Everton's Jack Rodwell helps England reach European U21 Championship final
Stuart Pearce finally ended England’s semi-final spot-kick hoodoo but his under-21s had to survive a thrilling comeback from European Championship hosts Sweden.
Pearce lost at the last-four stage twice as a player and as a coach two years ago - but it looked like his youngsters would cruise to victory in Gothenburg after leading at half-time through Martin Cranie, Nedum Onuoha and Mattias Bjarsmyr’s own goal.
The Swedes then staged a stunning revival at Gamla Ullevi and levelled through two goals from Marcus Berg and another from Ola Toivonen.
Fraizer Campbell was sent off in extra-time before the penalties, which England have been practising after each training session for two years. Joe Hart was booked to rule him out of the final but also scored one and saved one, sending England through.
They will be without Hart, Campbell and Gabriel Agbonlahor for the final but at the moment the focus is on England at last winning a semi-final.
It has been seen as a psychological barrier that England teams could not get past but Pearce, after vowing to improve after Holland in 2007, has finally broken through.
Now the aim is to win a trophy, the first in any age-group since 1993 when Robbie Fowler, Gary Neville and Sol Campbell were among the under-18s who won on home soil.
One triumph in the last 64 tournaments, since England won the under-21s in 1984, is an abysmal record but there is hope that Pearce’s talented youngsters can now end the drought.
Winning in Malmo on Monday would have implications for next year’s World Cup with the seniors. Theo Walcott is expected to be involved, possibly Hart and James Milner, while Kieran Gibbs could make a late push.
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