Under-21s: Spain off to winning start as France and Portugal draw

The Under-21 European Championship begain in Slovakia on Wednesday evening, with 2023 runners-up Spain beating the hosts in Bratislava with a last-minute winner.

Spain, beaten by England in the 2023 final, won 3-2 thanks to the late strike by Valencia defender Cesar Tarrega.

Goals from Marc Pubill and Mateo Joseph – of newly-promoted Leeds United – put Spain 2-0 up inside 20 minutes but the hosts rallied to level before Tarrega’s winner.

“It was almost like we overslept at the beginning of the match,” said Jaroslav Kentos, the Slovakia coach.

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“We were very passive; we conceded two goals, but we got back into the match. We are sad about Spain’s third goal, but I am proud of the boys because they gave it their all – they played with passion. Of course, we are not satisfied with the result – we were close to a point.”

Italy beat Romania 1-0 in the other game in Group A with the only goal of the game coming from Tommaso Baldanzi of Roma, with goalkeeper Sebastiano Desplanches saving a penalty from Louis Munteanu.

England begin their defence under Lee Carsley against Czechia on Thursday night – read the preview here.

In Group C, another stoppage-time winner gave Georgia a 2-1 win over Poland.

Nodar Lominadze’s goal was cancelled out by a penalty from Jakub Kaluzinski before Vasilios Gordeziani won it for Georgia.

Those three points could provr vital for Georgia in a stacked group as France and Portugal played out a 0-0 draw.

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