Euro Under-21′s: England break penalty hoodoo

ENG U21 3-3 SWE U21 (ENG U21 win 5-4 on pens)

England Under-21s won a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win over Sweden despite losing a 3-0 half-time lead. It set up a final with old enemies Germany (who beat Italy 1-0), and also gave an England team a penalty shootout victory.

Martin Cranie’s strike, a Nedum Onuoha shot and a Mattias Bjarsmyr own goal put England in control at the break.

But a revitalised Sweden forced extra-time after Ola Toivonen’s free-kick, inbetween a Marcus Berg brace, levelled the score.

Frazier Campbell saw red in extra time, and strike partner Agbonlahor was injured, but England held on to set up the shootout.

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 curse to bed after Guillermo Molin’s miss from the penalty spot sealed their win.

Joe Hart was the main hero, after scoring once and saving twice, although he was booked inbetween for ‘ungentlemanly conduct’, a yellow card which keeps him out of the showpiece event. The subsequent appeal was rejected.

So England enter Monday’s final without two strikers and their main goalkeeper, but (hopefully) still have a great chance of lifting the trophy at the Germans’ expence.