England outclassed as Spain highlight the generation gap

Under-19s fall 3-1 in European Championships semi-final

(GETTY IMAGES)

For Spain, the promise of another golden generation; for England, yet more defeat on a football field. England's Under-19 team were last night comprehensively dismissed from the European Championships by their Spanish counterparts, who thoroughly deserved a 3-1 victory.

Put bluntly, England were outclassed in the French town of Saint-Lo. Having reached the final 12 months ago and secured a dramatic draw with France in their final group game to reach this stage, Noel Blake's side would clearly have been dreaming of a better result but they could have no real complaints about the outcome.

Spain knocked the ball around in confident style and went ahead after 12 minutes through Liverpool's Daniel Pacheco, who converted a ball cut back across the area by the impressive Sergio Canales. England were forced into a change four minutes later when Aston Villa's Nathan Baker suffered a hamstring injury and was replaced by Tottenham's John Bostock.

Spain continued to impress and a spell of possession ended after 34 minutes when Keko exchanged passes with Pacheco before beating keeper Declan Rudd with a left-footed shot after a weaving run into the box. Eight minutes before the interval, Bostock reduced the arrears with a low 20-yard volley, before he was booked shortly afterwards for a challenge on Martin Montoya.

Rodrigo Moreno should have restored Spain's two-goal advantage after 53 minutes but shot wide from close range after seizing on to Montoya's low cross. But it came as no surprise when Canales made it 3-1 three minutes later, following a well-worked free-kick move.

Ryan Donaldson shot over from close range in a rare England attack but Spain were soon back on the offensive and Rudd beat out a fierce drive from the classy Keko, before Pacheco shot over when well-placed.