Town forward Omari Hutchinson scored as England’s U21s beat Germany 3-2 after extra-time to retain the European U21 Championship in Bratislava, Slovakia.

As has been the case throughout the tournament, Hutchinson started on the left for Lee Carsley’s side.

England, who won the competition when it was last staged in 2023, went ahead in the fifth minute when a deflected ball saw Hutchinson in on goal on the left of the box but German keeper Noah Atubolu blocked his effort. It was stabbed away to Harvey Elliott on the other side of the area and the Liverpool man netted his fifth goal of the tournament.

And 19 minutes later, Hutchinson netted England’s second, Lee Carsley’s side having failed to take two earlier very good chances.

James McAtee battled for the ball on the edge of the box before moving it to the Town forward in space on the left of the box from where he struck a low shot past Atubolu and into the net before celebrating with his trademark somersault.

On 32, Hutchinson wasn’t far away from his second, the Young Lions breaking quickly, as they had all half, before the Blues’ record signing cut in from the left and hit a shot which clipped a defender and flew wide of the far post.

Eight minutes later, with England looking like scoring with every counter-attack, Hutchinson cut across from the left to Elliott but Atubolu was able to bundle it away from goal.

The Germans had presented little threat but a minute into first-half injury time, they pulled a goal back, Nelson Weiper heading powerfully into the corner of the net.

And on the hour, with Germany having been on top since the restart, they levelled when a corner from the right flicked off Charlie Cresswell’s head and fell to Mainz 05’s Paul Nebel in space at the back of the box, he cut inside and smashed a shot into the top corner.

As the game moved into its final 10 minutes, Hutchinson did well on the left and cut back to sub Brooke Norton-Cuffy but the Genoa right-back scuffed what was a very good chance through to the keeper.

In the third and penultimate minute of injury time Germany crashed a deflected shot against the cross-bar with the whistle sending the game into an additional half an hour moments later.

Two minutes into extra-time, England restored their lead, Tyler Morton crossing from the right and Marseille’s Jonathan Rowe, who had only just come in as a sub, stooped to flicked a header just inside the post.

Hutchinson, who was still causing Germany problems when breaking forward, was replaced in the 98th minute, completing an impressive tournament in which he has taken his England U21s caps to 10 and goals tally to three, this evening’s the most important of his international career so far.

In stoppage time in extra-time, Germany hit the bar for a second time, but the Young Lions saw out the final seconds to win the competition for the fourth time.

Hutchinson becomes the third player to win the U21 Euros while with the Blues. Previously, Steve McCall played both legs of the 5-4 win against Germany on aggregate in 1982, alongside future Blues forward and coach Paul Goddard - a scorer in the 3-2 second leg defeat in Bremen - while Mich D’Avray came on as an 18th-minute substitute in the second leg of the 3-0 on-aggregate victory over Spain in Seville two years later, the only other time England have retained the title.

Photo: REUTERS/Radovan Stoklasa

Stato added 22:42 - Jun 28 I've written as many negative Omari posts as anyone this season but gotta to say he has been excellent in this tournament. Out on the left wing. Did super coach KM play him there even once ??? The evidence seems to suggest KM falling short much more than Omari.
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Kickingblock added 22:46 - Jun 28 Congratulations! What a fantastic moment in his life!
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Vancouver_Blue added 22:51 - Jun 28 Congratulations Omari. Played well on the left all tournament. Who fills that role vest for Ipswich? Jack Clarke? Sammie Szmodics?
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darkhorse28 added 22:55 - Jun 28 Let’s enjoy that we had a fantastic talent when we did.., maybe KM played him out of position so we’d keep him longer. Bar to believe he didn’t start back to back league games 23/24 until Burns was injured in February. He will be a 10 at some point, but should be wide where he gets a little more time and his (lack of) physicality isn’t an issue. Please not Leeds Utd, hope he go’s to an established side and lights it up. A pleasure to watch.., amazing energy, and quality, deserves all his success. McKenna needs to stop over thinking things.., let the square pegs play in square holes, Carsley does it so well, get the ball forward quickly, with quality, at the right times. Too many ‘top young coaches’ are too slow with transitions, and coach with fear.

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blues1 added 23:23 - Jun 28 Darkhorse28 Just cant help to use every post u make to slag off Mckenna. Just do everyone a favour and sod off. Cant even get ur facts right when doing so neither. Bt hey, what do facts matter to you.
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blues1 added 23:26 - Jun 28 Stato. Yes, Mckenna has played him on the left, and he dis very little actually. So prob why he hasnt played there more often. That and thd fact we don't play with a left winger, bcse of Davis's role on the left.
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Cookieboy added 23:34 - Jun 28 Well done Omari. Just put a few more million on your head for us
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Gforce added 23:41 - Jun 28 Congratulations Omari on a terrific win against the Germans and a great tournament. I really hope you stay with us and help spearhead our promotion push. But if the worst does happen, we could maybe try and replace him with Jonathan Rowe,that would really wind the budgies up.
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armchaircritic59 added 23:55 - Jun 28 Well done Omari and England. I will be honest and say even after the tournament had started, I still couldn't see a top level side here or elsewhere, wanting to shell out £35M for him. I might just be wrong now! No doubt we will find out pretty soon. As a football fan in general, as well as seasoned ITFC supporter, It's good to see young talent flourish.
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BangaloreBlues added 07:17 - Jun 29 An almost trademark Hutch goal, and certainly a trademark celebration! He's been fantastic all tournament, I only hope we can keep him at PR. Back to back tournaments is an amazing achievement. Has Carsley figured out the secret to winning tournaments, and can he do it with the main team? Questions the F.A. should be asking.
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tetchris added 08:00 - Jun 29 Great for the lad, he’s played well and put himself in the shop window. Sadly I think he will be the next to leave
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MickMillsTash added 08:06 - Jun 29 he had 2 people on him so many times last year forcing the pass back to Tuanzabee, - end of attack? when 1 on 1 he can get a cross in (villa away). Had England not had their centre forward in the US last night we could have won without extra time. He's too good for the Championship- but is he good enough to start in the Premier League ? I think his performances over the last few weeks will encourage bids

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ArnieM added 08:08 - Jun 29 Ma.y congratulations Omari. What a tournament you've had. Sadly I fear thus will now be goodbye, as the PL clubs will circle and be making their £35m escape clause bids. Choose wisely ......stay with us!
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Bazza8564 added 08:35 - Jun 29 Arnie, £35m for a player who played 31 PL games scored 3 and only made two assists all season? Good luck Omari, you will get a good deal and we will have doubled our money. We have Ogbone Jayden Clarke Burns and Szmodics who can fill the wide roles, and will have £65m cash of which half is PSR profit. Business is business Lets get it done quickly
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Michael101 added 08:37 - Jun 29 Well that performance put his transfer value up a extra few million.
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blues1 added 08:56 - Jun 29 Bazza8564. WhatxArnie is talking about, is the fact there's a £35m release claus in his contract. So if anyone wants him, thats what they'll have to pay. Whether he's actually worth that amount, as i think ur suggesting, is a,different matter
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PortmanTerrorist added 09:07 - Jun 29 Good grief, let's not make an agenda of everything. A player we have appreciated and that has grown with us, has lit up the final of a European tournament. I am proud of and for Omari ! End of.
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OldFart71 added 09:42 - Jun 29 Well done Omari, caused the Germans real problems and scored a very good goal. Sadly though this all adds to his appeal and it will be no surprise if the 3 million clause is met given that players who have equal or less ability than Omari are commanding 50 or 60 million.
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thechangingman added 09:51 - Jun 29 People on here critiquing KM's coaching ability has the same vibe as me, having watched Casualty a few times, wandering into the operating theatre and advising the surgeon! By what authority would any fan think they can meaningfully criticise KM (and no, being good at Football Manager/FIFA 25 doesn't count!!) For me, I'm celebrating our brilliant coach who's brought optimism and success to our club, after many, many painful years of mediocrity. COYB and thanks KM for all these wonderful times and the hope of many more to come...

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BobbyBell added 09:55 - Jun 29 I think the big question for all these young players is what's next? Do you go to a big club and play a few games a season or do you want to play every game at a smaller club. It's the love of playing against the big money. It a very tough decision but we all know what their agents will tell them.
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flykickingbybgunn added 10:05 - Jun 29 Hutch has had a damn good tournament. Well done him and the rest of the team. Makes you proud he is a Blue.
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WhiteVanMan added 10:06 - Jun 29 Need to offer him a new contract i heard he's only on about £6000,give him Tuanzebe s money!
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atty added 10:24 - Jun 29 Release ( alleged) of £35 million starting to look a little light now. Overall he had a bang average season in the PL, but is clearly more than capable against his peers. Difference is quality of the opposition is vast. Still he’ll attract attention, and wants to stay in the PL, so just it done quickly so we can move on.
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darkhorse28 added 10:37 - Jun 29 @blies1 which facts, a fact isn’t something that makes you feel good. No back to back league starts until February for Omari 23/24 isn’t my opinion. That’s not slagging off McKenna, I think he’s a great young coaches, we were lucky to have him in the EFL, nobody could have done more that season. Last season though was the wkrst in our history, if he gets the credit for 23/24 he must also have scrutiny for one league win all season at home, an awful points total, and increasingly poor performances, with zero motivation, and woeful recruitment. That’s Delap and Hutchinson will leave for half their value, another £100 million spent on players nowhere near good enough, who’s liabilities sit on out balance sheet for years to come. Oh and a burnt out CEO who thinks never taking a day off is elite. It’s not, it’s means the bad decisions just keep liking up. If you just want to happy clap, pretend we are perfect, and can’t process facts like Omari appearance record, why don’t you join a religion? It would suit your blind need for tribe above performance much better. Can I recommend the Catholic Church, your fear of scrutiny would be validated, as it is on here by a handful of people who can’t process beyond tribal crap either. No back to I back starts until February (in the league) …, you can decide what it says …, we got promoted, so maybe not too much. If we hadn’t, probably negligent for our most naturally gifted player. And don’t tell people they can or can’t post. You end up sounding like a low rent fascist - if you don’t like opinions, tough.

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darkhorse28 added 10:47 - Jun 29 @blues1 is he worth £35 million. Like Deloa. You could sign him today, and he’s already worth £50 million. He has the quality to play at the very top, he’s so young, and so gifted…., they’ll be a queue from here to to Timbuktu at that price. £35 milllion in the prem is barely a ‘punt’. It’s a squad player with significant potential, especially if they’re English, he’s gone.., and for less than his value…, again. But it’s brilliant…, as a football club, you can make lots of bad decisions, spend generational wealth badly, and have huge success, when measured against the likes of Brentford, Bournemouth, Wolves, Fulham, etc who do it a million times better. That’s 100% how football works. No wonder you’d rather measure us against Oxford, Wrexham, and Forest Green. You have zero standards. The club, the owners, the supporters, the players, everyone, deserves better than your apathy. We can get behind McKenna and the club, and still do MUCH better at scrutiny, agency, and development. It’s not a crime to want better, to want a ceo who doesn’t sound burnt out, and like the version of himself that quit football entirely at Wycombe, and a manager that fits the brief and is premier league quality. Maybe that’s McKenna, maybe it’s not, it wasn’t last season, that’s just a fact. To defend £150 million spend, the liabilities of which we have for four years, and the results and performances we got, is pathetic. You can argue he’s young, and will massively improve, you can’t argue last year was good enough…., if you have ANY standards.

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