Oblivious German keeper knocks England U-21s out

Julian Pollersbeck was the hero as he saved Nathan Redmond's penalty to send Germany into the European Under-21 Championship final with a 4-3 shoot-out win over England in Tychy.

With the scores level at 2-2 after 90 minutes and extra-time unable to provide a winner, the semi-final went to spot-kicks and Pollersbeck's save from Redmond proved decisive.

However, the young goalkeeper admitted after the match that he had no idea at the time that his save had won the match for the Germans.

"I didn't really get it during the penalty shootout," the goalkeeper said.

"When I saved the second penalty I wasn't aware we'd won the game.

"I was completely lost in my own 'movie' and I only started to feel something when I saw my team-mates running towards me."

Stefan Kuntz's side will take on Spain and in the final after Ateltico Madrid star Saul's hat-trick helped the Spaniards seal a 3-1 win.

Germany took the lead when Davie Selke powered a header home from Jeremy Toljan's cross, but Demarai Gray thumped in a volley to send the teams into half-time level.

England moved clear five minutes after the restart when Tammy Abraham turned a cross from Will Hughes – signed by Premier League side Watford last week – into the back of the net.

Felix Platte, a second-half replacement for the injured Selke, angled home a near-post header to restore parity and thought he had nodded in the winner with 12 minutes remaining, only to see the flag raised for offside.

There was nothing to separate the sides in regulation time, while Nadiem Amiri was unable to steer a cross from Toljan in the closing stages of the second added period into the net.

England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was the first to make a save in the shoot-out when he kept out Yannick Gerhardt, but a tame effort from Abraham saw England's chance to open an advantage evaporate.

After Amiri found the corner with a powerful effort from Germany's fifth spot-kick, Pollersbeck blocked Redmond's effort to send Germany into the showpiece.

The Germans' opponents in the final will be Spain, who beat Italy 3-1 in the other semi-final thanks to a Saul Niguez hat-trick.

The Atletico Madrid midfielder struck three terrific goals after the interval to see Spain through to Friday's showpiece, with Roberto Gagliardini having seen red for the Italians.