Harvey Elliott propelled England's Under-21s into the European Championship final with a stunning brace against the Netherlands, securing a 2-1 victory in their semi-final clash. The Liverpool midfielder showcased his exceptional talent, scoring both goals in Bratislava and earning the title of player of the match. England now stands on the brink of defending their U21 crown, facing either Germany or France in the final.
The Young Lions dominated territory for much of the game, but the first half ended goalless. Elliott had two early chances, forcing excellent saves from Dutch goalkeeper Robin Roefs. Roefs again denied Elliott in the 12th minute, staying big to deny a low shot after Jay Stansfield's cut back.
Just after the hour mark, Elliott broke the deadlock with a powerful strike, slamming the ball into the roof of the net after a fine pass from Elliot Anderson. However, the Netherlands responded swiftly. Noah Ohio, just moments after coming on as a substitute, leveled the score, threatening to send the game into extra time.
With extra time looming, Elliott stepped up again to secure England's place in the final. Slicing through the Dutch defence with brilliant footwork, he fired home the winning goal in the 86th minute, sending the England squad and supporters into raptures.
Elliott, who was also part of the squad that won the U21 EURO championship two years ago, expressed his delight after the match. "It's amazing," he said. "It was a really tough game but to win is incredible, I can't put it into words. Another final, I keep saying it but we need to rest, recover and go again as it's not over yet. The way the lads dug deep, we deserve this final."
England's coach, Lee Carsley, lauded Elliott's performance and the team's resilience in the face of a tough opponent. The Young Lions displayed their champion qualities, overcoming sweltering conditions and a determined Dutch side to reach the final.
Goalkeeper James Beadle added: “Unbelievable, this was our aim before the tournament and we are one step away. I am buzzing. We are really looking forward to the final now. We can believe we can beat anyone, it doesn't matter who we are playing against. We believe in our abilities and we are going there to win.”
England will now face either Germany or France in the final.
