U21 European Championship final: Germany loses to England after dramatic extra time!

U21 European Championship final: Germany loses to England after dramatic extra time!

In a thrilling final of the U21 European Championship on June 28, 2025 in Bratislava, the German national team was defeated by England 2-3 after extra time. This was a bitter pill to swallow for coach Julian Nagelsmann's team, which could have won the title for the fourth time in its history, but suffered its first defeat after 20 games unbeaten.

England, defending champions like last year, made an exclamation point right at the start of the game. Harvey Elliot scored the first goal in the 5th minute, followed by Omari Hutchinson, who increased the score to 2-0 in the 25th minute. Germany found it difficult to get into the game in the first half, but was able to score the next goal shortly before the break through Nelson Weiper (45th + 1).

The turning point in the game

The German players came out of the dressing room with renewed vigor. Paul Nebel equalized in the 61st minute and it seemed as if Germany had the momentum on their side. But luck was on England's side when Jonathan Rowe scored the decisive goal in extra time in the 92nd minute. In the exciting final phase, the Germans had two chances to equalize: Nebel hit the crossbar in stoppage time (90+3) and Merlin Röhl had to be content with the same fate (120+1).

The game was intense and characterized by a high level of running and fighting spirit. England appeared to be well positioned tactically and were able to neutralize Germany's encouraging offensive performance in the second half. Coach Thomas Tuchel's team benefited from fresh talent, which was crucial for the final goal.

The best players of the tournament

Nick Woltemade from the German squad was the tournament's top scorer with six goals, while Harvey Elliott was named player of the tournament with his five goals. Of the five players released by Eintracht Frankfurt, Ansgar Knauff and Nnamdi Collins in particular proved to be important players, even if they were unable to make the money they had hoped for in this final. Knauff scored one goal and provided an assist in six appearances, while Collins also played in every game.

Germany, who beat England 2-1 in the group stage, can look back on a strong tournament performance despite the disappointment. But they also noticed how quickly the tide can turn and that you still have to learn, especially in crucial moments. This final will go down in the annals as an instructive but also painful experience, as the team goes without a title for the third time in the sixth U21 European Championship final.

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