Young Lions miss out on Finals
Sunday, 05 June, 2011
Another goal from Harry Kane secures draw with Spain, but not enough to progress.
England U19s missed out on reaching the UEFA European U19 Championship Finals for the first time since 2007, as a 1-1 draw with Spain in the final game of the Elite Qualifying Round on Sunday afternoon wasn't enough to secure progress to the last eight.
Despite having won their opening two games of the group against Montenegro and host nation Switzerland, Noel Blake's side knew that only a win today would be good enough to see them into the Finals due to Spain's slightly superior goal difference.
The Young Lions had already been hit with the earlier loss of playmaker Josh McEachran through injury in the build-up to the game and their task was made even harder when Spain edged ahead through Francisco Suarez after 26 minutes.
However, Blake's side played their way back into the game and got themselves deservedly level just before half time when Harry Kane netted his second goal of the Elite Round in the first minute of stoppage time.
Despite intentions to go and win the game in the second half, England just couldn't breach the Spanish defence any further and the result means that Spain will now travel to the Finals, which take place in Romania in July.
For many of these England players, they will still be able to feature for the U19s next season too having played this season a year younger than many of their opponents and with places in the squad for the U20 World Cup also up for grabs, it could still be an interesting summer in store.