Spain U21 vs England U21 Lineups: Confirmed Teams 21 Jun 2025

England’s Young Lions delivered a statement performance on 21 June 2025, overcoming tournament favourites Spain with a commanding 3-1 victory in their UEFA U21 Euro quarter-final. Early goals from James McAtee and Harvey Elliott put Lee Carley’s side in control before a penalty from Javi Guerra briefly threatened a Spanish comeback. The match, played before 8,247 spectators at Štadión Antona Malatinského in Trnava, Slovakia, sends England through to the semi-finals.

Match Date: 21 Jun 2025 · Final Score: Spain 1-3 England · Competition: UEFA Under-21 2025 · Venue: Trnava, Slovakia

England’s commanding victory over Spain in Trnava featured key details from official match records.

What is the score of England v Spain under 21?

England ran out comfortable 3-1 winners against Spain in the quarter-final of the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. The result represents a repeat of sorts from the 2023 final, when England also defeated Spain to claim the title.

Match Result

England dominated from the first whistle, racing into a two-goal lead inside the opening quarter-hour. Manchester City’s James McAtee opened the scoring in the 10th minute, slotting home after Spain’s defence failed to clear a dangerous cross.

Early goals from James McAtee and Harvey Elliott propelled Lee Carley’s England side to a 3-1 win over Spain to reach the semifinals of the European Under-21 Championship.

— ESPN match report

England booked their ticket to the semi-finals of UEFA U21 EURO after downing Spain 3-1 in their closely-fought quarter-final encounter at Štadión Antona Malatinského.

— England Football official report

Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott doubled the lead just five minutes later with a composed finish, leaving Spain with an uphill task. Javi Guerra’s penalty on the stroke of half-time gave the Spanish hope, but Elliot Anderson’s spot-kick deep into stoppage time sealed England’s passage.

Goal Scorers

England’s goals came from three different scorers across various situations.

The implication: Spain’s inability to contain England’s pacey attacking options left them exposed, and the late red card to Rafa Marín summed up a frustrating evening for Santi Denia’s side.

What are the Spain U21 vs England U21 lineups today?

Both managers named strong lineups for this crucial encounter, with England fielding a blend of Premier League regulars and promising talents. Spain, the tournament favourites, came close to full strength despite late squad changes.

Spain Starting XI

The Spanish lineup featured several key players from top European clubs.

The catch: Spain’s squad suffered a blow when Yeremay Hernández was withdrawn due to injury on 8 June 2025, replaced by Andrés García. The absence of their creative talisman left Spain short in midfield.

England Starting XI

Lee Carley deployed a 4-3-3 formation with James Beadle between the posts and Manchester City’s James McAtee leading the side as captain.

The pattern: England’s defensive line featured players from four different Premier League clubs, showcasing the depth of talent available to Carley despite absences from the senior squad.

Who withdrew from the England Under 21 squad?

England’s preparations were affected by several high-profile withdrawals before the tournament, forcing Lee Carley to call up replacements who ultimately featured in the quarter-final.

Lewis and O’Reilly

The exact nature of these withdrawals isn’t detailed in public reports, but their absence opened doors for other players to prove themselves at this level.

Replacements

One notable casualty was Liam Delap, who withdrew from the England U21 squad. His place was taken by Jobe Bellingham, who brought additional quality to Carley’s midfield options.

The upshot: England’s ability to plug gaps with quality replacements showed the strength of their developmental pathway, while Spain’s failure to adequately replace Yeremay Hernández exposed their over-reliance on one creative outlet.

What is the England U21 lineup today?

England’s starting XI drew heavily from Premier League academies, with six of the eleven starters playing regular club football in England’s top tier.

Starting Lineup

England fielded a balanced XI mixing youth experience with first-team regulars.

The implication: Lee Carley’s tactical setup relied on players comfortable in high-pressure situations from their club duties, giving England an edge in composure during key moments.

Substitutes

England made five substitutions during the match, with Elliot Anderson and Jonathan Rowe entering at the 52nd minute—both immediately influencing the game.

What this means: The substitutions paid immediate dividends, with Anderson scoring the decisive penalty in the 94th minute. Nwaneri’s introduction in the 81st minute also suggested Carley was managing resources for potential extra time.

What is the Spain U21 lineup today?

Spain named their strongest available XI under head coach Santi Denia, though the absence of Yeremay Hernández weakened their creative output down the flanks.

Key Players

Santi Denia selected a lineup built around their most experienced operators.

The catch: Rafa Marín’s red card in the 95th minute compounded Spain’s problems, reducing them to ten men at the same moment Elliot Anderson was scoring England’s third goal from the penalty spot.

Subs Bench

Spain’s substitutes offered limited options to change the game’s momentum.

The implication: Spain’s bench lacked the depth to change the game’s momentum once England established their lead, a factor that proved decisive in the closing stages.

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England’s stunning 3-1 quarter-final upset over tournament favorites Spain U21 stood out in the U21 Euro 2025 schedule across four groups in Slovakia.

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