Two goals - which included a moment of brilliance - from Harvey Elliott proved to be the difference as Lee Carsley's side booked their place in Saturday's final in Bratislava against one of France or Germany, who play each other tonight.

The Young Lions impressed during a dominant first-half but had to wait until just after the hour-mark to take the lead when Elliott smashed past the goalkeeper at his near post following a clever pass from the outstanding Elliot Anderson.

Netherlands had improved in the second half, though, and equalised in stunning fashion ten minutes later, when substitute Noah Ohio spotted James Beadle off his line and curled in a low, long-range shot just beyond the backtracking goalkeeper with his first touch of the game.

The Young Lions regained control after the equaliser and a moment of real quality from Elliott four minutes from time saw the Liverpool man win it. He cut inside several defenders before finding the bottom corner with a low shot from just outside the area - his fourth goal of the tournament and his 12th in his last 13 appearances for England Under-21s.

Sharman-Lowe has been behind Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Beadle in the pecking order but is part of an England squad who are now one game away from retaining the Under-21 European Championship title - with the victorious 2023 side including his Blues team-mates Levi Colwill, Noni Madueke and Cole Palmer.

It has been a great year for Sharman-Lowe. After playing every minute of Doncaster Rovers' League Two title-winning campaign, last week it was confirmed he had signed a new contract with Chelsea until 2028 and would be spending next season on loan at League One Bolton Wanderers.