England beat Spain to win U21 Euros Final; Ashley Cole gets sent off as tempers boil over

England beat Spain to win the U21 Euros Final and Ashley Cole gets sent off as tempers boil over after the opening goal.

The Young Lions had only just taken the lead in host nation Georgia when Cole Palmer saw his free-kick deflected by Curtis Jones past Spain’s goalkeeper.

But the celebrations led to a row between the two opponents which culminated with assistant coach of the England U21s Ashley Cole being shown a red card with one of Spain’s coaches.

An angry Cole stormed off down the tunnel and will be forced to watch the rest of the match from the stands. England’s Levi Colwill and Spain’s Oihan Sancet were also both shown yellow cards for their part in the chaotic scenes by the touchline.

Just before England took the lead, Palmer whipped in the resulting free-kick and the ball came off Colwill, rather than the Chelsea defender getting his head on it.

The ball bounced off the ground then off the edge of the upright.

Cole Palmer’s free-kick takes a deflection off Curtis Jones and England under-21s lead against Spain in the #U21EURO Final ⚽️pic.twitter.com/Dph4BQzZPb

— SPORTbible (@sportbible) July 8, 2023

Tempers flared after the goal 😤

The referee sends off England’s Ashley Cole and one of Spain’s coaching staff ❌#YoungLions | #U21EURO | #C4Football pic.twitter.com/82GNkvVta7

— Channel 4 Sport (@C4Sport) July 8, 2023

Cole Palmer’s deflected FK gives England U21s the lead and then chaos ensued as Spain’s entire bench entered the pitch and started a fracas. Ashley Cole & one of Spain’s coaches receive red cards. Looked to be continuing down the tunnel at HT.#YoungLions #U21EURO @TheAthleticFC pic.twitter.com/T4VG3ihEBn

— Dan Sheldon (@dansheldonsport) July 8, 2023

Stuart Pearce on Channel 4: “Palmer made his celebratory run in that direction [of the bench], so whether he said something to the Spaniards, and from there all hell broke loose.

“Ashley Cole looked to me like he was the one trying to calm it down, so I think the referee has misinterpreted that.”

In the 51st minute, Spain had a goal disallowed out with the offside flag is up.

Ruiz headed home from a Spain free-kick completely unmarked.

VAR still looked at it and after a minute or two, stuck with the decision.

England had a big opportunity to make it 2-0 on 64 minutes. Anthony Gordon went wide left, sent a cross towards Morgan Gibbs-White in the middle but at an awkward height and the Forest player can’t get his effort on target.

Four minutes later, Ruiz really should have scored for Spain!

Sergio Gomez whipped in a great ball into the box and the Spain captain went completely unmarked in the box.

Ruiz however headed it wide.

He then tried to make up for it seconds later but his low drive from the edge of the box was well held by Trafford.

On the 81st minute, Spain manager Denia was booked. The touchline antics continued and the referee had none of it.

Shortly after, England broke and after Harvey Elliott’s effort was saved, Noni Madueke thought all he had to do is roll the ball home. He found the target but Arnau Tenas got back to clear with his feet.

On 95 minutes, Ruiz got to the ball first at the near post and Colwill caught him. It was checked, the referee looked at the monitor and awarded it.

James Trafford saved it then the follow-up too!

Ruiz went to the goalkeeper’s right and Trafford kept it out. It was almost more impressive that he was there for the next one. The third attempt was skied over. Three different Spain players had the opportunity.

JAMES TRAFFORD YOU HERO 🌟

He saves Ruiz’s penalty in the dying moments 😱#YoungLions | #U21EURO | #C4Football pic.twitter.com/t0CvZGhf1O

— Channel 4 Sport (@C4Sport) July 8, 2023

CHAMPIONS! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/0YwqxJzEyF

— England (@England) July 8, 2023

Trafford said: “I told everyone this morning that I was going to save a pen. I told all my mates back home that I was going to save one.”

Questioned about his side’s record of not conceding a goal all tournament, he added: “It means a lot for us, the record.

“We believed that no one could scored against us, and we showed it.”

Stuart Pearce on Channel 4: “This will inspire the next group of England players, who will want to be a part of this. They’ve shown incredible togetherness.”

Here’s what fans are saying as England beat Spain to win the U21 Euros Final while Ashley Cole gets sent off as tempers boil over…

@Johno_nufc: Massive well done to the #YoungLions & Lee Carsley tonight #U21EURO2023 Champions. Quality & Huge double save from Trafford right at the end and massive well done to @anthonygordon player of the tournament great achievement all around lads 👏🏻 🦁🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

@CaptSmartyPnts: Something came home at last!! #U21EURO #YoungLions

@1973Natalia: Get in. Trafford .. Hero!!! It’s coming home it’s coming football’s coming home 👏👏👏👏👏. Well played lads. #Champions #YoungLions 🦁🦁🦁🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

@HazzaTWood96: Congrats to the England U21s on winning the Euro’s against Spain. You’ve done your country proud boys. COME ON ENGLAND!!! 👍🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿❤🏆

@Raw0909: What a job they’ve all done, players and staff alike. Congratulations to all involved.

@lucas_allen07: Best football any England team have played. Absolutely sensational talent pool. James Trafford 👏🏼

@djamesb45: Well done lads , the ladies have done it, the U21’s have done it. Just waiting for the men to to it

@GrantFellows2: Magnificent lads. What a way to end it as well, another clean sheet and a double penalty save.

@ChukwuebukaCarl: Trafford showed up big time. Congratulations.

@WoodsyNeverWent: Great result lads, well done. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏆🏆🏆🏆👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

@clair_sturt: Absolutely fantastic ⚽️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏆 James Trafford, take a bow!!!

@LaneHusband1: Amazing achievement by all our Young Lions. Take a bow, especially Trafford for the saves at the death. Champions. Incredible 👏👏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🦁🦁🦁

@littlelegs71msk: Amazing result, all the players paid there part. Rock solid at the back, and the double save at the end 🙌🏻👊🏻 Come on England 🏆

@JMO_96: Absolutely crazy finish! What a tournament! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

@Mikecrane1987: Soo proud of our young lions!!! And to not concede all tournament! Celebrate tonight! You deserve it

@runnerglyn1: Tremendous from Lee Carsley a real good football man. really pleased for him.

@Alan_S_Lawson: Absolutely magnificent, the whole team deserve it and shout out to Lee carsley and the team, conceded zero 👏👏👏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

@craigieban1: Up the mighty England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🫶🏻

@Giants0078: What a tournament, well bloody done lads

@SupaSaiyajinLee: So proud of these #YOUNGLIONS – not a goal conceded in winning the #U21EUROS. The best thing that ever happened to English football was failing to qualify for the 2008 European Championships. It was the wakeup call we needed, & St. George’s Park has produced fabulous results.

@StevenFarrell99: I think I made the same orgasmic noise @GNev2 made in commentary in that champions league semi final when James Trafford saved that last minute penalty, unbelievable 🥇🏆⚽ 🥳👏👏#U21EURO #younglions #England