England wins U21 European Championship for first time in 39 years

U21 European Championship

Batumi, The Gulf Observer: England won the European Under-21 Championship for the first time in 39 years when James Trafford saved a stoppage-time penalty to preserve a 1-0 win over Spain in the final on Saturday.

Trafford repelled Abel Ruiz’s spot kick, awarded after a VAR review in the sixth minute of added time, and kept out substitute Aimar Oroz’s follow-up at the end of a pulsating contest at Batumi Arena.

In the process, the goalkeeper became the first man to keep six clean sheets at the finals and didn’t concede a goal for England’s third title and first since 1984, reports AP.

Curtis Jones scored in first-half stoppage time when he deflected Cole Palmer’s free kick past keeper Arnau Tenas.