Harvey Elliott scored twice to send England Under-21s into the Euro 2025 final
With just five minutes to go, Harvey Elliott stood and savoured the acclaim.
The Liverpool player raised his arms at the Stadion Tehelne pole in celebration, drinking in the reception after scoring his - and England Under-21s' - second goal - one which ultimately sent the Young Lions into their second successive Euro final.
Elliott's double booked a showdown with Germany on Saturday as Lee Carsley's defending champions deservedly beat the Netherlands in the sweltering heat of Bratislava.
A pocket of young fans had spent the majority of the second half chanting Elliott's name, especially after he smashed in a fine 62nd-minute opener, and he deserved the adulation after a season of frustration.
He did, though, admit he would need to re-think the sliding celebration that came after his opener.
Elliott stated to BBC Radio 5 Live, "I decided to a do a silly knee slide which really hurt, but you have to live in the moment." "You do these things, but I forgot the pitch was ridiculously dry and it is the price I have got to pay. Hopefully it is nothing too silly."
The 22-year-old attacking player won the Premier League with Liverpool last season but made just two starts to leave his Anfield future uncertain.
Elliott has said he does not want to be "wasting years" in his career and will assess his club situation this summer.
If his performances in Slovakia are anything to go by, then he will have plenty of suitors and options to play regular first-team football.
Four goals for the Young Lions has left Elliott as the tournament's second top scorer and well placed to complete a personal double having helped England lift the Euro 2023 title.
He is one of the leaders of the group and only he and Toulouse's former Leeds defender Charlie Cresswell remain from the trophy-winning team of two years ago.
Elliott was emotional after Wednesday's game as he reflected on his late and decisive winner, saying: "It's up there. Every goal I score is a massive moment because I enjoy scoring goals, I enjoy the feeling and buzz, and it gives me confidence.
"Emotionally and mentally it's definitely up there. There's nothing better than scoring for your country in front of your family in the stands.
"The squad is incredible in terms of the quality, the way we play football as a team, and our unity. We all deserve to be here. "The moment we have fear within ourselves is the moment it goes wrong. I think now, especially after the Spain game [in the quarter-finals], the fear isn't there any more. We can take on any team.
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