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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| England U21 1-0 Germany U21 | England U21 1-0 Germany U21 |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Leighton Baines scored a stunning 25-yard goal to give England a deserved first-leg lead in their European Championship play-off against Germany. | Leighton Baines scored a stunning 25-yard goal to give England a deserved first-leg lead in their European Championship play-off against Germany. |
| Baines arrowed a shot into the top corner in front of a 32,000 sell-out crowd at Coventry's Ricoh Arena. | Baines arrowed a shot into the top corner in front of a 32,000 sell-out crowd at Coventry's Ricoh Arena. |
| Wayne Routledge had an angled drive well saved and also hit the post with a fine low effort while Anton Ferdinand saw a header tipped over the bar. | Wayne Routledge had an angled drive well saved and also hit the post with a fine low effort while Anton Ferdinand saw a header tipped over the bar. |
| Germany rarely threatened but Aaron Hunt and Stefan Kiessling went close. | Germany rarely threatened but Aaron Hunt and Stefan Kiessling went close. |
| Interview: England U21 coach Peter Taylor | |
| England settled quickly and the excellent Tom Huddlestone saw a well-struck 20-yard shot saved by Michael Rensing. | England settled quickly and the excellent Tom Huddlestone saw a well-struck 20-yard shot saved by Michael Rensing. |
| That early save set the tone for the impressive German keeper who had a busy first half. | That early save set the tone for the impressive German keeper who had a busy first half. |
| He came rushing out to block a fierce Wayne Routledge drive and also denied Baines with a decent one-handed stop. | He came rushing out to block a fierce Wayne Routledge drive and also denied Baines with a decent one-handed stop. |
| Arsenal teenager Theo Walcott, the only England player on display with a full cap, was a constant threat on the left flank with his searing pace and trickery. | Arsenal teenager Theo Walcott, the only England player on display with a full cap, was a constant threat on the left flank with his searing pace and trickery. |
| Walcott, David Nugent and Routledge formed a formidable front three and the German rearguard struggled to deal with their movement. | Walcott, David Nugent and Routledge formed a formidable front three and the German rearguard struggled to deal with their movement. |
| England also threatened from set-pieces and Ferdinand had a fine header tipped over the bar by Rensing. | England also threatened from set-pieces and Ferdinand had a fine header tipped over the bar by Rensing. |
| But despite the home side's dominance, the Germans reached the break on level terms. | But despite the home side's dominance, the Germans reached the break on level terms. |
| Routledge almost broke the deadlock after the restart but fizzed a 20-yard effort against the post and Nigel Reo-Coker burst through on goal only to once again be denied by the defiant Rensing. | Routledge almost broke the deadlock after the restart but fizzed a 20-yard effort against the post and Nigel Reo-Coker burst through on goal only to once again be denied by the defiant Rensing. |
| England's eagerness to grab a first-leg lead almost saw them caught on the break but Germany's final ball let them down too often when they had a man over in attack. | England's eagerness to grab a first-leg lead almost saw them caught on the break but Germany's final ball let them down too often when they had a man over in attack. |
| Hunt, who has an English mother, curled a shot narrowly wide from the edge of the penalty box. | Hunt, who has an English mother, curled a shot narrowly wide from the edge of the penalty box. |
| Kiessling was also unlucky not to get a shot away on Scott Carson's goal after a fine run from another dangerous German break. | Kiessling was also unlucky not to get a shot away on Scott Carson's goal after a fine run from another dangerous German break. |
| But with a goalless draw looking likely Baines put England in command when his unstoppable effort flew past Rensing. | But with a goalless draw looking likely Baines put England in command when his unstoppable effort flew past Rensing. |
| There was still time for Kiessling to miss a glorious chance from five yards but England held on to take a 1-0 lead into Tuesday's second leg in Leverkusen. | There was still time for Kiessling to miss a glorious chance from five yards but England held on to take a 1-0 lead into Tuesday's second leg in Leverkusen. |
| The winners of the tie will reach next year's European Championship finals in Holland. | The winners of the tie will reach next year's European Championship finals in Holland. |
| England U21: Carson, Richards, Baines, Steven Taylor, Ferdinand, Huddlestone, Reo-Coker, Milner, Walcott (Young 66), Nugent (Watson 81), Routledge (Agbonlahor 71).Subs Not Used: Camp, Hoyte, Kilgallon, Whittingham. | |
| Booked: Huddlestone, Ferdinand. | Booked: Huddlestone, Ferdinand. |
| Goals: Baines 77. | Goals: Baines 77. |
| Germany U21: Rensing, Reinhardt, Ochs, Brzenska, Matip, Castro, Boateng (Dum 78), Polanski (Otti 45), Kiessling, Hunt, Gonez.Subs Not Used: Tschauner, Bieler, Freis, Hilbert, Kruska. | Germany U21: Rensing, Reinhardt, Ochs, Brzenska, Matip, Castro, Boateng (Dum 78), Polanski (Otti 45), Kiessling, Hunt, Gonez.Subs Not Used: Tschauner, Bieler, Freis, Hilbert, Kruska. |
| Booked: Boateng, Ochs, Kiessling. | Booked: Boateng, Ochs, Kiessling. |
| Att: 30,919. | Att: 30,919. |
| Ref: Matteo Trefoloni (Siena). | Ref: Matteo Trefoloni (Siena). |