England were last crowned European Under-21 champions in 1984, but they have been largely faultless in Georgia this summer and will be hopeful of defeating Spain at the Adjarabet Arena in Batumi in a 5pm kick-off on Saturday.
Lee Carsley’s side have advanced to the final with five successive victories, keeping clean sheets on each occasion, and will be hoping to fare better than Stuart Pearce’s class of 2009, who finished runners-up 14 years ago after a 4-0 loss to Germany.
Spain are the joint-most successful team in the tournament’s history with five titles, including triumphs in 2011, 2013 and 2019, while La Rojita are the top scorers in the tournament with 13 goals and were impressive 5-1 winners against Ukraine in Wednesday’s semi-final in Bucharest.
England vs Spain Betting Tips
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Jacob Ramsey sustained an ankle injury during the 1-0 quarter-final victory over Portugal and is unavailable. However, Max Aarons and Ben Johnson are in contention after one-match suspensions.
Spain have not reported any fresh injuries and could name an unchanged side.
Spain have put together a 19-game unbeaten run since losing 2-1 to Portugal in the semi-finals of the 2021 European Under-21 Championship and their ultra-consistency makes them the likelier winners of what promises to be an entertaining and closely-fought final in Batumi.
Both teams have impressed since the start of the tournament.
England have built from a solid defensive base, keeping clean sheets in each of their matches, while offering plenty of invention, pace and athleticism in the attacking third.
Spain have been less secure at the back, conceding four goals, but their attacking prowess has allowed them to outscore opponents.
La Rojita had a scare in their quarter-final against Switzerland, winning 2-1 after extra-time, but they stepped up a level in the semi-finals when registering a crushing 5-1 success over Ukraine.
Facing England will be their toughest challenge, but they look up to the task.
Carsley’s Young Lions have dominated most of their matches, but they had to ride their luck in the quarter-finals when winning 1-0 against Portugal.
England came through thanks to Anthony Gordon’s 34th minute goal, but they had to ride out a storm after the break and ended up losing the shot count 18 to six.
Portugal were guilty of some sloppy finishing, but Spain are unlikely to make the same mistakes.
Santi Denia’s side have shown a clinical edge in front of goal and their attacking prowess can breach England’s hitherto unbeatable defence and set them up for a memorable victory.
England are likely to have their say at some point, but Spain could have the edge and a 2-1 correct score looks value at 9/1.
Spanish attackers Sergio Gomez and Abel Ruiz are sharing tournament top scorer status along with Ukraine’s Georgiy Sudakov and they will be looking to add to their three-goal tallies in the final.
Gomez plays as a left wing-back for Manchester City, but he has been used further forward with Spain’s Under-21’s and has flourished in the role.
The 22-year-old notched in Spain’s quarter-final and semi-final successes and looks as likely as anyone to breach the disciplined England defence.
England have scored ten goals in their five matches, but they may fail to notch more than once in the final.
The Young Lions registered just six shots in their 1-0 quarter-final victory over Portugal and they are unlikely to carve out numerous opportunities against La Rojita.
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