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The teenage striker scored twice off the bench to secure a spot in the quarter-finals

It turns out that Liverpool's youngsters might just be able to play a bit. Another youthful lineup – stripped of Darwin Nunez and Mo Salah – turned in a memorable performance for Jurgen Klopp's men, as Jayden Danns scored twice to mark a 3-0 win over Southampton in the FA Cup.

Sekou Mara had the ball in the net inside 30 seconds for the visitors, but saw his effort ruled out by the offside flag. Liverpool, for their part, created admittedly little in the first half, a group of youngsters looking their age in attack. But they woke up on the stroke of half time, debutant Lewis Koumas' strike deflecting off the heel of a defender and rolling into the bottom corner.

Southampton should have equalised early in the second half, but a timely poke from Ibrahima Konate diverted a cross away from danger when Mara had the goal gaping.

Danns added a crucial second with 15 minutes remaining, chipping the goalkeeper off an angled pass from Harvey Elliott. The teenager completed his brace with a simple finish into an open net – wrapping up a cup win to send Liverpool into the next round of the FA Cup. Klopp's memorable farewell tour might just be special.

GOAL rates Liverpool's players from Anfield…

GettyGoalkeeper & Defence

Caoimhin Kelleher (7/10):

Made a couple of important stops early on. Calm with the ball at his feet. Another quality showing.

Conor Bradley (8/10):

So assured on the ball and diligent in his pressing in an inverted full-back role. He's really starting to look the part in the absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Jarell Quansah (8/10):

Impressive once again – especially in his individual duels. Completed 97 per cent of his passes, too.

Virgil van Dijk (7/10):

Won his headers, put in some valuable tackles. A planned substitution at the break saw him get some valuable rest.

Kostas Tsimikas (6/10):

Ate up ground, played some neat passes in the final third. Ate up minutes to give Andy Robertson a valuable night off.

AdvertisementGettyMidfield

Joe Gomez (6/10):

Tried out as a No.6 after playing in Alexander-Arnold's inverted role on a handful of occasions. A bit mixed throughout, and looked confused when he ventured into the final third.

James McConnell (6/10):

Not involved much on the ball, but did enough work off it. Looked leggy when he was taken off – which is understandable given his age.

Bobby Clark (7/10):

A composed showing in central midfield. Assisted the first, and was generally tidy on the ball. Good for him to get the whole 90 in.

GettyAttack

Harvey Elliott (8/10):

Busy in and around the box, always looking for a killer pass. Deserved his assist. He's seized the moment well, given the Reds' lengthy injury list.

Cody Gakpo (6/10):

Failed to capitalise on a good chance in the first half. Missed another in the second. Forced it a bit at times.

Lewis Koumas (7/10):

Diligent on the left wing. Rather fortunate to score on his debut – given the deflection – but that will take little away from the moment.

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GettySubs & Manager

Ibrahima Konate (7/10):

Made a vital intervention to prevent a Southampton equaliser early in the second half. Tackled well and looked steady in key moments.

Alexis Mac Allister (6/10):

Didn't really have much to do in his 30 minutes on the pitch.

Jayden Danns (8/10):

Took his goals wonderfully, and was constantly involved. He looks a real talent.

Trey Nyoni (N/A):

No time to make an impact.

Kaide Gordon (N/A):

No time to make an impact.

Jurgen Klopp (8/10):

Once again forced into a number of changes with a glut of injuries to contend with. His side were poor in the early goings, but really grew into the game, and ended up good value for the win. The FA Cup dream stays alive.

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With Qatar 2022 fast upon us, these are the best books to get you in the World Cup spirit

It's not long now until the world sees its first-ever winter World Cup kick-off in Qatar on November 20. So, why not brush up on your knowledge or immerse yourself in the most captivating stories on World Cups of the past?

Whether it's the stunning England World Cup victory in 1966 or the rise of African Football's prevalence in the tournament – we've got you covered. We've also found some great photography-led options for those of you that prefer to transport back to previous matches through imagery.

Now is the perfect time to get into the World Cup frame of mind. With the clock ticking down on this year's tournament, tap into what the trophy means and the history of some of the most entertaining matches in football history. If you prefer to listen to your books rather than read them, Audible offers a 30-day free trial for new customers, giving you access to many of the titles included on this list.

On that note, here are our top 12 World Cup football books to read right now.

Shop: Best World Cup books

Are you someone who likes the niche facts about World Cups and all the small little details that others wouldn't care about? Then the is the book for you. From why there were black bands around the goalposts during Argentina 1978 to which tournament featured no red cards – you can find out about it all.

Only 20 managers have managed to guide national sides to a World Cup victory. In his book, Chris Evans searches for the secrets and the key to winning the most prestigious tournament in world football. The book includes insights from journalists, players, and managers as they try to unlock the mystery.

tells the story of the 1982 Brazillian team that changed the way football was played forever. They lit up the World Cup stage, with a style of football that was branded 'futebol arte' and was one of the greatest sides to lift the golden trophy.

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For England fans, 2018 was the year the national side was oh-so-close to getting their hands on the World Cup trophy. After an embarrassing exit from Euro 2016, there didn't seem like there was much hope during Russia 2018. It was the year of waistcoats (thanks to Gareth Southgate) and a blistering heatwave, but most importantly the year England fans could dream.

The 30-year-old has been mocked over the fact that the team he left is now top of the Premier League – but he made the correct call

The online trolling of Harry Kane began as soon as the full-time whistle blew in Bayern Munich's shock DFB-Pokal second-round loss to third-tier Saarbrucken. Having already suffered defeat in the the DFL-Supercup in his very first outing for the Bavarians back in August, this latest blow in his bid to lift a team trophy for the first time in a 14-year professional career was viewed as further evidence of Kane being cursed; destined to retire without any major honours to his name.

What the keyboard warriors found particularly amusing was the fact that Kane had quit Tottenham during the summer in a desperate pursuit of silverware – and yet the north Londoners now sit proudly on top of the Premier League. And there would certainly be a cruel irony in Spurs winning the title for the first time since 1961 the season after the loss of their all-time leading scorer.

So, has Kane made a monumental error? Has he left Tottenham at precisely the wrong time? And for the wrong club?

Getty Images'I don't agree with his move'

Michael Owen certainly thinks Kane has jumped ship too soon. The Ballon d'Or winner believes the all-round attacker should have seen out the final year of his Spurs contract before joining Barcelona, Real Madrid or whomever he wanted on a free transfer next summer.

"I don't agree with his move from Spurs to Bayern," Owen told . "If he was so desperate to leave and to win trophies, then he could easily have stayed for another season and then had the world in his hands by going on a Bosman transfer.

"That way, if Spurs miraculously started playing well and looking like title challengers, he could have always [extended his contract], but, regardless, he would have had his destiny in his hands and gone to any club he wanted, all while he was getting closer to that Premier League goalscoring record and creating the perfect legacy with the club he's been at all his life.

"Bayern are undoubtedly one of the biggest clubs in the world but for me to win a trophy, I don't think there's anything really special about going and guaranteeing yourself a Bundesliga trophy. Bayern will win the league with or without Kane, so I don't think that was particularly a reason to leave."

AdvertisementGetty'I was crying my eyes out'

Owen's perspective should obviously be respected, given he knows a thing or two about leaving a boyhood club for one of Europe's elite. He was painfully torn over swapping Liverpool for Real Madrid in the summer of 2004.

"I didn't sleep for a week beforehand," he previously told GOAL. "And even on the drive to the airport, I was crying my eyes out, I don't mind telling you."

But Owen's view of the Kane transfer is understandably coloured by the negative outcome of his Madrid move. He scored goals in La Liga – 13, to be precise – but he realised long before the end of his one and only season in Spain that he was never going to be a first-choice during the dying embers of Florentino Perez's ultimately disappointing Galactico era. So, keen to avoid jeopardising his place in England's starting line-up ahead of the 2006 World Cup, Owen pushed for a return to the Premier League.

His goal was to rejoin Liverpool, who had just won the Champions League without him, much to the delight of some bitter Reds supporters who were still furious with the forward for leaving. But he instead ended up at Newcastle, and then Manchester United, as the second half of a once-glittering career was derailed by one incessant injury issues.

Getty ImagesKane gamble 'will pay off'

However, as Owen said himself to GOAL, "You never can plan your career perfectly. You think you're going to be a Liverpool player for life but then you think, 'Oh my God, it's Real Madrid, I'll regret this forever if I say no.'

"So, while I didn't get the chance to spend the rest of my career at Liverpool, I had an incredible experience in Madrid."

It's slightly curious, then, that Owen has come out so vehemently against Kane's Bayern switch, given his compatriot is demonstrating the same level of ambition. Furthermore, all of the early signs are that it is a transfer that will work out far better than Owen's short spell at the Santiago Bernabeu.

For starters, Kane represented a hugely significant signing for Bayern. He wasn't merely an expendable element of a vanity project. He was their top transfer target, the belated Robert Lewandowski replacement, the complete No.9 they needed to sign at all costs to turn Thomas Tuchel's team into legitimate Champions League challengers.

And that's precisely why a club renowned for its relatively prudent approach to the transfer market committed to a nine-figure fee (including bonuses) for a 30-year-old with less than 12 months left on his contract. Bayern, as Lothar Matthaus pointed out, had probably slightly overpaid in the circumstances but he, like the club, presumed that the gamble "will pay off".

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Getty'You notice his aura immediately'

Kane is certainly proving value for money so far, with 12 goals in his first nine Bundesliga outings, including two hat-tricks – and a strike from the halfway line that even David Beckham felt compelled to comment upon.

Kane's also netted in two of his three Champions League appearances, though, with his crucial strike in last month's win at Galatasaray prompting Tuchel to come up with a rather novel and amusing way to hail his striker's ludicrously composed finishing.

"Harry has beer calm," the former Chelsea boss told . "If you have scored 4,800 goals in your career, then you just have less [of a] pulse! He has a very natural self-confidence and knows that he doesn't need many chances."

Indeed, Leon Goretzka says that Kane is a humble, "wonderful guy", the England captain has an "aura" about him that inspires confidence in everyone around him. "You notice it immediately in the dressing room," the midfielder said. "He helps us so much. He's a leader."

Leroy Sane is clearly loving linking up with Kane, with the former Manchester City winger enjoying the best season of his Bayern career to date, while the promising young striker Mathys Tel is already benefiting enormously from learning from one of the best finishers of the modern era.

"He's a role model for me," the teenager recently told the Bundesliga's official website. "It's important to have people to learn from technically and in terms of finishing, and, often I don't even have to ask him. He just comes over to me and tells me: 'Mathys, you can do that, or that'.

"He pays close attention to the little details and he's looking to help me in any way he can. He's supporting me a great deal."

Interestingly, when asked what he admired most about Kane, Tel responded, "His mentality. He is very strong mentally. He's very calm."

Birmingham City have opened the door for Wayne Rooney to join Tom Brady at St. Andrew’s, with manager John Eustace surprisingly sacked.

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Blues riding high in the second tierHave parted company with bossLinked with ex-England captainWHAT HAPPENED?

The Blues currently sit sixth in the Championship table, with an 18-point haul from 11 games enough to have them perched inside the play-off places. The Blues enjoyed a 3-1 derby win over West Midlands rivals West Brom last time out, but Eustace has now been axed as the club prepares to head in a different direction.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT THEY SAID

Birmingham have said in a statement on the club’s : “It is essential that the Board of Directors and the football management are fully aligned on the importance of implementing a winning mentality and a culture of ambition across the entire Football Club. With this in mind, Birmingham City has today parted company with Head Coach, John Eustace. Eustace departs after 15 months in charge, having helped to stabilise and strengthen the Club on the pitch following his appointment in July 2022.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The Blues have also said that “a new First Team Manager will be announced in the coming days who will be responsible for creating an identity and clear ‘no fear’ playing style that all Birmingham City teams will adopt and embrace". It may be that Manchester United legend Rooney is charged with the task of guiding the second tier club forward.

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GettyWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Rooney has walked away from his role at MLS side D.C. United, with the ex-England captain and former Derby boss planning a return to his homeland. His profile would fit the bill at St. Andrew’s, with Birmingham drawing up ambitious plans after already seeing NFL icon Brady invest in the club alongside Knighthead Capital Management LLC.

The £51-million summer signing missed some huge chances as City were beaten by Liverpool in the Community Shield

Manchester City and Liverpool are set to go head-to-head in the Premier League as the two best sides in the country once again, and Jurgen Klopp’s side have laid down an early marker with their 3-1 victory in the Community Shield.

It was something of a new-look City side at the King Power Stadium, with senior players Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko all having moved on during the transfer window, and while Liverpool also had new faces on show, the quality of the two sides remains.

For City, all eyes were on Erling Haaland, and it was exactly the debut he didn’t want; failing to convert a number of chances, not least a gilt-edged opportunity in injury time.

But while it’s a chance for early silverware missed, the focus is on next week’s clash with West Ham and the start of City's Premier League defence.

Getty ImagesThe Winners

Julian Alvarez

Almost the forgotten man of City's new arrivals, the Argentine’s goal made it the perfect start to his new life in England. Lethal when an opportunity came his way, the goal matched Alvarez's strong movement off the ball. Under the least pressure of all the new faces, he could make a big impact at the Etihad. 

Marc Cucurella

There’s nothing like a defeat before the transfer window closes to get directors of football to loosen the purse strings. City have been without an orthodox left-back for a number of seasons and, while there is no sign of an agreement with Brighton, the signing of Cucurella would add options and depth to Guardiola’s squad.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe Losers

Erling Haaland

There was plenty of strong running and incisive movement from City's marquee summer signing, but ultimately Haaland will be judged on goals. He had a couple of good efforts on target but missed a golden chance when he smashed the crossbar from close range late on. He will have easier games than coming up against Virgil Van Dijk on his debut, however.

John Stones

Stones, Ilkay Gundogan and Phil Foden missed City' pre-season tour to the United States, and it has left the former with a fight to get back into Guardiola’s team. The City boss convinced Nathan Ake to stick around amid interest from Chelsea and the Dutchman will be given a chance to play. With Aymeric Laporte set to miss the first month of the season through injury, it is Ake, not Stones, who looks set to partner Ruben Dias at West Ham.

VAR

New season, same old problems with VAR. The decision to award Alvarez’s equaliser took far too long, as the officials spent over four minutes deliberating. Awarding a handball against Ruben Dias was, meanwhile, the right decision under the current rules, but it was a harsh, game-changing punishment against a defender that was barely two yards away from Darwin Nunez and making an entirely natural movement.

Man City Ratings: Defence

Ederson (6/10)

No chance with any of the goals but made one fine – if painful save – to deny Darwin Nunez, while his distribution was typically good.

Walker (6/10)

Had a fierce battle with Luis Diaz and stopped the Colombian from creating too much.

Dias (6/10)

Unfortunate to give away the key penalty which spoiled what was otherwise a commanding performance.

Ake (6/10)

Unwittingly deflected Trent Alexander-Arnold’s superb opener beyond Ederson but made a steady start on the left side of defence.

Cancelo (6/10)

Slow start against the dangerous Mo Salah, but responded to stifle his influence and was lively supporting the attack.

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Midfield

Rodri (6/10)

Always a big ask to patrol the centre of midfield against Liverpool and stop their lightning breaks but was effective, other than losing one footrace with the speedy Diaz.

Bernardo Silva (7/10)

Amid the links with Barcelona, the Portugal midfielder says he will always giver everything to the side, and did so again, with a hard-running performance blotted with quality touches.

De Bruyne (7/10)

The Belgian has started pre-season in superb form and his quick brain led to City’s best moments as he picked out the runs of Haaland and Riyad Mahrez.

Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes fired Portugal ahead against Iceland on Sunday with a beautiful strike from the far corner of the box.

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Portugal host Iceland in Euro 2024 qualifier Fernandes scores first-half openerPerfect response to Man Utd criticsWHAT HAPPENED?

Iceland were holding Portugal at 0-0 with half-time fast approaching in the Euro 2024 qualifying clash, only for Fernandes to pop up with a moment of brilliance to break the deadlock. He controlled a back-heel pass from Bernardo Silva out in front of him before unleashing a superb shot that flew into the far corner of the net, with Iceland goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson unable to get near the ball despite a full-stretch dive.

AdvertisementWATCH THE CLIPTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Portugal were already safely through to next summer's European Championship, having won all of their opening nine games in Group J. Fernandes is now up to six goals and seven assists in qualifying outings, and appears to be saving his best performances for the international stage. The 29-year-old midfielder has faced criticism for his performances at Manchester United this season, with Erik ten Hag's side having slipped way off the pace in the Premier League – but supporters will hope he can transfer his form for Portugal back to his club ahead of a busy festive period.

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Getty ImagesWHAT'S NEXT FOR FERNANDES

Fernandes will likely return to Ten Hag's starting XI when United take on Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday. The Red Devils will then turn their attention to the Champions League, with a must-win encounter against Galatasaray on the cards.

The WICB has announced changes to the dates for the two-Test series between West Indies and Australia, with the matches being advanced by two days

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Apr-2015The West Indies Cricket Board has announced changes to the dates for the two-Test series between West Indies and Australia, with the matches being advanced by two days.The first Test will now start on June 3 in Dominica, while the second Test will be played from June 11 at Sabina Park in Jamaica. The three-day tour game, originally scheduled to begin on May 30 at North Sound, will now be played from May 27 to 29.”We are fully aware that there are a number of fans planning to travel around and to the Caribbean for the Australia tour, and we want to explain to them that the change was absolutely necessary, due to a number of logistical challenges beyond our control,” WICB Manager, Cricket Operations Roland Holder said.

After ticking off Champions League and Bundesliga debuts, the 18-year-old looks set for a breakthrough season in Bavaria

When Germany took to the famous Wembley pitch in July for the Euro 2022 final against England, they did so with a team stacked full of young talent – one that, despite their eventual extra-time defeat, promises an incredibly bright future for one of football’s most successful nations.

After the Lionesses' triumph, a tearful Lena Oberdorf – the 2020 NXGN winner – collected the Young Player of the Tournament award at the tender age of 20. Right-back Giulia Gwinn, still only 23 years old, would earn a place in UEFA’s Team of the Tournament alongside Oberdorf and Klara Buhl, the 21-year-old who sadly missed the final due to Covid.

With 19-year-old Jule Brand starting the final and a trio of 22-year-olds – Nicole Anyomi, Sydney Lohmann and Lena Lattwein – all featuring from the bench, this was a tough day for Germany but also one that showed how much potential there is for the years to come.

That is not restricted to those involved in that tournament, either. As Germany’s triumph at the UEFA Under-17 Championship during the same summer showed, this country has exciting young players in abundance.

One who has really risen to the fore in this 2022-23 season is Bayern Munich’s Franziska Kett, the 18-year-old who is making a serious impact at one of Europe's biggest clubs.

But who is she and why is she set for a breakthrough campaign? NXGN has all you need to know…

GettyWhere it began

Born in Bavaria, Kett would play for FC Edenstetten before moving onto her hometown club of Deggendorf. The young forward played with the boys in the Regionalliga and it was there that she was spotted by Bayern Munich.

“She was the only girl in her boys' team, quite a good boys' team, and she stood out,” Bianca Rech, the sporting director of the German giants, tells NXGN. “She's a really quick and fast player. She has something special, I would say.”

After that, it was “a very easy decision” to approach Kett to sign for Bayern, Rech says. “You could see her talent and that she had big potential to be a great player in the future.”

As a young teenager, Kett would move to Munich, attend a sports school and live in a house with other young sportspeople as she set about making her mark at Bayern, an experience which would naturally help her mature.

She was also involved with the youth national teams from a young age, starting in the U15s.

AdvertisementFC Bayern MunichThe big break

After a couple of torrid years with injuries, Kett signed her first professional contract in March 2022, four days after being included in a first-team squad for the first time in a league fixture against Hoffenheim.

She was on the bench the following week, too, for the Women's Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, but would have to wait for the start of the 2022-23 season for her senior debut – in a 3-0 win over Werder Bremen.

Marking her first senior start with a goal, in a win over Meppen in October, the 18-year-old was also included in Alexander Straus' lineup for the game against Barcelona at Camp Nou in November. It was her full debut in the Women’s Champions League.

GettyHow it's going

Kett is now a fixture in this Bayern team, be it off the bench or from the start.

“Every time she comes on the pitch, she has an impact on the game and shows her quality,” Rech says, with the teenager having netted her second goal for the club in the win over Essen at the end of November.

She’s also an important player for her country, constantly a livewire for Germany’s U19s, and the feeling within the federation about her potential is a good one.

“She's ambitious but also down to earth,” Kathrin Peter, head coach of the country’s U19 and U20 teams, tells NXGN. “She's maybe the silent type and a little bit reserved when you meet her, but she knows her goals and she has a really clear mind.

“When you talk to her, you know that she has her aims and she's really ready to give her all for them. She's only 18 now and, overall, a really great person that is fun to work with.”

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GettyBiggest strengths

There’s a lot to like about Kett’s game, on both sides of the ball. Her work ethic is impressive for a young attacker, with her not shying away from her defensive responsibilities.

As for when she’s on the front foot, she’s so difficult to stop that there is a growing bank of images of defenders hanging off of her shirt, trying to find a way to halt her progress.

"She's really explosive and her dynamic is combined with outstanding technique,” Peter explains. “Some players can run fast but have problems with the ball at high speed, others have a really good technique but do not have the speed. Franzi is just comfortable on the ball even at high speed. On top of that, she can use both feet and also has great finishing skills.”

"She doesn't think too much and is strong in one-v-one situations,” Rech adds. “She fits perfectly in the system [under Straus]. She's a very dangerous player in the final third and can almost play every offensive position.”

That ability to use both feet helps to make her a versatile forward as well as a dangerous one and adds an element of unpredictability to her game that can be a big asset.

Though their Blaugrana home kits are iconic, Barca have also delivered some tasty alternative strips over the years

Barcelona's red and blue stripes may be famous, but the Catalan club has shown throughout its history that it can still put together an impressive away shirt. Indeed, the Blaugrana have been toying with creative and colorful designs for nearly 50 years, coming up with some absolute beauties at various points.

From the bright yellow donned by the famous "MSN" attacking trio, to the classic Cruyff diagonal stripe shirt of the 1970s, Barca have donned some classics.

And so following the release of Barcelona's new away kit for the 2023-24 season, GOAL takes a look at some of the best away and third kits to have ever been worn by the Spanish giants…

Getty Images10Ronaldinho's toe poke genius (2003-05)

Ronaldinho loved a long-sleeved Barcelona kit. He had plenty of memorable moments in them, highlighted by a now-famous Man-of-the-Match performance at Santiago Bernabeu that brought Real Madrid fans to their feet.

This shirt, meanwhile, was associated with another iconic moment, the Brazilian's toe-poke finish from outside the box against Chelsea in the 2005 Champions League last 16. Although Jose Mourinho's Blues would go on to win, this kit is associated with one of great European goals.

Advertisement9Catalan stripes (2013-14)

This strip was a special one for local Barca fans. For the first time in the club's history, Barcelona donned a kit based on the Catalan flag. There were other details that connected it to the club's local roots, too, including the "Mes que un club" motto stitched onto the back of the neck lining.

Outside of the local area, the kit split opinion. And as some publications pointed out, the Blaugrana enjoyed limited success in the shirt, going winless in their first five contests wearing it.

Still, its homage to Barcelona's Catalan heritage made the kit important in its own right.

Getty Images8Soon to be a classic? (2022-23)

Can a kit released so recently be considered among the best ever? This gold strip from the most recent season certainly makes a case.

It's one of the best shirts Nike has designed for Barca for some time, with its bold colourway paying homage to some of Barcelona's memorable kits of the early 2000s (more on that later), as well as the 30th anniversary of the 1992 Olympic Games that were held in the city.

And it will be associated with success, too. The Blaugrana won back the Liga title in 2023, an achievement that will forever immortalise this kit.

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Getty Images7R9 in a Kappa classic (1996-97)

Ronaldo only played for Barcelona for one year. And in those 12 glorious months, he donned some memorable kits. The home shirt, an effortlessly cool reimagination of the classic 80s strip, is one of the best ever. And the away one wasn't bad, either.

The Brazilian wore it while playing out one of the best individual seasons in Barcelona's history. Ronaldo scored 47 times in 49 appearances, including 34 in the league. And although his time in Catalunya ended after one year, he will forever be associated with breathtaking goals and classic kits.

Lee Carsley's team held out under intense second-half pressure to seal a 1-0 win on Sunday and set up a game against Israel for a place in the final

England Under-21s booked their place in the semi-finals of the European Championship as they held on to secure a 1-0 quarter-final win over Portugal following Anthony Gordon's first-half strike.

Gordon fired home from just inside the penalty area after a fine low cross from Morgan Gibbs-White as England cut through the Portugal defence with some incisive passing and dribbling from midfield.

The goal was just reward for Lee Carsley's team, who dominated possession, though they did need James Trafford to make a fine near-post save to deny Pedro Neto at the start of the half, and an excellent block from Taylor Harwood-Bellis to keep Tiago Dantas from equalising shortly before half-time.

The tables turned after the break, however, as Portugal dominated the ball and pushed the Young Lions back. Substitute Henrique Araujo went closest to equalising as he headed against crossbar, but Chelsea's Levi Colwill led a fine resistance from the England backline to secure a meeting with Israel on Wednesday in the final four.

GOAL rates England's players from the Ramez Shengelia Stadium in Kutaisi, Georgia…

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence

James Trafford (6/10):

Fine near post save denied Neto early on before a couple of more straightforward stops after the break. Confident with the ball at his feet. Still to concede in the tournament.

James Garner (5/10):

Struggled at times to deal with Neto in his unfamiliar right-back role. Better in possession than out of it.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis (7/10):

Dominant in the air and made a couple of crucial last-ditch blocks as Portugal eyed an equaliser. Some sloppy passes the only negative in his performance.

Levi Colwill (9/10):

Ensured England rarely lost composure as they came under pressure in the second half and increasingly dealt with more and more balls into the box. Carried the ball out of defence with the confidence of a seasoned professional.

Max Aarons (5/10):

Conceicao got the better of him on a number of occasions. Booked so will miss the semi-final.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield

Noni Madueke (6/10):

Lacked cutting edge despite some dangerous dribbles cutting inside from the right. Replaced for the final 20 minutes.

Angel Gomes (8/10):

Outstanding in the first half as England controlled possession. Game passed him by a little after the break, but continues to impress in this competition.

Curtis Jones (6/10):

Energetic in pressing high and tidy on the ball, but rarely incisive. Fired wide with an early effort when he maybe should have done better.

Jacob Ramsey (7/10):

An elite ball-carrier, as he showed in the build-up to Gordon's opener. Tried to get England up the pitch in the second half before being forced off with an ankle injury.

Getty ImagesAttack

Morgan Gibbs-White (7/10):

Linked up play well from his role as the second striker. Superb first-time cut-back provided the assist for Gordon to open the scoring.

Anthony Gordon (8/10):

The match-winner with a fine finish to round off a superb team move. Growing into the No.9 role, and tracked back well in the second half.

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Subs & Manager

Emile Smith Rowe (6/10):

Almost teed up Gordon for second goal to seal it after replacing Ramsey.

Ben Johnson (5/10):

Booked after coming on for Aarons for the final 20 minutes.

Cole Palmer (6/10):

Spent most of his time on the pitch tracking back, but did his best to drag England forward on the rare occasions he picked up possession.

Oliver Skipp (6/10):

Added a bit of robustness in midfield after replacing Gomes for the final 10 minutes.

Lee Carsley (7/10):

Might have been better off playing full-backs in their natural roles given Portugal's dangerous wingers, but otherwise set his team up well and identified the right players to replace so his team could hold on.