It was England’s first victory in the Euros at this level in nearly 40 years, the last coming under legendary former Chelsea manager Dave Sexton in 1984, and the 1-0 win in the final owed much to Levi Colwill, who was a calming presence on and off the ball throughout. It was much needed in a tense game which threatened to boil over on several occasions, with four red cards shown to people on the bench.

In addition to the crucial defensive resilience, the two Chelsea youngsters contributed to some of England’s best attacking moments, with Colwill heading against the post shortly before his team took the lead and Noni Madueke having an effort somehow hooked off the line by the goalkeeper late on.

It was the tournament’s best attack against the best defence in Georgia. Despite the strength of their opponents, England ensured Spain didn’t even manage a shot on target for nearly 70 minutes, as Colwill and his fellow defenders continued their incredible record to become the first side ever to go all the way without conceding at the Under-21 Euros, keeping a sixth consecutive clean sheet, although it needed some late goalkeeping heroics.

Our centre-back was right into the thick of the action from the off, involved in a tussle with Alex Baena on the halfway line after stepping in smartly to win possession in trademark style. Eventually the referee intervened on the Chelsea defender’s behalf and it was the first of many on a busy day for the officials.

The Young Lions who started the match brightest, with Morgan Gibbs-White inches away from a tap-in following good work by Anthony Gordon twice in quick succession, inside the first 10 minutes. Spain came into things more as the first half went on, enjoying more of the ball, but it was a measured approach from both teams.

One of England’s most promising attacks of the first half showcased Colwill’s threat when carrying the ball out of defence, as he charged across the halfway line before finding the overlapping left-back Max Aarons in the channel with a lovely scooped pass over the Spain defence, but when Aarons delivered the cross Gibbs-White was crowded out in the middle.

It was in his own box that Colwill was increasingly called into action, though that didn’t stop him coming close to breaking the deadlock on the stroke of half-time. An England counter was thwarted by a cynical foul on the left, but when Cole Palmer curled in the free-kick it was Colwill who muscled his way through the crowd to meet it. His glanced header bounced up off the turf and seemed destined for the top corner, but came back off the top of the upright.

However, the goal did come for England before the break, from another Palmer set-piece. This time, after being tripped in a promising position by his Manchester City team-mate Sergio Gomez, Palmer went straight for goal, his shot taking a deflection off Curtis Jones to wrong-foot the keeper on its way in.

There was just time for Spanish tempers to flare before half-time, resulting in a brief melee, following which Colwill and an opponent were both booked, while on the touchline England coach and former Chelsea man Ashley Cole was given a red card, along with one member of the Spanish staff.

Colwill picked up right where he left off as the second half began, stepping in to control a low cross and remove the danger in a composed manner, and he had to block again in a similar position moments later as Spain signalled they remained in the ascendancy on the pitch, if not on the scoreboard.

Although it was Spain with most of the ball, and who had a goal chalked off for offside, Colwill increasingly seemed to be involved in everything England did well, at both ends of the pitch, hooking another lovely high ball into the channel after spotting the run of Gordon, but again he couldn’t combine with Gibbs-White to finish the move.

With 25 minutes remaining, it was time for Madueke to get his chance to leave a mark on the final, as he was introduced from the bench for Emile Smith Rowe, coming on to continue his run of featuring in every game at this Euros.

It was a lively start from the sub too, as he won possession deep in his own half and stayed on his feet despite an obvious foul to surge upfield into an attacking position. It was indicative of the way he provided England with an outlet to release the pressure as the clock ticked on.

Madueke was also desperately close to sealing the victory in the last minute of regulation time, when he reacted quickly after Harvey Elliott’s low shot was saved. The angle was very tight but the winger did well to drive a left-footed effort back on target, only for the keeper to recover and hook it off the line with an outstretched boot.

There was still time for late drama, though, as with six minutes of added time played VAR awarded what seemed a harsh penalty against Colwill, replays showing he was fractionally beaten to a cross by Ruiz before making contact. It would have been incredibly tough on a defender who had done as much as anyone to take England within seconds of victory, but goalkeeper James Trafford emerged as the hero by saving the penalty and the rebound, meaning England could celebrate at last.