England U21 final to be shown for free after Channel 4 strike last-minute deal
Channel 4 have won a last-minute deal to show England under-21s’ European Championship final on terrestrial television.
The broadcaster stepped in after Lee Carsley’s side secured a showdown with Spain on Saturday and the chance to win the tournament in Georgia. Football Association bosses were hugely disappointed that no major TV channel had opted to screen the tournament and the players were left disappointed that they were subject to a blackout.
England’s games were only shown via UEFA’s own streaming service and yet the Young Lions reached their first final in 14 years which forced the TV companies into a change of heart.
Channel 4 already have rights to England coverage, including the seniors’ European Championship qualifiers. Regular presenter Jules Breach and commentator Steve Bower will be in charge of the under-21s coverage.
England under-21s have reached the final in GeorgiaChannel 4’s Chief Content Officer Ian Katz said: “Channel 4 has brought a number of historic sporting moments to a free to air audience in recent years and we’re delighted that the nation will be able to watch England’s Under-21s as they attempt to make their own bit of history against Spain on Saturday.
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”The Young Lions final will be part of a bumper weekend of sport on Channel 4 with live coverage of qualifying for the British GP earlier on Saturday and the Grand Prix itself on Sunday.”
Kick off is at 5pm English time with Channel 4 coverage likely to start from 4.45pm.
England under-21s team vs Israel in the semi-final (Giorgi Ebanoidze/Getty Images)Carsley's side have been outstanding during the tournament so far and are yet to concede a single goal. They came through their group by beating Israel, Czechia and Germany 2-0, before seeing off Portugal 1-0 in the quarter-finals and Israel once more 3-0 in the semi-final.
Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White - one of the few over-age players allowed in the squad - has been a star of the team, which also includes Newcastle's Anthony Gordon, Arsenal's Emile Smith Rowe and Liverpool's Curtis Jones.
"It's hard to put into words," said Gibbs-White after the semi-final win. "We've been working for the past two years just to get to this moment. It's not an achievement yet, we still have loads of work to do.
"I feel like we have a good together team and the right team that can go all the way."
Carsley added: "These young players' mentality is different to my generation. Curtis gives the ball away and just wants to get on it again, he doesn't even think about it. Morgan is the same.
"It's such a skill to have, that self-belief. The players know we believe in them, we want them to do well. It's important that he keeps getting on it, he keeps creating chances."
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