Harvey Elliott had X-rated reaction to Germany star after England U21s Euros win
England beat Germany 3-2 after extra-time to win their second successive under-21 European Championship final and Harvey Elliott rubbed salt in their opponents' wounds
Liverpool star Harvey Elliott appeared to stick two fingers up to Germany after helping England under-21s beat their old rivals to win another European Championship final. Elliott, 22, broke the deadlock after just five minutes before Ipswich's Omari Hutchinson doubled the Young Lions' lead in the first half.
Germany pulled a goal back just before half-time, though, and eventually equalised on the hour mark, sending the final in Bratislava to extra-time. Lee Carsley's side quickly won back the momentum, as substitute Jonathan Rowe scored within the opeing two minutes.
His goal was enough to crown England champions for the second time in three years, having also won the competition under Carsley in 2023. As the Young Lions celebrated after full-time while shaking hands with the Germany players, TV cameras zoomed in on Elliott and caught him cupping his ears and sticking two fingers up, seemingly directed at an unspecified opponent.
The Liverpool midfielder had been taken off at the start of extra-time, as Arsenal wonderkid Ethan Nwaneri came on. In the 2023 final, Elliott came off the bench to help see out a victory over Spain, who England this year beat in the quarter-finals 3-1.
His displays in Slovakia earned him player of the tournament, having scored a brace in the Young Lions' 2-1 semi-final win against the Netherlands on Wednesday. "Player of the tournament!" Elliott posted on Instagram. "Thank you to the team for making it happen. An absolute privilege."
Elliott also told Channel 4: "It's another incredible moment. I think this one meant a lot more, especially coming off the back of winning it last time.
"There's been a big expectation, big pressure but the way the lads handled it from start to finish at this tournament, I think no one deserves it more than us.
"It's time to celebrate because it's been hard work; tiring with the heat, with everything that's involved. But it's party time now and we're gonna make the most of it.
"It's getting me emotional. The team is one of a kind. To work with these lads each and every day for the last month or so, it's been one of the best moments of my career so far. All the lads are just top, top guys and it might be the last time I'm ever gonna play with some of them.
"As you know, we're moving on now, we're too old for the competition. It's been incredible and I wish them nothing by the very best. I hope they go on to succeed at everything in life because the way they are as lads, the way they are as players, to all get to this moment and to play so well again, it's emotional but I'm so thankful for them."
Should Lee Carsley have been given the England job permanently? Have your say in the comments section.
It was certainly a squad game as England were made to go the distance in the final. Carsley hailed: "All the credit goes to the players. I'm really proud of them and the commitment they have shown.
"They have so much belief. This squad believes that they can win. To be European champions for the second time is a great achievement, and the challenge is to do it again in two years.
"Any setback that we have had, the players have got together. I didn't think we played great tonight. We sat too deep and didn't have as much control as I wanted. But we won't remember that!"
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
37 minutes ago
- BBC News
European U21 champions again - but who could make World Cup?
The triumphant England Under-21s were hidden by the tickertape as they lifted the Euro 2025 trophy. Now they must ensure they do not disappear again. As the blue and white confetti rained down from the Slovakian sky the Young Lions were wrapped up in their deserved to be. Jonathan Rowe's extra-time goal sealed successive European titles after Germany had fought back from 2-0 down in many it was their last chance with the Under-21s, but, with a World Cup next summer, they have the opportunity to force their way into Thomas Tuchel's we assess who might progress to the full squad in time for next year's World Cup, and what the progress of those who went before them might tell us. Who are the standouts to make the World Cup? So, with a World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico less than 12 months away, who can make the step up?Of the Euro 2023 winners, James Trafford, Levi Colwill, Cole Palmer, Morgan Gibbs-White, Noni Madueke and Curtis Jones were named in Tuchel's squad for the games against Andorra and Senegal last we see such a progression from the class of 25?Newcastle full-back Tino Livramento is the obvious one to follow them after a good tournament and a fine season for the has played on the right for England this summer but could fill the problematic left-back role for Myles Lewis-Skelly started in the 3-1 defeat by Senegal and Livramento - given his senior debut against the Republic of Ireland by Carsley last season - will be a standout option next summer should his form returned to the Under-21s this summer after discussions with Tuchel and Carsley, with the pair eager for the 22-year-old to use his experience to help lead the Elliott had the big moments in Slovakia to be named player of the tournament - the opening goal in the final, two match-winning strikes in the semi-final, scoring against Spain and England's opening goal of the tournament against the Czech big moments amplify his talent and only strengthen his and Liverpool's attacker could leave Anfield this summer in search of regular football, after only two Premier League starts in Liverpool's title success, which should push him closer to senior team-mate Jarell Quansah will be expecting more top-level minutes at Bayer Leverkusen, once his impending move from Liverpool is confirmed, after struggling for game time for the champions this season, and, at 33, Dan Burn's England career will not go on City's James McAtee captained the U21s and excelled. But, like Elliott and Quansah, his future is uncertain with reports he could leave Etihad Stadium this summer. This highlights one of the conundrums facing the Premier League's academy products. Selling them on has become highly lucrative for clubs' balance sheets, as they go down as pure profit in the accounts because no transfer fee was paid for them in the first this affect their development, or will moves allow them to thrive like Palmer when he left Manchester City for Chelsea? Who else could be in the reckoning? Centre-back Charlie Cresswell impressed in Slovakia. The Toulouse defender was man of the match in the quarter-final win over Spain in follows a debut season in France during which the former Leeds centre-back was linked with Serie A side son of former Preston and Sheffield United striker Richard, played 33 times as Toulouse finished 10th in Ligue 1 following last summer's move from Elland Road, having made only six starts for his boyhood Forest's Elliot Anderson, who has also played for Scotland Under-21s, was a machine in Slovakia having impressed at the City dynamic and combative 22-year-old is now too old for the Young Lions and a repeat of his first season at Forest will make him hard to is also expected of Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri, although, at 18, he is the youngest in the attacker started against Slovenia and Germany in the group stage - off the back of 37 appearances for the Gunners last season - but has time to are plenty of others to consider as well, with several missing from Carsley's Delap was named in the initial group for Slovakia but joined Chelsea and travelled to the Club World Cup. A strong season at Stamford Bridge - following his 12 goals for relegated Ipswich last season - will give Tuchel a strong Gittens, also at the Club World Cup with Borussia Dortmund, is close to a move to Chelsea and the former Manchester City youngster will be able to display his talents in the Premier Wharton - missing the tournament as he recovered from concussion - went to Euro 2024 but never played, and the Crystal Palace midfielder will surely return to the senior squad next Bellingham's move to Dortmund from Sunderland will provide him a platform. Progress for England's youth teams - but senior progress is never guaranteed Tuchel made the dash from the Club World Cup in the US to support the Young Lions against his home nation as they repeated the success of Dave Sexton's side in 1982 and two years ago was an outlier but now it is slowly becoming the had previously failed to get out of the group in five of the previous six of winning, though, manager Lee Carsley's role - along with his coaches and predecessors - has been to develop players and results over the past decade have proved and justified the Football Association's methods since the opening of St George's Park in U17s won the Euros in 2014 and U19s followed in 2017 and 2022. There have also been World Cup wins for the U17s and U20s, both in 2017."We spoke two years ago - we were putting under-21s champions together with under-19s and working out the dynamics of that group," said Carsley."You can see why the under-19s did so well because they're so determined, and that doesn't half help when you're a coach because they want to win; they're used to winning."The more England players we've got who are used to putting on an England shirt and winning can only help the senior team because there's an expectation."You'll see that with the generation now who hopefully have gone through to the seniors, there's an expectancy when they play for England and a performance and a win comes with that."Of the 2023 winners, the most notable current star is Palmer - and another six were in Tuchel's most recent England Colwill, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Gibbs-White, Emile Smith Rowe, Anthony Gordon, Jarrad Branthwaite, Jones, Angel Gomes and Madueke have won senior 2021 - when England went out at the group stage - Aaron Ramsdale, Marc Guehi, Conor Gallagher, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Eberechi Eze add their names to the list, although Hudson-Odoi made hs senior debut in 2019 before playing for the record scorer Eddie Nketiah, who has 16 goals in 17 U21 games, is yet to become an England regular, his one cap coming against Australia two years ago. About half of those victorious in the 1982 and 1984 squads never won a senior cap for England - and none of them went on to be Three Lions Hateley, who was in both squads, won the most caps - 32 - with five more players reaching 10 caps or more, including Terry Fenwick with Owen, who scored twice in the 3-1 second-leg win over Germany, only managed seven England B caps and never made his senior total, 29 players have won the Under-21 European Championship and then a major senior tournament, including Laurent Blanc, Fabio Cannavaro, Gianluigi Buffon, Francesco Totti and Manuel is a list Carsley's victorious squad of 23 would love to join.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Jurgen Klopp fires warning to Florian Wirtz over 'insane' £116m move to Liverpool... as ex-Reds boss gives his verdict on British record transfer
Jurgen Klopp has weighed in on Florian Wirtz 's 'insane' £116million move to Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen. The midfielder finally joined the Reds for a British record transfer fee earlier this month after a lengthy pursuit - which saw multiple bids rejected by Leverkusen - was drawn out for several weeks. Wirtz, 22, signed a five-year deal which will run through the summer of 2030, and he is expected to be a cornerstone in Arne Slot 's side for years to come. His first chance to impress in red may come just two weeks from now, with Liverpool set to face Preston North End in a pre-season friendly on July 13. After their run of friendlies, the Merseyside club will face Crystal Palace in the FA Community Shield final, before embarking on their Premier League title defence on the opening day of the 2025-26 season against Bournemouth at Anfield. But Klopp has cautioned Wirtz that if he doesn't start strongly, it will take only 'two or three games' for the pressure of his hefty transfer fee to start weighing on him. 'There's no question about it, it's an insane sum, and one that a player at Liverpool is aware of if things don't go well for two or three games,' the German veteran told Welt. 'We all agree that we're talking about a great player here. I know I once said that I'm out if we pay 100 million euros for a player. But the world is changing. That's just the way the market is. 'He's an outstanding player who can give any club something great. Whether he'll make the reigning English champions even better remains to be seen.' Klopp's comments are a touch more measured than when he broke his silence on Wirtz's transfer last week. He said then: 'This is going to be absolutely fantastic, I'm sure of it. 'It's very hard to strengthen a team when you're champions. But Liverpool have managed it.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Transfer news live: Chelsea target set for medical in £55m deal as Mbeumo makes Man Utd decision
The transfer window is now open again following the start of this summer's Club World Cup with clubs able to accelerate deals ahead of the new season. Arsenal chiefs are reportedly in talks with Eberechi Eze as the look to bring a striker to the club in this window. The Gunners have already agreed a fee for Brentford captain Christian Norgaard in a surprising move after contract talks with Thomas Partey stalled. They have also agreed to pay above the release fee for Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Arteta wants to sign RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko. Manchester United, meanwhile, have secured Matheus Cunha from Wolves for £62.5m and are negotiating with Brentford about Bryan Mbeumo, having submitted an improved offer. Florian Wirtz is now officially a Liverpool player after agreeing a record £116.5m deal for the German superstar and completed the medical last Friday, while Reds defender Jarell Quansah is set to go the other way in a £35m deal to join Bayern Leverkusen. Chelsea are set to sign Jamie Gittens after Borussia Dortmund accepted an offer of £55m for the former England Under-21s winger, who will have a medical, while the Blues are also competing with Newcastle United for Brighton's Brazil forward Joao Pedro. ew Timothy Fosu-Mensah believes hard work will pay off in long bid to find new club Timothy Fosu-Mensah is convinced his hard work 'won't go unnoticed' as the former Manchester United defender looks for a new home two years on from playing his last competitive match, reports Simon Peach of PA. The Ajax youth product made his breakthrough at Old Trafford, where he graduated from the academy and made 30 first-team appearances – a figure that would have been higher were it not for loans and injury. Timothy Fosu-Mensah believes hard work will pay off in long bid to find new club The 27-year-old is looking to kickstart his career after spending a season as a free agent. Jamie Braidwood29 June 2025 10:44 Bryan Mbeumo intent on Manchester United move Brentford are widely reported to have last night rejected a bid of £62.5m for Bryan Mbeumo from Manchester United. It's the second offer that the London club have knocked back for their forward as they hold out for a bigger fee. A blow, then, for Manchester United - though The Athletic report that Bryan Mbeumo has told both Brentford and Tottenham, another suitor, that he only desires a move to Manchester United if he is to be sold this summer. Talks continue. Jamie Braidwood29 June 2025 10:39 Chelsea and Newcastle have bids turned down for Brighton's Joao Pedro Chelsea and Newcastle are battling to sign Brighton's Joao Pedro, with the Seagulls reportedly turning down two bids for the Brazil forward. According to the BBC, Brighton want up to £60m for the 23-year-old and neither Chelsea or Newcastle, who are reportedly the clubs interested, have fallen short of that valuation. Jamie Braidwood29 June 2025 10:38 Jamie Gittens to have Chelsea medical after £55m offer accepted Jamie Gittens is set to have a medical at Chelsea after Borussia Dortmund accepted a £55m bid for the English winger. The 20-year-old has agreed a seven-year contract and the clubs have no agreed terms after negotiations began before the Club World Cup. Gittens, an England Under-21s international, moved to Dortmund in 2020 after coming through Manchester City's academy. 29 June 2025 10:34
