Germany's players celebrate a resounding victory in Malmo

By David McIntyre

England's youngsters were crushed by Germany in the European Under-21 Championship final in Malmo.

The Germans went ahead when Mesut Ozil went past Martin Cranie and cleverly found Gonzalo Castro, who slotted home.

Soon after the break, goalkeeper Scott Loach misjudged Ozil's free-kick and palmed the ball into the net.

After England's Lee Cattermole hit the bar, Sandro Wagner collected Ozil's pass and fired through Loach's legs and also curled in Germany's fourth.

Despite Wagner's late double, it was the outstanding Ozil who was England's chief tormentor.

The Werder Bremen playmaker produced several moments of class and always looked dangerous on the counter-attack.

England, on the other hand, struggled without suspended forwards Gabriel Agbonlahor and Fraizer Campbell, who were sorely missed.

In their absence, Theo Walcott was moved in from the left flank by boss Stuart Pearce and operated as a lone striker.

England started strongly, with Cranie heading Adam Johnson's free-kick wide and Walcott shooting wide of the near post.

But their lack of firepower was always evident whereas the Germans, despite having less possession, looked a real threat.

606: DEBATE Give your views on England's defeat

And they went ahead when Castro, who also scored in a 1-1 draw against England in the group stages, made no mistake after Ozil's fine pass.

Ozil was a constant thorn in England's side and went close shortly before half-time with a 25-yard free-kick that struck Cranie and flew just over.

But there was no escape for England three minutes after the interval.

Ozil tried his luck with a free-kick from a much greater distance that was hit straight at Loach.

The Watford keeper ought to have made a routine save but was badly positioned and inexplicably allowed the ball to roll into the net.

It was a terrible moment for Loach, who had been selected ahead of Peterborough United's Joe Lewis to replace the suspended Joe Hart.

Loach's mistake left England facing an uphill struggle

Cattermole struck the top of the bar with a ferocious shot as England tried in vain to find a way back into the match.

Their cause was not helped when Johnson missed the target from close range after some great work on the right by James Milner.

Worse followed for England, with Ozil again wreaking havoc and threading through a perfect pass for Wagner, whose cool finish effectively sealed Germany's victory.

Their win was rubber-stamped six minutes from the end, when Wagner sent a right-foot shot beyond Loach and into the far corner.

Germany U21: Neuer, Beck, Howedes, Boateng, Boenisch, Hummels (Aogo 83), Johnson (Schwaab 68), Castro, Khedira, Ozil (Schmelzer 89), Wagner.
Subs Not Used: Fromlowitz, Ebert, Marin, Grote, Adlung, Ben-Hatira, Ede, Sippel.

Goals: Castro 23, Ozil 48, Wagner 79, 84.

Booked: Boenisch, Wagner.

England U21: Loach, Cranie (Gardner 80), Richards, Onuoha (Mancienne 46), Gibbs, Cattermole, Muamba (Rodwell 77), Noble, Milner, Walcott, Johnson.
Subs Not Used: Lewis, Taylor, Stearman, Tomkins, Driver, Rose.

Att: 20,000

Ref: Bjorn Kuipers (Holland).

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version