Gray & Chilwell Sparkle As England Roar Into Euro U21 Semi-Finals

- Demarai Gray scored a brilliant goal as England reached the UEFA Euro U21 Championships semi-finals
- Ben Chilwell provided his Leicester City team-mate with a vital assist in a 3-0 success over Poland
- Fellow City representative Bartosz Kapustka was an unused substitute for the host nation in Kielce
- The young Lions win Group A and will contest their semi-final clash on the evening of Tuesday 27 June

Demarai Gray and Ben Chilwell sparkled as England Under-21s reached the UEFA Euro U21 Championship semi-finals with a 3-0 win over 10-man Poland on Thursday night.

The Leicester City duo were dominant throughout down the left channel, cutting Polish attacks short while also bursting forward at every opportunity, and it was Chilwell's excellent pass that provided Gray with time and space to score a brilliant opener in the sixth minute.

After the break, Gray turned provider for substitute Jacob Murphy to slide it beyond Jakub Wrąbel from close range. Once Tammy Abraham was felled by Jan Bednarek in the area, Lewis Baker converted from 12 yards with nine minutes remaining to seal all three points.

This victory ensures that England ultimately win Group A with seven points, one more than second-placed Slovakia. Fellow City representative Bartosz Kapustka, meanwhile, was an unused substitute for Poland in Kielce after suffering a knock last week.

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Ben Chilwell was a constant threat for Aidy Boothroyd's young Lions.

For Chilwell and Gray, though, there is much pride to be taken from England’s biggest tournament victory since 2000. Aidy Boothroyd’s side knew that anything other than three points would have made reaching the final four an unlikely prospect.

With six minutes on the clock, Chilwell trapped Jordon Pickford's ball under his feet before advancing down the left flank and finding Foxes team-mate Gray, who twisted on the spot and curled it into the far corner to give the young Lions a precious lead.

It may have taken a slight deflection but it was a strike which nonetheless epitomised Gray’s eclectic talents. After two cameos from the bench in England’s previous two fixtures, the 20-year-old City winger justified Boothroyd's decision to name him from the start.

Chilwell, too, delivered an assured display at the Kielce Stadium, built on hard work and raw pace down the left. On each occasion the young full back elected to gallop forwards, the Polish backline struggled to prevent him from finding space.

Following this success, England will learn who they will face in the final four, on Tuesday 27 June, once all remaining group stage fixtures are completed on Saturday evening. Elsewhere, Daniel Iversen's Denmark play Czech Republic in Group C this weekend.