Norwich City’s Max Aarons was part of a England Under-21 squad who created history by lifting the Three Lions’ first European U21 Championship title in 39 years with a dramatic 1-0 win over Spain’s U21s.
Aarons was back in the Young Lions’ starting line up after being suspended for the semi-final win over Israel’s U21s, as Lee Carsley’s squad became the first winners of that age group to go through a tournament without conceding a goal.
Manchester City keeper James Trafford, who has been linked with a £19m summer move to Premier League new boys Burnley, saved Abel Ruiz's spot-kick, awarded after a VAR review in the sixth minute of added time, and then kept out substitute Aimar Oroz's follow-up at the end of a pulsating contest.
Liverpool Curtis Jones' had earlier given England, playing in front of senior boss Gareth Southgate, the lead in first-half stoppage time when he deflected Cole Palmer's free-kick past keeper Arnau Tenas.
Aarons played the full game, while former Norwich loanee Olly Skipp was a late second half substitute in Batumi, Georgia.
The Canaries’ defender, who is tipped for a summer exit from Carrow Road, was front and centre for the celebrations as Young Lions’ captain and Manchester City defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis lifted the trophy.
“This was what we set out for at the start of the tournament and we achieved it and we are all really proud of ourselves,” said club mate Trafford, speaking to England's official site. “I’m very happy, very happy for the team, very happy for all my family and friends and the coaching staff - it was a massive group effort and we delivered.
“I told everyone this morning that I was going to save a pen and I’d told all my mates back home that I was going to save one. When it was a penalty, I knew I was going to save it so it was pretty easy to be fair.
“It means a lot for us to get the record, it will take a massive effort to get broken. But we’re a very good team and we believed no-one could score against us and we showed it.”
A third title and a first since 1984 was delivered on a dramatic evening which saw England coach Ashley Cole and one of his Spanish counterparts, as well as substituted midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White and Spain's Antonio Blanco, sent off on the sidelines.
Newcastle's Anthony Gordon, who was named player of the tournament, made his presence felt early on, cutting inside from Emile Smith Rowe's pass to force Tenas into a fifth-minute save.
The Spanish response was concerted as Manchester City's Sergio Gomez and Braga striker Ruiz exerted a growing influence.
Trafford was left scrambling by Alex Baena's 16th-minute strike before defender Aitor Paredes glanced Gomez's corner across goal, with Ruiz unable to reach the ball before it ran out of play.
England, who had been guilty of repeatedly surrendering possession cheaply, started to fire. Palmer warmed Tenas' hands with a well-struck 25-yard drive and defender Levi Colwill headed Palmer's free-kick against a post with the keeper beaten.
But the Manchester City man played a key role as the deadlock was broken on the stroke of half-time. After Palmer had been tripped by club-mate Gomez, Jones, making a nuisance of himself in front of the defensive wall, unwittingly deflected his free-kick past the helpless Tenas.
Colwill and Oihan Sancet were booked and England coach Cole and one of his Spanish counterparts sent off amid a melee in the wake of the goal, but the former Arsenal and Chelsea full-back's side led at the break.
Ruiz thought he had levelled within six minutes of the restart, but his bullet header from a Gomez free-kick was correctly ruled offside, although England looked rattled with Spain making a big push in the early stages of the half.
However, they rallied and, with Canaries' full-back Aarons providing another outlet down the left, began the threaten once again and Gibbs-White might have done better from Gordon's 64th-minute pull-back, with the Spanish stretched.
Tenas kept Spain in it by clawing away Jones' attempt at the end of a pacy break seconds later and Ruiz should have levelled when he got his head to Gomez's 68th-minute cross, but missed the target by inches.
But as the clock ticked towards the 96th minute, Norwegian referee Espen Eskas was advised to take a second look at Colwill's challenge on Ruiz and ultimately pointed to the spot, but Trafford's heroics sparked wild English celebrations.
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