England's Harvey Elliott celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the semi final soccer match between England and the Netherlands at the European U-21 Championship at the National football stadium in Bratislava, Slovakia, Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Harvey Elliott shrugs off painful knee-slide celebration to lead England to U-21 final

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — Harvey Elliott’s knee-slide celebration was brief — and painful.

The Liverpool midfielder scored twice to help England beat the Netherlands 2-1 on Wednesday and advance to the Under-21 European Championship final.

Elliott went into his celebration after opening the scoring in 62nd minute. But instead of sliding, he hit the dry pitch and tumbled forward, leaving a divot behind him.

He told broadcaster Channel 4 after the semifinal that his knee was “hurting” and added “hopefully it’s nothing too silly.”

“I forgot the pitch was ridiculously dry. It’s the price I’ve got to pay, but it is what it is,” said Elliott, who played on after the close-range strike.

England’s Harvey Elliott, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side’s second goal during the semi final soccer match between England and the Netherlands at the European U-21 Championship at the National football stadium in Bratislava, Slovakia, Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

After Noah Ohio had equalized for the Dutch, Elliott netted a left-footed winner in the 86th.

England, the defending champion, will play Germany in the final on Saturday.

England’s Harvey Elliott scores the opening goal during the semi final soccer match between England and the Netherlands at the European U-21 Championship at the National football stadium in Bratislava, Slovakia, Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community? Create a free account to comment on stories, ask questions, and join meaningful discussions on our new site.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.
The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

Related Articles