Blues forward Omari Hutchinson started as England’s U21s beat Spain 3-1 in Trnava, Slovakia to reach the semi-finals of the European Championship.

The 21-year-old, who was winning his ninth U21s cap, was again used on the left and won the corner from which much-improved England scored their opening goal in the 10th minute, Manchester City’s James McAtee slamming a loose ball home following the flag-kick.

Five minutes later, it was 2-0, Harvey Elliott rebounding from close range after the Spanish keeper had failed to hold a shot from his Liverpool teammate Jarell Quansah.

Spain pulled a goal back from the penalty spot on 39 through Javi Guerra, a previous third-minute spot-kick for handball having been overturned by VAR.

Hutchinson, who again had impressed, suffered a head injury when inadvertently caught by a boot when falling three minutes before the break but was able to carry on.

Four minutes after the restart, the former Chelsea man cleverly played in Birmingham’s Jay Stansfield on the edge of the box, a defender diverting his effort behind, then on 52 the Blues’ record signing was one of two players replaced.

Lee Carsley’s side had few scares in the remainder of the game and sealed the victory from the penalty spot in the last of four minutes of injury time through Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, Marseille’s Jonathan Rowe having been fouled.

England will face the Netherlands, who beat Portugal 1-0 despite playing with 10 men for 69 minutes, in Bratislava in the semi-finals on Wednesday.

England U21s: James Beadle (Brighton and Hove Albion), Teddy Sharman-Lowe (Chelsea), Tommy Simkin (Stoke City), Charlie Cresswell (FC Toulouse), Ronnie Edwards (Southampton), CJ Egan-Riley (Burnley), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Brooke Norton Cuffy (Genoa), Jarell Quansah (Liverpool), Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland), Archie Gray (Tottenham Hotspur), Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough), Jack Hinshelwood (Brighton and Hove Albion), Tyler Morton (Liverpool), Alex Scott (AFC Bournemouth), Harvey Elliott (Liverpool), Omari Hutchinson (Ipswich Town), Sam Iling Jnr (Aston Villa), James McAtee (Manchester City), Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal), Jonathan Rowe (Marseille), Jay Stansfield (Birmingham City).

Photo: IMAGO/Beautiful Sports via Reuters Connect

dirtydingusmagee added 22:06 - Jun 21 Omari has done himself and Town proud .Just hope he stays at Town, and improves his future looks good .
4

ArnieM added 22:13 - Jun 21 He played well in the time he was on the pitch. Works so hard for the team, but wasted on the left wing frankly.
0

baldman added 22:32 - Jun 21 He does seem to get 2 players on him every time he has the ball and still does well
2

Tractorboy1985 added 23:33 - Jun 21 He’s a ‘Saka’ type player.. off the right flank.. cutting inside..not a no10 not a left sided forward and was bought for 22 million. He needs to show more.. the big money signings of Greaves, Philogene, Clark owe us next season in the championship.. that’s why we brought them…..
1

PhuketPete added 06:24 - Jun 22 Amazing how many people know better than Lee Carsley (or KM) about where and how best to play Omari. For the U21’s he’s playing left because that’s where LC sees him adding most value for the team in context of the opposition’s strengths and skills/availability of our other players. Who are we to second guess that when we’re winning and it sounds like Omari is doing everything asked of him. I just hope his withdrawal on 52 was a precaution.

4

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 08:26 - Jun 22 Omari did well, as did every single one of the rest of the team. I didn't expect us to beat Spain after our showing against Germany, but we did!
2

benslifeyt added 08:38 - Jun 22 Wish we would play omari out wide more , so much more effective there
0

atty added 08:42 - Jun 22 I suspect he wants to stay in the PL. if so, and l guess there will be suitors, then get it done asap. No room for anyone not fully committed for whatever reason. £35 million would come in very handy, with the dosh from the sale of Delap, plus the parachute payment. Don’t forget that whilst the profit on Delap was small, we do get our money back too!
1

flykickingbybgunn added 10:04 - Jun 22 He went down with a head injury. Have we heard anything more on that ?
0

gosblue added 16:30 - Jun 22 I also liked him when he played a bit deeper last night. He provided a good outlet and linked defence and attack. He shows intelligence beyond his years. I think a good move for us this year would be if we could loan him out. Maybe to a top tier overseas club. Or we could just keep him although I can't see it happening.
0

Bluedocker added 17:15 - Jun 22 I know he's not our player anymore but I can't believe the fa allowed delap to go on the club world cup instead of the under 21s euros surley this competition is more important...
2

armchaircritic59 added 17:59 - Jun 22 Have to say I thought Spain would prove a bit too good, but England proved me wrong, sometimes it's good to be proved wrong! Actually Spain looked lightweight up front. Pretty football ( it is Spain! ) but not much to show for it. As for Omari, undoubtedly talented, does tend to blow a bit hot and cold, but if there are any clubs willing to shell out £35M at this stage of his development, please form an orderly que. On another note, this has to be the quietest, most boring 16 day start to a summer transfer window I can remember, I can only assume that apart from those involved in tournament football at the moment, everyone else has disappeared off on holiday! I think we start our pre season Austrian trip in a months or so's time. I was hoping all the comings and goings to be done before then, players need time to gel together, as do any non playing staff. So if it's to happen we are in for an extremely lively time over the next four weeks or so! Or are we just going to fiddle while Rome burns?

0

Blogs 298 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls