The final whistle blew at the National Football Stadium in Bratislava, and a wave of pure elation, mixed with an almost palpable sense of relief, washed over the English contingent. After 120 minutes of pulsating, end-to-end football, England's Young Lions had done it again. They had defeated Germany 3-2 in a dramatic UEFA Under-21 European Championship final, successfully defending their 2023 title and claiming their fourth crown overall. This wasn't just a victory; it was a testament to resilience, tactical nous, and the sheer depth of talent bubbling within English football. From the opening exchanges, this final promised to be a classic. England, under the astute guidance of Lee Carsley, started like a house on fire, displaying the attacking verve and intricate passing that had characterized their tournament run. Germany, known for their tactical discipline and relentless energy, found themselves on the back foot, struggling to contain the Young Lions' early onslaught. ...
Tonight, the Blues might trail Liverpool by seven points.
After losing to Fulham at home in the west London derby, Chelsea lost the opportunity to get closer to the top of the Premier League standings.Cole Palmer's incredible strike in the first fifteen minutes of Boxing Day appeared to be the difference for a long time, but Enzo Maresca's team lost by giving up two goals in the last ten minutes, leaving them four points behind Liverpool.
The Italian strategist made only one change to the team that began the goalless draw away at Everton before Christmas, instantly recalling Marc Cucurella after his suspension to take Axel Disasi's spot in the Blues' defense.
Palmer delivered the only truly outstanding moment of the first half when he calmly stroked the ball into the back of the net after receiving it from Levi Colwill and squirming past a few defenders.
Cucurella should have extended the lead before halftime, but Bernd Leno saved his header. Palmer was then denied a goal by Calvin Bassey's outstanding block in the last action of the half.
Speaking of the Fulham goalie, he made a fantastic stop to block Enzo Fernandez's attempt at the start of the second half, and a few seconds later, Colwill's score was rightfully disallowed for offside.
The visitors gained confidence after that. Before Robert Sanchez hurried off his line to deny Antonee Robinson from close range, Alex Iwobi sent a warning shot that whistled just beyond the post.
Harry Wilson was able to redirect the ball into the net, so when Fulham did equalize, it was no more than they deserved.
And with seconds left, Rodrigo Muniz, another replacement, made a difference by remaining composed to finish the comeback and give Fulham their first victory at Stamford Bridge since 1979.
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