England stumbled its way to the quarterfinals of the under-21 euros on Wednesday evening after a 2-1 defeat against Germany.
The side of Lee Carsley had to improve the result of Slovenia or be the same to guarantee the progress and eventually lost both teams, which means that England has set up a date with Spain on Saturday evening.
This was a version that emphasized the mistakes of England and perhaps showed why talking about winning this competition back to back after the opening group victory on the Czech Republic was a Touch Premature.
Germany brought 11 changes that the Czech Republic defeated 4-2, compared to the four changes that Carsley made on the English side, and yet they looked considerably more cohesive.
So coherent and coordinated, in fact, that they stood here within three minutes after Angsar Knauff came in behind Jarrell Quansah and was selected by teammate Lukas Ullom with Aplomb before he shot low and hard past James Beadle.
The lack of a recognized striker of England has been the theme of this euro title defense for Carsley and there were times here when a presence in the box was everything that was missing with them.
The importance of a striker was further underlined when Germany showed them how it was done to make the score at 2-0, directly with a cross in the box for 6ft3 'striker Nelson Weiper to nod in after jumping out of both Charlie Cresswell and Jack Hinshelwood.
A failure of the spotlights in the first half of half stopped about an error with an error -reinforced half for England that was for the most part of a German traffic.
Jay Stansfield, James McATee and Brooke Norton-Cuffy for Jonathan Rowe, Harvey Elliott and Samuel Iling-JNR and at least some life injected in England saw Jay Stansfield, James McATee and Brooke Norton-Cuffy for Jonathan Rowe.
Brilliant work by Omari Hutchinson Wide on the left saw him dance in two German defenders before he was on the line.
Carsley had times to be positive about in the second half and he will stick to those who are for the knockout phases after a first half of pure frustration.
Cresswell made it almost 2-2 when he rose highest from a McATee corner and forced a brilliant reaction, saves from Tjark Ernst.
That gave England a spring in their step, but the equalizer avoided them and it is a Saturday evening show with Spain that stands between itself and a place in the semi -final.