to the Netherlands two years ago. 
But they were able to put that long-running hoodoo to bed after Guillermo Molin's miss from the penalty spot sealed their win.

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Italy U21 0-1 Germany U21

The Italians dominated the second semi-final in Helsingborg but Beck scored the all-important goal three minutes after half-time when he ran in from the right wing and unleashed a shot which swerved beyond the keeper's grasp. 
Manuel Neuer had been the main reason Italy were not ahead at half-time after making a number of crucial saves. 
The German goalkeeper beat out a shot from Sebastian Giovinco which was going high into the net before knocking a header on to his defender on the line who then cleared. 
Marco Motta hit the crossbar before well-placed defender Mesut Ozil cleared off the line from the near post as Italy dominated with forward Mario Balotelli influential, but the interval arrived goalless. 
The game was then turned on its head in the 48th minute when Beck shocked the Italians with his fantastic strike. 
Balotelli almost equalised minutes later when his powerful free-kick flashed wide and the same player had another effort pushed out by Neuer. 
Marco Andreolli put a header inches wide and Neuer produced an improvised save when he kicked Balotelli's powerful shot away with his right foot.
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