England U21s player Curtis Jones was left bloodied and ended up getting dragged away from a mass brawl which played out on Wednesday.
The 20 year old Liverpool midfielder was left angered at full time as he clashed with the celebrating Croatia U21 players after the Young Lions were knocked out of the Euros.
They managed to beat Croatia 2-1 in their final group match, however, that wasn’t enough as they were required to win by two goals to reach the knockout stage.
Curtis Jones not too happy with the loss 👀 pic.twitter.com/CRixDPpjJS
— The Anfield Talk (@TheAnfieldTalk) March 31, 2021
Having lost to Switzerland and Portugal, it was a must that Aidy Boothroyd’s side got something from this game, with qualification to the knockouts still on the cards going into it, and made the perfect start thanks to Ebere Eze’s spot kick on 12 minutes.
With Portugal also beating Switzerland, it looked as though Premier League player Curtis Jones had scored the goal which would take England through to the knockouts on the 75th minute.
However, it was Croatia the made it to the quarter-finals instead thanks to Domagoj Bradaric’s thunderbolt in the first minute of stoppage-time.
There was no time for England to restore their two-goal advantage and then the final whistle sparked chaotic scenes with Jones reacting badly to the crazy jubilant celebrations from Croatia, with Jones then getting a second yellow.
The 20-year-old confronted his opponents before it then turned into a brawl, but was taken away by a member of England’s coaching staff to calm the situation down.
He was eventually being guided off the pitch after trying to confront them again, before both sets of players clashed again.
Boothroyd admitted ’emotions got a little bit high’ while discussing the incident at his post-match press conference.
“I think what happened was there was a team jumping around, all their staff were on the pitch and celebrating in between one or two of our boys and I think it’s just got a bit fraught and emotions got a little bit high,” he told the media.
“I’ve got to get to the bottom of the card. I’ve been unable to speak to the referee yet but I’ll find out what went on there.
“I think it’s just one of those highly emotive situations where sometimes difficult things can happen and thankfully both sets of staff sorted it out.”
The defeat and cup exit will lead to further questions about Aidy Boothroyd’s future, with fans demanding that his is replaced immediately.
talkSPORT’s Andy Goldstein took issue with claims the former Watford boss made to talkSPORT that being manager of England’s Under-21 side is ‘utterly impossible’.
Goldstein said: “The reason we’ve not won anything for 37 years is nothing to do with that. It’s because of mistakes that someone like Aidy Bootroyd or Aidy Boothroyd has made over those years.
“In 2019, he put Phil Foden on the bench as we crashed out of the tournament against Romania. The game before that, Phil Foden was head and shoulders above everyone in that side and scored an unbelievable goal.
“Phil Foden, head and shoulders above everyone in a game we must win to stay in the competition, he dropped him.
“That’s the reason why we don’t win because of stupid mistakes, stupid decisions being made.”
Fans reacted as England U21s Curtis Jones is left bloodied and dragged away from the mass brawl…
@frankfrance12: Amazing how he never started any other games, same with eze – bizarre management, no better than Southgate
@LFC_Suby: They won the game he was angry that Rihan got fouled and then the player screamed in his face and then said something to him
@FinnAFC: Cantwell at 38 seconds doing the monkey gesture. Gotta be racism ties into the huge reaction
@LFCRoninnn: Fuck me he went mad
@olbapcboi: Makes you wonder if something was said
@KomorebiLFC: way he spun that guy tryna hold him tho, my wonderkid
@PjSpurge: You cannot fault Curtis Jones passion
@Bennet24_LFC: Was something said? There’s no way he’s reacting like that just because of the loss
@simonyemane: He def said something…
@phil09563913: Embarrassing
@adam_BRFC: Thinks he’s big time now
@Nathanielhodgk1: Get in there Curtis lad!! Got more fight in his lil toe than the rest of em!
@graemedoyle3: Disgusting behaviour on behalf of both teams. Happens at top level all the time…no handshakes and over zealous celebrating. Jones at fault aswel. Surely when whistle blows you can shake your opponents hand ✋ before celebrating 🍾.
@PeteFrost11: Hope Jones behaviour doesn’t go unpunished.
@SamBirdyy: This shit is never gonna stop until proper punishments are handed out. UEFA can’t control their own teams
@Zak_Ney: These are kids!!! Ffs, I hope he wasn’t racially abused because those UEFA pussies don’t do anything about it.
@chrisparkes91: Curtis Jones’ reaction tonight is supposedly after a team mate was racially abused yet it’s the England fans calling Jones all sorts. Yet they’ll wonder why we want nothing to do with the National side this summer. Disgrace the lot of them.
@DannyMarland12: Curtis Jones just gained a new fan, absolutely love to see this
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