Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe delivered a mesmerizing performance, capped off by a stunning assist, as England’s Under-21 team secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Israel in the semi-finals of the U21 European Championship. This triumph marks the Young Lions’ first appearance in the final since 2009, showcasing their impressive progress and potential.
Morgan Gibbs-White missed an early penalty but made up for it with a header to put the Young Lions 1-0 up at half-time, and then Smith Rowe’s standout moment came in the 55th minute of the match. Seizing an opportunity in Israel’s half, he collected the ball with precision and executed a swift turn, demonstrating his exceptional control and agility. In a display of excellent teamwork, he swiftly laid off the ball to Gibbs-White, initiating a lightning-fast counter-attack.
The dynamic attacking duo unleashed a flurry of stylish one-twos, effortlessly bypassing the opposition’s defense. Smith Rowe’s vision and composure were on full display as he picked out Cole Palmer from the back post with an exquisite pass. Palmer confidently converted the chance, doubling England’s lead to 2-0.
Smith Rowe’s influential performance did not go unnoticed, earning him well-deserved acclaim from fans and pundits alike. The young playmaker’s ability to dictate the flow of the game, his precise passing, and his creative flair were instrumental in England’s success.
After 74 minutes of tireless contribution, Smith Rowe made way for a substitute, having left an indelible mark on the match. England continued to dominate, and Cameron Archer sealed the victory with a clinical finish in the 90th minute, securing their place in the highly anticipated final.
England will now face Spain in the Final on Saturday.
You can watch the highlights of Smith-Rowe’s contributions to the game here….
Enjoy!
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I personally rate ESR and, at this moment in time, put him second only to Odegaard.
I’m certain MA will give him a lot more playing time this coming season, as he seems to have completely recovered from that groin injury.
Ken I hope you are right
The kid is back and he may have force the gaffer hands going by his recent performance.
Great to see him perform well again.Such an intelligent player who invariably makes the right decisions.Despite the talk of him being played in the Xhaka role I expect him to provide Martinelli with real competition this coming season.
I hope ESR gets his chances in the middle of the pitch rather than the wings.
1. We have Trossard and recently extended Nelson on the wings, and Marquinhos in the coming years, enough cover who need playing time not congestion.
2. Odegaard has no cover or backup. ESR did his best work through the middle. Vieira has been abominable, and looks more like an U-21 player than first team player, simply poor and waste of 35 million for unprepared and unsuitable for rigors of the PL.
I hope Havertz is the replacement for Xhaka, otherwise it is very questionable to spend 70 million for a backup CF with poor return. Also not Havertz backup to Odegaard as it’s wateful when we have ESR. We have good depth on wings and don’t need it crowded.
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Agree that Smith Rowe is at his best when given the freedom to play one twos from the middle and roam free-range. He tends to get stifled on the wings and doesn’t have Martinelli’s ability to turn on the burners.