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Following three matches in the group stage that resulted in a win, a loss, and a draw, England went into their final group game against Colombia knowing that a point would be good enough to take them to the third/fourth place play-off as Brazil had already ran away with the group and could not be caught at the top. For England, a third place finish is the best that they can aim for in this tournament.
Ultimately, a point was what they get as they drew with Colombia 1-1. Cauley Woodrow picked up where he left off in the match against South Korea to open the scoring for England. However, the all important second goal eludes England's grasp, and Colombia eventually equalizes through Jhoao Rodriguez. In the end, the two sides have to settle for a draw, and England advances to the third/fourth place play-off to face Portugal. England finished their group play with a win, two draws, and a defeat in four games.
England 1 - Colombia 1
Line-ups (4-2-3-1): Jack Butland (Stoke City), Eric Dier (Sporting Lisbon), Liam Moore (Leicester City), Ben Gibson (Middlesbrough), Tyias Browning (Everton), Josh McEachran (Chelsea), Jordan Cousins (Charlton Atheltic), Solly March (Brighton & Hove Albion), Will Keane (Manchester United), Jordan Obita (Reading), Cauley Woodrow (Fulham)
Subs: Jake Foster-Caskey (Brighton & Hove Albion) for McEachran ('19), Michael Keane (Manchester United) for Dier ('32), Nathan Redmond (Norwich City) for Woodrow ('67), Nathaniel Chalobah (Chelsea) for Keane ('74)
In Sunday's third/fourth place play-off, England faced fellow European side Portugal. However, the tournament ends in a disappointing note for England as they lost 1-0. Ricardo Horta scored the all-important goal after a defensive mixed-up between Liam Moore and Saido Berahino. England had several chances to put the ball in the back of the net, but their wastefulness in front of goal ends up to be their undoing in this match.
Brazil, held on to their crown as they beat host France 5-2 in the final.
James Ward-Prowse can end the tournament with a bit of a smile as he won two individual trophies in the tournament, winning the Best Goal of the Tournament (after his peach of a free-kick against Brazil) and also the Third Best Player of the Tournament.
England U21 manager, Gareth Southgate said that he would recommend sending a team again for next year's tournament. He also mentioned that he believes his team should've won the game against Portugal citing bad fortune and critical mistakes as his side's undoing.
England 0 - Portugal 1
Line-ups (4-2-3-1): Butland, Browning, Gibson, Moore, Luke Garbutt (Everton), Chalobah, James Ward-Prowse (Southampton), Redmond, Foster-Caskey, Saido Berahino (West Bromwich Albion), Woodrow
Subs: Will Keane for Foster-Caskey ('65)
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