England U21 vs Spain U21 LIVE: Premier League stars start as Young Lions look to win title

The Young Lions smashed Israel 3-0 to move one win away from replicating that 1984 triumph and the only place to catch it is on the talkSPORT network.

Lee Carsley's side remain unbeaten after five games and are yet to concede a single goal during their dominant run to the final.

Only Spain now stand in their way, who came from behind to emphatically beat Ukraine 5-1 in the other semi-final.

Euro U21 Championship final will kick off at 5pm.

England XI: Trafford, Garner, Colwill, Harwood-Bellis, Aarons, Jones, Gomes, Smith Rowe, Gibbs-White, Palmer, Gordon.

Subs: Griffiths, Rushworth, Thomas, Skipp, Archer, Branthwaite, Cresswell, Johnson, Doyle, Elliott, Madueke.

Spain XI: Tenas, V. Gomez, Paredes, Pacheco, Miranda, Blanco, Baena, Sancet, Rodri, S. Gomez, Ruiz.

Subs: Agirrezabala, Roman, Guillamon, Riquelme, Barrenetxea, Martinez, Gila, Veiga, Oroz, Sanchez, Camello, Bernabe.

talkSPORT has exclusive live commentary of the game from Alex Crook and Darren Ambrose.

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.

You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

Follow our live match blog below for regular updates…

just now

England U21 vs Spain U21

Both sets of fans are in the final mood at the Batumi Arena!

5 minutes ago

England U21 vs Spain U21

England and Everton's James Garner has explained what it means to the Young Lions squad to be in the European U21 Championship final.

Garner said: "Ultimately, it's been two years in the making to get to this point and it's gone fast, but we've been with each other for two years.

"We've been in so many camps together, been to so many different countries, we've played so many games with each other all with the end goal of getting to the final.

"We're here now, and I think those two years being together has definitely put us in good stead to get to where we are now."

When asked if England's long wait to lift the trophy provided added motivation, he replied: "Yeah, I think so, but I think it's motivational in itself.

"It's the UEFA Under-21 EURO final, you're not going to get a chance to do it again and it's a massive achievement to win the thing, so I think the boys know that and we're all ready and hungry."

11 minutes ago

England U21 vs Spain U21

Stuart Pearce has tipped Spain to beat England in the European Under-21 Championship final.

Speaking on The Sports Breakfast, Pearce said: "Both teams are impressive but England were probably up against the weaker opponents in Israel who just sat off and didn't offer a great deal other than the odd counter attack.

"Spain on the other hand, Ukraine aren't a bad side and Spain put them to the sword with a 5-1 win.

"They're an impressive outfit but both teams are. They're the two strongest teams in the tournament from what I've seen and they've both made the final.

"It'll be a great final and what that we've got the opportunity of winning."

Discussing Spain's threat in more detail, Pearce said: "[Abel] Ruiz leads the line for them brilliantly as a centre forward. They like to dominate the ball but then again, England do too.

"I've been covering it and I was asked to make a prediction leading into it and I probably just edged on Spain.

"And from what I've seen - my heart wants England to win and I'm desperate for England to win but from what I've seen over the tournament and the semis, I think that Spain might just have a little bit more but it's going to be a great game."

17 minutes ago

England U21 vs Spain U21: Match facts

England haven't conceded a goal at the tournament so far, with goalkeeper James Trafford yet to be beaten in five games - should they record another here, they would set a new record for the most clean sheets in a single edition of the competition (6).

England goalkeeper Trafford is the only player from either side to have appeared for every minute of these finals. Spain's Sancet is the only other to have started all five matches - though he has been substituted in all of them.

Five different England players have 3+ goal involvements - Gibbs-White, Archer, Palmer, Gordon and Smith Rowe. It's the joint-most from a single team in tournament history, along with Spain in 2019.

22 minutes ago

England U21 vs Spain U21

The Lionesses have sent their support for the Young Lions from their pre-World Cup training camp in Australia!

27 minutes ago

England U21 vs Spain U21: Team news

England have fielded a very strong side for this evenings final, with Premier League stars littered throughout.

Arsenal's Emile Smith Rowe and Liverpool's Curtis Jones star for the Young Lions alongside Newcastle's Anthony Gordon and Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White.

Liverpool-linked Levi Colwill starts at centre-back for Lee Carsley's side.

31 minutes ago

England U21 vs Spain U21: Team news

England XI: Trafford, Garner, Colwill, Harwood-Bellis, Aarons, Jones, Gomes, Smith Rowe, Gibbs-White, Palmer, Gordon.

Subs: Griffiths, Rushworth, Thomas, Skipp, Archer, Branthwaite, Cresswell, Johnson, Doyle, Elliott, Madueke.

Spain XI: Tenas, V. Gomez, Paredes, Pacheco, Miranda, Blanco, Baena, Sancet, Rodri, S. Gomez, Ruiz.

Subs: Agirrezabala, Roman, Guillamon, Riquelme, Barrenetxea, Martinez, Gila, Veiga, Oroz, Sanchez, Camello, Bernabe.

34 minutes ago

England U21 vs Spain U21

The Young Lions are in the building!

Team news for the final will be announced shortly…

36 minutes ago

England U21 vs Spain U21

Young Lions captain Taylor Harwood-Bellis believes that his side 'deserve' to lift the Euro U21 Championship title this evening.

"It's good to visualise yourself lifting the trophy, but there's a long way to go before that happens," Harwood-Bellis said. "At least 90 minutes.

"It would be massive for us to win. We've put in so much work over the last two years, we've played at such a high level and I think the squad would deserve to lift the trophy."

42 minutes ago

England U21 vs Spain U21

England boss Lee Carsley is hoping his side can create history at the Batumi Arena.

Speaking after the Young Lions claimed their place in the final, Carsley said: "It's a great achievement for the players. We spoke about creating our own history.

"We've done well up till now, but the next thing is the biggest thing.

"I'm so, so pleased for them because I'm a big believer that we've got so much quality and they just need the opportunity.

"To watch how they've developed on and off the pitch has been brilliant. We sometimes take for granted the level of players we're producing.

"They're so motivated to do well, I'm so lucky. All the credit goes to the squad, they're a very determined bunch."

48 minutes ago

England U21 vs Spain U21

Will the Young Lions achieve glory in Georgia this evening?

49 minutes ago

England U21 vs Spain U21: Team news

Aston Villa star Jacob Ramsey has been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament after picking up an injury in the 1-0 win over Portugal.

But West Ham defender Ben Johnson and Norwich star Max Aarons are both back from suspension that sidelined them against Israel.

England U21 Squad in full

Goalkeepers: Josh Griffiths (West Bromwich Albion), Carl Rushworth (Brighton and Hove Albion), James Trafford (Manchester City)

Defenders: Max Aarons (Norwich City), Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Charlie Cresswell (Leeds United), Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Manchester City), Ben Johnson (West Ham United), Luke Thomas (Leicester City)

Midfielders: Tommy Doyle (Manchester City), Harvey Elliott (Liverpool), James Garner (Everton), Angel Gomes (Lille), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa), Oliver Skipp (Tottenham Hotspur)

Forwards: Cameron Archer (Aston Villa), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Noni Madueke (Chelsea), Cole Palmer (Manchester City) Emile Smith Rowe (Arsenal)

49 minutes ago

England U21 vs Spain U21

Hello and welcome to talkSPORT.com's live blog of England vs Spain in the Euro U21 Championship final!

England are looking to win their first Euro U21 Championship title in almost four decades as they take on Spain.

The Young Lions smashed Israel 3-0 to move one win away from replicating that 1984 triumph and the only place to catch it is on the talkSPORT network.

Lee Carsley's side remain unbeaten after five games and are yet to concede a single goal during their dominant run to the final.

Only Spain now stand in their way, who came from behind to emphatically beat Ukraine 5-1 in the other semi-final.

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