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Featured Sport News

Pearce's boys go for glory

Author: Sir David Smith
Date: 29/06/2009

England will looking to complete the job when they face Germany in the final of the UEFA European Under-21s Championship in Sweden.

Stuart Pearce's side have impressed since the off in Sweden, having been handed a tough draw in Group B alongside Germany, Spain and Finland.

They started with what proved to be a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Finns, with Lee Cattermole and Micah Richards the goalscorers for the sportsbook favourites.

However, Pearce's men had to survive for an hour with ten men after Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne was red-carded for a professional foul.

Next time out England saw off Spain 2-0, having to wait until well into the second half before Fraizer Campbell and James Milner found the net, with the latter having missed a first-half penalty.

The final round of group games would see the eventual finalists meet in Halmstad, with a 1-1 draw offering no psychological advantage.

Gonzalo Castro opened the scoring for the Germans just four minutes in, before Everton's Jack Rodwell bundled home an equaliser on the half-hour mark.

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Earlier on in the group stage Germany had seen off Finland 2-0 thanks to strikes from Benedikt Howedes and Ashkan Dejagah.

They had opened their campaign with a goalless draw against Spain in Gothenburg.

Germany would face old rivals Italy in the semi-finals and their hopes of a first Under-21s title were kept on track by Andreas Beck's only goal of the game soon after half-time in Helsingborg.

England's last-four clash with hosts Sweden in Gothenburg was a far more exciting affair.

Pearce's side roared into a three-goal lead within the opening 38 minutes of the game, with Martin Cranie opening the scoring inside 60 seconds.

Nedum Onuoha added a second with 27 minutes played and an own goal seven minutes before the interval seemed to have put the result beyond doubt.

However, just past the halfway point of the second half Sweden hit back with three goals in 13 minutes to send the game into extra-time.

Tournament leading scorer Marcus Berg pulled one back, before Ola Toivonen added a second and then Berg sensationally levelled the scores at 3-3 nine minutes from time.

England were reduced to ten men during extra-time when striker Campbell was sent off, but they hung on to take the tie to penalties, where they eventually emerged as 5-4 victors.

However, the success came at a cost, with goalkeeper Joe Hart booked for a second time in the tournament and now set to miss the final, as will Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Both sides will be highly motivated for the Malmo finale, with Germany having never captured the UEFA European Under-21s Championship crown and England having not tasted glory since 1984.

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