England U19England U192Italy U19Italy U191
England fought back to beat Italy and seal a place in Friday's European Under-19 Championship final in a dramatic semi-final in Slovakia.
The Young Lions fell behind to Fabio Miretti's penalty after Brooke Norton-Cuffy's foul on the Juventus player.
Substitute Alex Scott equalised from a corner before Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah headed the winner.
England will face Israel in the final after they produced an upset to beat France 2-1 in the second semi-final.
Ian Foster's side have already beaten Israel once in the tournament, winning 1-0 in their final group game on Saturday.
In an action-packed game in Senec, both keepers made excellent saves as England and Italy carved out 25 chances between them.
England captain Harvey Vale was denied a first-half equaliser by Sebastiano Desplanches' outstanding stop from the Chelsea player's deflected attempt.
At 1-1, AC Milan's Desplanches produced another excellent save to keep out substitute Jamie Bynoe-Gittens while Brentford keeper Matthew Cox, at the other end, spread himself to thwart Tommaso Baldanzi.
Deep into seven minutes of stoppage time, Cox pushed Miretti's long-distance attempt over the bar before England could celebrate reaching their first Euro Under-19 final since 2017.
Young Lions show character
This is a generation of players that hopes to feature for the senior England team at the 2026 World Cup.
Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate sent a good luck message to the squad before this match and will no doubt be watching Friday's final with more than a passing interest.
When England last won this tournament five years ago, keeper Aaron Ramsdale and midfielder Mason Mount - now regulars in Southgate's squad - were playing for Keith Downing's side.
The future looks bright thanks to the likes of Harvey Vale, Carney Chukwuemeka and Alfie Devine.
Chelsea's Vale captained the Young Lions against Italy and it was his corner that led to Quansah scoring the dramatic winner eight minutes from the end of normal time.
Midfielder Chukwuemeka has followed up his impressive breakthrough season at Aston Villa by shining in Slovakia, while Devine's set-pieces always proved dangerous.
This is a squad bursting with talent and full of hard work, but under-19s boss Ian Foster knows there is no room for complacency.
England made a nervous start and Italy took full advantage before the Young Lions showed character to turn it around in the second half.
A triple change shortly before the 60-minute mark saw Scott, Bynoe-Gittens and Daniel Oyegoke come on and make important contributions.
The full-time whistle was greeted with a roar from England's players, management team and backroom staff.
Line-ups
England U19
Formation 3-4-3
- 1Cox
- 6Quansah
- 5Edwards
- 3Doyle
- 2Norton-CuffySubstituted forOyegokeat 56'minutes
- 4IroegbunamBooked at 3minsSubstituted forScottat 56'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 8Chukwuemeka
- 11Vale
- 7DevineBooked at 84mins
- 9ScarlettSubstituted forJebbisonat 87'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 10A RamseySubstituted forBynoe-Gittensat 57'minutesSubstituted forChambersat 83'minutes
Substitutes
- 12Oyegoke
- 13Sharman-Lowe
- 14Scott
- 15Chambers
- 16Humphreys
- 17Iling-Junior
- 18Bynoe-Gittens
- 19Delap
- 20Jebbison
Italy U19
Formation 4-3-1-2
- 1DesplanchesBooked at 36mins
- 3TuricchiaSubstituted forMulazziat 63'minutes
- 5GhilardiBooked at 61mins
- 4CoppolaBooked at 75mins
- 6GiovaneSubstituted forFontanarosaat 73'minutes
- 7FabbianSubstituted forBaldanziat 72'minutes
- 16FaticantiBooked at 65minsSubstituted forFazziniat 90+1'minutes
- 8Casadei
- 10MirettiBooked at 90mins
- 11NastiBooked at 90mins
- 9AmbrosinoSubstituted forVolpatoat 63'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Stivanello
- 12Zacchi
- 13Terracciano
- 15Fontanarosa
- 17Mulazzi
- 18Baldanzi
- 19Fazzini
- 21Degli Innocenti
- 23Volpato
- Referee:
- Goga Kikacheishvili
- Attendance:
- 897
Match Stats
Home TeamEngland U19Away TeamItaly U19
- Possession
- Home44%
- Away56%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away6
- Corners
- Home13
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home16
- Away21
Comments
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Can’t wait for the final.
Win or lose … They should be proud to have made it this far 👍🏻
Glad we have him signed long term (three years I think). And, he is happy at the club.
Awesome belief and resilience from the team, such strength in depth.
Good luck for the final on Friday.
Best of luck in the Final - fingers crossed you go one stage further than the Senior team could manage at the Euro's.